Turku Orthodox Church, Turku
Turku Orthodox Church, or the Church of the Holy Martyr Empress Alexandra, is the main church of the Turku Orthodox parish located on the northeast corner of Turku Market Square in Turku, Finland.
The church was built under the order of Nicholas I of Russia in 1838 and designed by architect Carl Ludvig Engel. Construction of the Neoclassical church began in 1839 and was completed in 1845. The church was consecrated on September 2, 1846.
Turku Orthodox Church was dedicated to Alexandra, the spouse of Diocletian, Roman Emperor. She had publicly become Christianised and suffered a martyr's death. It is thought, she was chosen as the patron saint since Nicholas I's wife was named Aleksandra.
The church was built in the late Empire architectural style, in the shape of an equal-armed cross. The exterior consists of Doric porticoes with four columns. The dome is crowned with a cross lantern. The total height of the church is 102 feet.
The interior of the church features 16 composite columns made of artificial marble. The walls are white, while the space under the dome is blue and studded with golden stars. The church has a two-story iconostasis. The bottom row consists of nine icons, and the top - of the four. Most of the icons came from Valaam Monastery located in the Russia's Karelia region.
The religious services are held in Finnish and once a month in the Church Slavonic language. The Turku Orthodox Church building is protected as an architectural monument of state importance.
The church was built under the order of Nicholas I of Russia in 1838 and designed by architect Carl Ludvig Engel. Construction of the Neoclassical church began in 1839 and was completed in 1845. The church was consecrated on September 2, 1846.
Turku Orthodox Church was dedicated to Alexandra, the spouse of Diocletian, Roman Emperor. She had publicly become Christianised and suffered a martyr's death. It is thought, she was chosen as the patron saint since Nicholas I's wife was named Aleksandra.
The church was built in the late Empire architectural style, in the shape of an equal-armed cross. The exterior consists of Doric porticoes with four columns. The dome is crowned with a cross lantern. The total height of the church is 102 feet.
The interior of the church features 16 composite columns made of artificial marble. The walls are white, while the space under the dome is blue and studded with golden stars. The church has a two-story iconostasis. The bottom row consists of nine icons, and the top - of the four. Most of the icons came from Valaam Monastery located in the Russia's Karelia region.
The religious services are held in Finnish and once a month in the Church Slavonic language. The Turku Orthodox Church building is protected as an architectural monument of state importance.
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Turku Orthodox Church on Map
Sight Name: Turku Orthodox Church
Sight Location: Turku, Finland (See walking tours in Turku)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Turku, Finland (See walking tours in Turku)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Turku, Finland
Create Your Own Walk in Turku
Creating your own self-guided walk in Turku is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Turku Introduction Walking Tour
Turku is the oldest city in Finland. The city served as the capital of Finland from September 1809 through April 1812. It is a popular tourist destination because of its long history and impact on Finnish culture.
The name "Turku" derives from the Slavic word for marketplace. Not surprisingly, Turku has popular markets like those held at the Turku Old Market Hall and Market Square.
... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles
The name "Turku" derives from the Slavic word for marketplace. Not surprisingly, Turku has popular markets like those held at the Turku Old Market Hall and Market Square.
... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles
Turku's Architectural Jewels
The oldest city in Finland, Turku, has several attractive old buildings that catch the eye and showcase the city's rich history and culture.
Prime among such jewels are the Turku Orthodox Church, characterized by its distinctive onion-shaped domes, the historic neoclassical Swedish-language Abo Svenska Theater, and the beautiful late 19th-century Turku Old Market Hall (Turun Kauppahalli).... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles
Prime among such jewels are the Turku Orthodox Church, characterized by its distinctive onion-shaped domes, the historic neoclassical Swedish-language Abo Svenska Theater, and the beautiful late 19th-century Turku Old Market Hall (Turun Kauppahalli).... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles