Uspenski Cathedral

Cathedral Helsinki, Finland

Uspenski Cathedral is an Eastern Orthodox cathedral in Helsinki is the main cathedral of the Orthodox Church of Finland, dedicated to the Dormition of the Theotokos (the Virgin Mary). Its name comes from the Old Church Slavonic word uspenie, denoting the Dormition. Designed by Russian architect Aleksey Gornostayev (1808-1862). The cathedral was built after his death in 1862-1868. The crypt chapel of the cathedral is named after the saint Alexander Hotovitzky, who served as vicar of the Orthodox parish of Helsinki from 1914-1917. The Cathedral is situated on a hill on the Katajanokka peninsula overlooking the city. At the rear of the cathedral, there is a plaque commemorating the Russian Emperor Alexander II, who was the ruler of the Grand Duchy of Finland during the construction of the cathedral. The main cathedral of the Finnish Orthodox Church in the Diocese of Helsinki, Uspenski Cathedral is considered the largest Orthodox church in Western Europe.