The priest of the Lutheran parish of Rovaniemi, Aki Hätinen: In August 2022 I visited in the city of Bursa, Turkey. During The Ottoman Empire, it used to be its capital. One hour distance from this beautiful city locates a small city called Iznik. I paid a visit there also during my trip. The town is at the site of the ancient Greek city of Nicaea. This year Nicaea plays a great role in Christian world. The year 2025 marks the 1700th anniversary of the Roman Ecumenical Christian council of Nicaea, convened by Emperor Constantine I in 325. Constantine I (also known as Constantine the Great) was the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity. He played a pivotal role in elevating the status of Christianity in Rome, decriminalizing Christian practice and ceasing Christian persecution. This was a turning point the Christianization of the Roman Empire. Constantine is sometimes associated with the religiopolitical ideology, which epitomizes the unity of church and state. He founded...
Text: Noora Hietanen, pics: Marjo Romakkaniemi, Eva Kivinen and FinAid ry. 88 children and pre-teens and 12 adult Ukrainians arrived as our Christmas guests. - The adults are the teachers of the children and young people, the principal of the Nikopol school was also with them. Together with many other partners, we welcomed them to Christmas in Rovaniemi and introduced various attractions, chaplain Topi Litendahl commented. The Ukrainians stayed at Syväsenvaara school. The Rovaniemi parish’s Aapakirkko near there, offered mee-ting spaces and places for breakfast and evening snacks. At Norvajärvi center Ukrainiains fried sausages and met reindeers. The highlights, according to the children, were the sauna, snow, and ice fishing. Everyone participated in the Rovaniemi Church Christmas mass and Ukrainian children joined the Christmas tableau. Children wished and prayed for Christmas: - ”To be outdoors with others, possibility to go to school again, fathers homecoming from frontl...