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Religion in Finland & Places of Worship

General
Religion in School

See also: Infopankki (Information Bank) - more information
See also: Virtual Finland - Politics & Society section

Places of Worship in Finland / Contact Information
Anglican
Catholic
International Evangelical Church - Multi-lingual Services
Islamic
Jewish
Lutheran
Orthodox
 
Additional Information

There has been complete freedom of religion in Finland since 1923. There are two national churches in Finland, the Lutheran and the Orthodox churches. The Evangelical Lutheran Church is the country’s largest denomination; ninety percent of the population is baptised Lutheran and one per cent Orthodox. There are also Catholic, Jewish and Islamic congregations as well as numerous smaller religious communities.

More detailed information on the history and development of religion in Finland, including other churches and religious communities, can be found here (scroll down to "Religion").

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Religion in School

Schools provide religious teaching according to the confession of the majority of the pupils in the school. If at least three pupils belong to a particular denomination, their parents or guardians can demand instruction in that confession. Pupils who do not belong to any denomination study different philosophies of life, if their parents or guardians so wish.


Places of Worship in Finland / Contact Information

Anglican

The Chaplaincy cares for the pastoral needs of Anglicans and Episcopalians in Helsinki and throughout Finland.

Service times and additional information available at:
The Anglican Church in Finland's Web site

Contact Information:
The Chaplaincy of St. Nicholas,
Helsinki, Mannerheimintie 19 A 7
00250 Helsinki

Tel: (09) 490 424
Fax: (09) 447 987
E-mail: rupert.moreton@icon.fi

Catholic

Information available from:
The Catholic Church in Finland's Web site (some English sections at bottom of main menu)

or the Catholic Information Centre :
Pyhän Henrikin aukio 1,
00140 Helsinki

Tel: 208 350751
Fax: (09) 61294770
E-mail info@catholic.fi

International Evangelical Church - Multi-lingual Services

In Helsinki, services are performed weekly in English, Amharic, Arabic and Chinese.
Service times and locations - click 'Worship With Us'

Additional information at the IEC's Web site:

Contact information:
Ruoholahdenkatu 16,
FI-00180 Helsinki
 
Tel: (09) 5868 770
E-mail: office@church.fi

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Islamic

The Islamic Society of Finland has a comprehensive Web site in Arabic, English and Finnish.

Contact Information:
Office:
Lönnrotinkatu 22 A 3,
00120 Helsinki
Mosque:
Lönnrotinkatu 22 C 34
00120 Helsinki
 
Tel: (09) 278 2551/3/6
E-mail: rabita@rabita.fi

Jewish

Service times and locations, and additional information including community organisations are available at the Jewish Community of Helsinki, Finland's Web site

Contact Information:
Malminkatu 26,
00100 Helsinki

Tel: (09) 586 03121
Fax: (09) 694 8916
E-mail: Dan Kantor dan.kantor@jchelsinki.fi

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Lutheran

Comprehensive information (English, Finnish and Swedish) available at:
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland's Web site

Contact Information:
Church House - the central office of the Lutheran Church
Satamakatu 11,
Helsinki
Postal address:
POB 185,
00161 Helsinki

Tel: (09) 18021
Fax: (09) 1802 350
E-mail: kirkkohallitus@evl.fi

English-language congregations in other cities:

Turku Cathedral International Congregation
Rev. Mia Wittaniemi,
Eerikinkatu 3 A (5th fl. "Kasvatusasiainkeskus".), BOX 922, 20101 Turku
Tel: (02) 261  7308
E-mail: mia.wittaniemi@evl.fi

Tampere: Evangelical Congregations Parishes in Tampere
Rev. Veli-Pekka Järvinen,
Office: Satakunnankatu 11 A, 33101 Tampere
Tel: (03) 219 0352
E-mail: veli-pekka.jarvinen@tampere-evlsrk.fi

Oulu: International Christian Fellowship
Oulu parishes: Isokatu 17, 90100 Oulu
Tel: (08) 3161 300
E-mail: tuomiokirkkosrk.oulu@evl.fi

Orthodox

The Orthodox Church of Finland's Web Site (Finnish only).

Finland-wide directory of churches and contact information::
http://www.ort.fi/sivut_srk/seurakunnat.php3

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Additional Information
Buddhism and Nichiren Shoshu: Information relative to Finland (English/Finnish)
Finland Mennonite Church: Church's home page
The Lord's Prayer in Finnish As the tile says...
The Ancient Religion of Finland A look at religion in ancient Finland (scroll down to "Religion")
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