St Catherine's Church, Turku
Encyclopedia
Saint Catherine's Church is located in Nummi
, a suburb
of Turku
, Finland
, in the same district as Turku Student Village
. It represents old medieval church building tradition. Although it was once completely destroyed and has undergone several renovations, it has preserved something of its original appearance and retains the basic plan of a medieval Finnish church. The construction was begun in the 1340s, the sacristy being completed first and the church later.Bishop Hemming and Bishop Thomas of Växjö consecrated the church on 22 January 1351. The church was named after its patron saint
Catherine of Alexandria
in 1991. It previously was located in the region of Kaarina
and was known was Kaarina Church. The first mention of Saint Catherine of Alexandria was in a signet with which vicar Jacob of Nummi confirmed the then episcopal election. Nummi, which surrounded the church, however became a part of Turku in 1939. Later, when Kaarina became its own parish
, the church changed its name to St Catherine's Church.
Nummi
Nummi is a district and a suburb of the city of Turku, Finland. It is located in the north-eastern part of the city, just outside the city centre and south of the river Aura...
, a suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
of Turku
Turku
Turku is a city situated on the southwest coast of Finland at the mouth of the Aura River. It is located in the region of Finland Proper. It is believed that Turku came into existence during the end of the 13th century which makes it the oldest city in Finland...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, in the same district as Turku Student Village
Turku Student Village
Turku Student Village is the largest single student housing complex in Finland. It houses nearly 3,500 residents in 95 three-storied tenements. The Student Village is located in the district of Nummi near the city centre of Turku...
. It represents old medieval church building tradition. Although it was once completely destroyed and has undergone several renovations, it has preserved something of its original appearance and retains the basic plan of a medieval Finnish church. The construction was begun in the 1340s, the sacristy being completed first and the church later.Bishop Hemming and Bishop Thomas of Växjö consecrated the church on 22 January 1351. The church was named after its patron saint
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
Catherine of Alexandria
Catherine of Alexandria
Saint Catherine of Alexandria, also known as Saint Catherine of the Wheel and The Great Martyr Saint Catherine is, according to tradition, a Christian saint and virgin, who was martyred in the early 4th century at the hands of the pagan emperor Maxentius...
in 1991. It previously was located in the region of Kaarina
Kaarina
Kaarina is a small city and municipality of Finland.It is located in the Finland Proper region and is a neighbouring town of Turku, which is the capital of Finland Proper, therefore Kaarina is a part of the Greater Turku region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of...
and was known was Kaarina Church. The first mention of Saint Catherine of Alexandria was in a signet with which vicar Jacob of Nummi confirmed the then episcopal election. Nummi, which surrounded the church, however became a part of Turku in 1939. Later, when Kaarina became its own parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
, the church changed its name to St Catherine's Church.