Advent in Helsinki: Mary, the Church's calling, and the One who brings us out of darkness to light

Outside the Cathedral in Helsinki

Yesterday, 8 December, was a very full Advent day, with activities redolent of the themes of the season. It was, of course, the Feast of the [Immaculate] Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary when we contemplate the mystery of the one who was prepared, through grace, to become the Mother of the Redeemer. 

At the Vallila Help Centre (above, with Coordinator Eeva and Fr Tuomas)

St Ambrose of Milan (whose feast we also celebrated this past week) was the first to refer to the Blessed Virgin as the Mother of the Church, Mater Ecclesiae, a title which helps us consider not only her role in giving birth to the Redeemer from whom the Church itself was born, but also how in her own life she responded to God's call in faith and love, as the Church today is also called to respond to the needs of the world. 

It was with this in mind that I was so moved by a visit to the Ukraine Vallila Help Centre, a project supported by USPG and this diocese, which provides holistic support to so many of the thousands of refugees, mainly women and children, who have fled their native Ukraine due to the war. It is heroic work, largely led by tireless volunteers, who express love and charity to those in need. 

Santa Lucia, Finnish Orthodox Style

In the early evening I joined with Finnish ecumenical partners in the chapel of the headquarters of the Orthodox Church of Finland for vespers and a celebration of Lucia, Finnish Orthodox style. With the liturgy in Finnish, Swedish and some English, we commemorated St Lucy, the fourth century Sicilian martyr, so beloved of Nordic peoples. In the darkness of Advent in the northern hemisphere,  Santa Lucia, with the crown of candles and the red sash of martyrdom, reminds us of the Light which pierces the powers of darkness. 

Bishop Daniel (2nd from left) and Metropolitan Leo (right, Finnish Orthodox Church)

Finally, at the end of the day the Cathedral of Helsinki was filled with more than 500 people attending the Carol Service of the Anglican Chaplaincy of St Nicholas. Led by the Chaplain, Fr Tuomas Mäkipää, clergy and laity of the congregation and many visitors joined in that great service which recalls God's plan of salvation for humanity, culminating in the birth of the Word Made Flesh. 

A special guest at that service was Bishop Daniel from the Ancient Church of the East who is based in Erbil, Iraq, and who ministers to one of the oldest continuously existing Christian groups in the world. Christians in Iraq continue to encounter many difficulties, including persecution and terrorism. It was a special moment to ask a bishop from the Middle East to pronounce the blessing at the conclusion of the service marking the advent of the Holy One, born in the Holy Land.

St Nicholas Chaplaincy Carol Service

Some photos courtesy of Leena Jalkanen and Linda Jämsén