Tampere Cathedral

Tampere Cathedral (Finnish Tampere tuomiokirkko ) is the cathedral of the Diocese of Tampere of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland and an important building of the Finnish National Romanticism.

On 3 September 1897, the church council had under the leadership of Pastor Karl Fontell to build a new church on the eastern edge of the center, in Kyttälä district, decided north of the station. This was due to the growing number of inhabitants. In November 1899, the competition for architects of the country was proclaimed. The winner of this competition was Lars Sonck with his contribution " Aeternitas ".

His design, a blue- gray granite building in the style of the Finnish National Romantic style was built in 1902-1907 and consecrated on 19 May 1907 as St. John's Church. The church hall is particularly adapted to the Protestant church history. Very interesting is the asymmetrical exterior, which makes it look like a magic castle the church. St John's Church of Tampere became the main church of the diocese, the cathedral of Tampere, as the seat of the Bishop of Porvoo was moved to Tampere.

Equipment

The pulpit is to the left of the altar. It was built so that it is visible in the Church everywhere. The cathedral organ considered the most beautiful organ of romance. The sacrament trays by Eric O.W. Ehrström designed and is decorated with ornaments and Christian scenes from the Passion of Christ.

Painting

When in 1923 the diocese was formed Tampere, St John's Church was determined to the Cathedral.

On the recommendation of the painter Albert Edelfelt Magnus Enckell and Hugo Simberg were entrusted with the decoration of the church. Enckell created the monumental altarpiece resurrection. The picture shows people in mostly white garments: women with children, men and couples. The remaining frescoes, and stained glass windows are from Simberg. Above the altar you can see two of the most famous works Simberg, the wounded angel and the fresco in the garden of death. About the " Garden of Death " it is said that it is " the place where the souls go before they are taken up into heaven ". On the ceiling of the nave you can see the snake from the paradise that keeps the apple from the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the mouth. The symbolism of his images and the fact that he painted a winged serpent on a red background at the highest point of the vault, since the inauguration of the church led to violent confrontations, whether this art of ecclesiastical use was appropriate. Nowadays, the paintings include Simberg and Enckell to the masterpieces of the Finnish symbolism. For the glass windows Hugo Simberg Scriptures as a model in the Revelation of St. John took, so you can see the Holy Spirit in the form of a white dove, the burning bush, of which we speak in the second book of Moses, as well as the white and red rider, be called.

Use

The cathedral church of Tampere is used not only for worship but also for music events (organ concerts, choral and oratorio performances ) and plays.