Mikaelin Kirkko

Description:

• Kontula is a suburb of eastern Helsinki that will not bring up very aesthetic images in people's minds. One exception in the area is the church, built as the result of an architectural competition held in the mid-1980s, by winning architect office Käpy and Simo Paavilainen. The building consists of a high-ceilinged hall and a lower two-storey church office. The redbrick façade shows some Italian influences; the Archangel Michael, sculpted by Kari Juva, guards the church from the eaves. The church was named after the Archangel and has obtained international attention. The church also has a fine square that is worth a visit. Services are held in Finnish at 10a on Sundays and Christian holidays. The church organises many kinds of events on weekends and during the week, and also has a coffee shop, open during visiting hours (except on Saturdays). You can get here on the Mellunmäki metro line and buses 92N and 94B.
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