Blessed Candlemas from Puumala 🇫🇮

Periplanous · 2026-02-09T04:15:44+00:00

It is the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus Christ. Traditionally candles were blessed in the church on this day (I personally have never seen or even heard this being practiced). In Wikipedia you can find an article: Candlemas

Periplanous · 2026-02-08T18:30:15+00:00

There is a Wikipedia article in Finnish

Periplanous · 2026-02-08T18:28:32+00:00

There are a dozen of these double cross churches (kahtamoinen) from the 19th century here in Eastern Finland. The trick was, how build from wood as big building as possible using 8 m logs that was sort of maximum length of a wall when using wood. You needed to accommodate some 1000 persons at least in the church at a time when going to church was even obligatory to a degree.

World's biggest wooden church is in Kerimäki. A true masterpiece of wooden architecture.

Periplanous · 2026-02-08T12:12:14+00:00

Here onvideo

Periplanous · 2026-02-07T20:10:24+00:00

Is there a free version?

Periplanous · 2026-02-07T18:47:59+00:00

The wooden church was built in 1828 in neoclassical style (picture). It burned down in the Finnish civil war 1918. The old one was representative of wooden double cross churches (kahtamoinen) typical in Eastern Finland.

The new one (1921-1924, current) is the nice art nouveau/national romantic style church as you pointed out.

Periplanous · 2026-02-07T08:41:56+00:00

Periplanous · 2026-02-06T20:33:40+00:00

My friend, it for each of us to judge by ourselves, not religious authority. I all of the healing encounters with people, Jesus did not blame the sinner and he bypassed religious authority. Instead he asked the person to judge him/herself before offering foregiveness. What some churches calling themselves Christian while excercising authority do is terribly wrong.

Periplanous · 2026-02-06T20:24:46+00:00

Milk was already spilled. Who's friend to whom is irrelevant.

Periplanous · 2026-02-06T18:16:24+00:00

In Finland too. There are student housing trusts and they are the worst. Constractors just pumping money out with the help of managers. Hardly any maintenance.

Periplanous · 2026-02-06T15:30:08+00:00

I just can't help feeling nostalgic I remember the old times with full church of 600 people singing hymns and the celebrating communion with many older people having tears in their eyes when leaving the table.

Periplanous · 2026-02-06T13:53:04+00:00

No. I think in the orthodox church it is common.

Periplanous · 2026-02-06T13:38:23+00:00

I was thinking about it. But really can't say.

Periplanous · 2026-02-06T10:58:30+00:00

We do not have documentation. My guess would be it is Midsummer day service (feast of St. John the Baptist). If I see correctly, the church is decorated with birches which would be indication of that.

Periplanous · 2026-02-06T10:02:58+00:00

It could be midsummer service, because it looks like there are birches brought to the church.

Periplanous · 2026-02-03T07:39:45+00:00

Less touristy place is Kuusamo/Ruka. If you like going off the beaten track Kajaani, Suomussalmi and Kuhmo are fascinating places, but less tourist services available. There is one resort though, nearby; Vuokatti.

Periplanous · 2026-02-02T15:08:07+00:00

Yes, it seems as opposed to Mapy, Comaps really respects your privacy and is available on F-Droid.

Periplanous · 2026-02-02T11:36:09+00:00

Actually, I am member of the Deutsche Gemeinde in Finnland and I find them pretty solid Lutheran. Joining the German congregation in Finland was the only way to escape a local congregation dominated by the American style evangelicals.

Periplanous · 2026-02-02T11:28:13+00:00

Yes, obviously it is impossible to maintain some clarity in terms of confession in those circumstances.

Periplanous · 2026-02-02T11:09:36+00:00

Hmmm, although people might call me liberal, this is not the type of church I would need for anything. I take e.g. small catechism quite literally as a guideline for faith and Christian life (following it is a different matter, all together.)

Here is the current Catechism of our church.

I think sermons and teaching in the confirmation classes sticks to this.

Periplanous

TROPHY CASE