Church of the Intercession of the Virgin (Lappeenranta)

The first Orthodox church in the city of Wilmanstrand (Lappeenranta) was wooden. Built in the 1750s, it served as the regimental church of the Vladimir Infantry Regiment. The temple was consecrated in honor of the feast of the Protection of the Holy Virgin , celebrated on October 1. During the reign of Catherine II , work was carried out on the reconstruction and modernization of military fortifications on the territory of the autonomous principality of Finland, including the fortifications of the city of Lappeenranta. As a result of the signing of a peace treaty in the city of Turku between Russia and Sweden in 1743, the city of Wilmanstrand passed into the possession of Russia. The urban population at this time increased significantly due to the Russian military and Russian-speaking settlers. Work on the construction of fortifications was led by the Russian commander Alexander Suvorov . At the same time, preparations began for the construction of a new church, which was laid on the site of a dismantled wooden in 1782. Construction lasted three years.

The new temple in the style of classicism, in accordance with traditions, was oriented by the altar to the east and accommodated 150 people. The temple building is built of brick, and the foundation is of uncouth granite. The temple was consecrated on August 26, 1785 in honor of the feast of the Protection of the Holy Virgin. Initially, the temple was supposed to be used for worship for soldiers stationed in the fortress, but the civilian population was able to attend the temple. The first rector of the temple was Archpriest Stefan Vasiliev (1783-1805). At the beginning of the 19th century, the parish began to grow due to the families of Russian merchants, officials and military living in Wilmanstrand and its environs. The temple became small to the growing parish, and it was decided to expand it. In 1901, the restructuring of the temple began, the premises between the altar and the bell tower were expanded, and the premises of the temple were significantly increased due to the extension of the side parts. Previously, the altar was separated from the rest of the space by a stone partition with three doorways, which was dismantled in 1870 when the new iconostasis was installed. The three-tier iconostasis was increased by 12 icons, while the new vaulted ceiling began to rest on the columns, naves appeared on the sides. In this form, the temple has survived to our time.

Of the oldest icons of the XVIII century, only one has survived. This is the icon of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary in a robe, it is located on the right side of the altar. The temple utensils date from the 19th century, most of it was donated to the parish. In 1870, the church was renovated and a new iconostasis purchased in St. Petersburg was installed. Icons are written by academician Nikanor Tyutryumov. Small iconostases were donated to the parish in 1903 by the St. Petersburg Compound of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra . In 1864, the parish received a chandelier as a gift from local Russian merchants. The banners and two large candlesticks were transferred to the Intercession Church in 1918 from the Lappeenranta Nikolsky Regimental Church. The last repair in the Intercession Church was carried out in 1985 to celebrate the 200th anniversary. Next to the temple is a house of worship built in the 1890s. The parish office is located in a barracks building built in the 1910s. Pokrovsky Church is the main church of the Lappeenranta Orthodox Parish and the oldest surviving Orthodox church in Finland. Of the Russian monarchs who visited the temple were Alexander I (in 1803) and Alexander III with his family (in 1885 and 1891).

The Lappeenranta Orthodox Parish has about 2,000 members and belongs to the Helsinki Diocese of the Finnish Orthodox Church. The parish unites eight municipalities in the province of South Karelia: Lappeenranta , Imatra (St. Nicholas Church, Vuoksenniscanthus 3), Lemi , Parikkala (Chapel of St. John the Baptist), Rautjärvi , Ruokolahti , Savitaypale and Taipalsaari . The parish office is located in the city of Lappeenranta. Part of the parishioners are descendants of Russian emigrants who migrated in the 19th century, during the revolution of 1917 and at the end of the 20th - beginning of the 21st centuries, as well as Karelian immigrants forced to move to Finland from Karelia, and the Finns. Divine services are held on Saturdays at 18 hours and on Sundays at 10 hours.

• 1746-1772: Pyotr Afanasyev
• 1773–1783: Peter Grigoryev
• 1783–1805: Stefan Vasiliev
• 1805–1827: Vasily Safonyev
• 1827–1850: Alexander Lebedev
• 1850–1852: Dmitry Felitsin
• 1852–1867: Nikolay Soloviev
• 1867–1873: Mikhail Butkevich
• 1873–1894: Sergey Kamensky
• 1894–1896: Peter Zabelin
• 1896–1897: Mikhail Uspensky
• 1897–1900: John of Erow
• 1900–1915: John Bartholomew
• 1915–1922: Mikhail Vuysich
• 1922–1948: Arseny Razumov
• 1949–1979: Leo Merras
• 1979–2007: Marcus Petsalo
• 2008 to present: Timo Tünkkünen

• Aimo Vuorinen . Lapeenranta churches. Lappeenranta, 2001.