Hotels near Uspenski Cathedral

Uspenski Cathedral (Uspenskin katedraali) is the main cathedral of the Finnish Orthodox Church and the largest Orthodox cathedral in Western Europe. Designed by Russian architect Aleksey Gornostayev and consecrated in 1868 while Finland was still a Grand Duchy of the Russian Empire, the red-brick basilica with 13 gold onion domes stands on a granite outcrop on the Katajanokka peninsula. From the terrace you look straight down onto Market Square, the South Harbour and the Ferris wheel of SkyWheel Helsinki.

The interior is a five-domed basilica in the traditional Russo-Byzantine plan. The iconostasis is polished Kanev sandstone painted in green and gold; the icon of the Dormition of the Theotokos above the royal doors is a 1868 gift from the Tsar Alexander II. The four huge polished granite columns supporting the central dome weigh 30 tonnes each. Opening hours are Tuesday to Friday 09:30-16:00, Saturday 10:00-15:00, Sunday 12:00-15:00, closed Monday. Admission is free but donations for candles are encouraged.

Pro Tip: Combine Uspenski with the walk back across Katajanokka to Kanavaranta for the Art Nouveau apartment blocks (numbers 4, 6, 7 are the classics from 1900-1905). If a Divine Liturgy is running, stay for 20 minutes at the back - the Slavonic chant is worth the pause.