Newly gilded dome rises on top of Uspenski Cathedral

After pilot project, 13 other "flame domes" will be restored

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For a brief moment on Friday morning, one of the golden flame-shaped domes of Helsinki's Uspenski Orthodox Cathedral emulated the brightness of the autumn sun.
      The freshly restored dome, with its shiny gold-leaf coating, was hoisted up in the air by a crane and after swinging in the wind for some minutes it perched neatly in its rightful place on top of a 25-metre turret.
     
The church bells fell silent, onlookers sighed, the Japanese and Dutch tourists stopped filming, and the fitters, who had followed the dome's manoeuvring in a cage of another crane, started securing it to its base.
      "This is a giant leap for our congregation, but a small step for mankind", joked the Orthodox priests of the Bishopric of Helsinki. The hoisting operation that had been prepared from the early morning hours was over in less than 15 minutes.
     
The onion-shaped cupolas of the Uspenski Cathedral symbolise flames, which in turn symbolise prayer. The cathedral has 14 domes in all. The big central dome represents Christ, surrounded by 12 smaller domes representing the Apostles.
      According to Fr. Mitro Repo, the 14th cupola above the winter entrance tower could stand for every faithful follower of the Apostles.
     
The newly gilded medium-sized dome hoisted in its place was a pilot project preceding the restoration of all the domes over the next three years.
      Invitations for tenders for completing the repairs will soon be sent out.
      In all probability the large central dome will have to be restored on site, at a height of more than 30 metres above the ground.
     
Master-gilder Harri Virtanen, who took on the task of renovating the first dome, explains that its 24-carat gold coating contains an amount of the precious metal equal to that of a decent-sized ring, around 45 grams.
      "This is possible, because gold is the most malleable material there is", Virtanen explains.
      Fr. Veikko Purmonen reports that the restoration of the first dome cost in the region of EUR 45,000.
      The restoration of the remaining domes is estimated to cost around EUR 800,000.
      The ongoing fund-raising campaign has so far produced some 40,000 euros in donations.
      The campaign must cease at the turn of the year, as according to a new law, tax-collecting organisations will not be allowed to organise fund-raising campaigns in this way.
      Purmonen believes the government and the City of Helsinki will partly sponsor the restoration, while additional funds will be sought from Brussels.
     
The fund raising is off to a great start. Last week, a German researcher couple surprised Purmonen by handing in a EUR 10,000 cheque for the repairs of the church.
      "This was a token of appreciation after the couple had visited the church several times in the past years to pray for a child in front of the icon of the "miracle-working parturient of God". The couple, who had already lost hope of ever conceiving, were blessed with two beautiful daughters", Purmonen reports.
      The Uspenski Cathedral is the main church of the Helsinki Orthodox Congregation. The congregation has 18,500 members, of which 10,000 live in Helsinki.
      The cathedral is one of the prime sights of the Finnish capital and is visited by about half a million tourists each year.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Uspenski Cathedral domes to be given a new golden coat (28.9.2004)
  Thirteen domes to designate Christ and the Apostles (28.9.2004)

Helsingin Sanomat