Living in Helsinki is brilliant for people who are interested in culture and art. If you just keep your eyes open and look for events for example from Metro newspaper, you can find tons of interesting and also free things to go to. Some days ago I found an event called Open Helsinki: open doors and tours to places where you normally can't go in to. I always wanted to see the Temppeliaukio church (tourists call it the Rock Church) from the inside, but there was always a wedding when I tried to go there. Now I was extremely happy because I was able to go in and get an interesting lecture from the architect Timo Suominen, who is the older half of the brothers who designed this church 1969.
From the outside it doesn't look like anything. Pile of rocks mainly. And you almost have to concentrate to notice the cross. That's the thing I love about this church. It's an unique pearl of architecture. It's a church where you can not see pictures of Jesus, God, Maria, Josef or sheep.
This is the place I wanna get married if I ever get so lucky/unlucky :D I never go to church volunteerily and I really don't believe in God, at least how it's presented in religions. Actually I normally get anxious in churches when I have to go to them. But this church made me feel open and free. Maybe it's the absence of religious images, or the fact that it's amazingly natural. It's walls are pure rock. The architect Suominen told that here are the oldest church walls in the world; 1850 million years! And it's full of natural sunlight. The roof is a round metal dome which lies on 180 beams. This place is always full of japanese tourists (during the tourist hours...) and the architect told that they are especially fascinated about the round copper dome, because it symbolizes sun like in their flag.
For me it's almost weird to write about a church, because I always hated them. I've seen most of the most famous ones in Europe: St. Peter's, Sagrada Familia, Notre Dame, Hagia Sofia, Westminster Abbey etc. etc. although we always had this motto with my mum when we were travelling (it doesn't work in English): Let's go round all the museums and churches.... from far." = "Kierretään kaikki museot ja kirkot.... kaukaa." Only St. Peter's curch made a real impact on me. And Temppeliaukio. The last thing I'm gonna mention about is actually quite funny (at least for me...) The seats are comfy! This is the first church ever where I've seen comfortable seats!!!
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