The Mother Church of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland

Turku Cathedral is the mother church of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, and Finland's national shrine. It is also the seat of the Archbishop of Finland. 

Turku Cathedral was the mother church of Finland in the Catholic era, and has remained so in the Protestant era since the Reformation. 

About 81 % of Finns are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. Most of the funds needed to run the church come from church-levied taxes which are collected from church members in connection with the state and communal taxes.

The picture was taken at the completion of the special church service held in celebration of the 700th anniversary of the Cathedral on 18 June, 2000. 

700th anniversary celebrations of the Cathedral
Photo by Osmo Jylhä/CredoNet.