| Building Name: | Rovaniemi Church Rovaniemen kirkko |
| Location: | Rovaniemi, Finland |
| Geo: | 66.4947°N 25.7288°W |
| Religious Affiliation: | Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland |
| Status: | Church (building) |
| Architecture Style: | Reconstruction |
| Year Completed: | 1950 |
| Architect: | Bertel Liljequist |
| Capacity: | 850 |
| Materials: | Stone |
The Rovaniemi Church (Finnish: Rovaniemen kirkko) is a church located in the city center of Rovaniemi in Lapland, Finland. The 850-seat church, designed by architect Bertel Liljequist, was completed in 1950.[1] The earlier church building, completed in 1817, was burnt down by the Nazis during the Lapland War on October 16, 1944.[2] [3]
The specialties of the church include a Christian cross on the roof, which is lit with a red neon light (only visible at night). The choice of color once sparked widespread debate.[4] The color of the cross is red because of its symbolic meaning: "Bloody Cross on top of the Promissory Note."[5] During 2005, Rovaniemi Church was renovated. The most visible change was the renewal of the water cover made copper.[6]
The large altar fresco (14 meters high and 11 meters wide) was made by Professor Lennart Segerstråle in 1951. The work is called Elämän lähde ("The Source of Life").[7] [8] [9]