Address: Kuttajärventie 117, 71750 Syvänniemi
Parking next to the church

Free entry

Saastamoinen Foundation and the Kallavesi Parish, together with the Karttula regional parish and the village of Syvänniemi, will celebrate the 100th anniversary of Syväniemi Church as part of Kuopio’s 250th anniversary year. In honour of the church’s centenary, Syväniemi Church will be dressed in a light installation by artist Kaisa Salmi, created to respect the unique architecture of the historic building.

Celebration of Peace, Light, and Love on St. Lucia’s Day

The main event celebrating peace, light, and love will take place on St. Lucia’s Day, Sunday 13 December 2025, from 3–6 p.m. On St. Lucia’s Day, the church will be illuminated from 12:00 onwards, and the church bells will begin ringing at 2:00 p.m. to invite visitors to the parish service held outdoors in the churchyard at 3:00 p.m.

After the service, the audience will enjoy Christmas music performance by baritone Kevin Greenlaw.
Following this, Erkki Taarasti will speak about the church’s past and send a wreath-bearing delegation to the graves of Georg Tengman, factory director of Saastamoinen’s mill, and Juho Snellmann, a Member of Parliament and owner of Ilopuro Manor. Candle lanterns will also be placed on the graves of those who fell in the war. Eleven fallen soldiers are buried in family plots.

During the service, Seppo Kirkinen, lecturer at the Sibelius Academy of the University of the Arts, will play the church’s handbells and later continue with organ music after the event concludes. At this time, visitors may step inside the church to view some of the figures from artist Reijo Kela’s Silent People installation. The work of 250 figures celebrated the 250th anniversary of Kuopio at the Rullatehdas site in summer 2025, and now 22 members of the Silent People will briefly bring festivity into the church.

After the blessing ceremony, visitors may take a candle provided by the event to place on a grave of their choice and enjoy mulled wine and gingerbread offered by the church. The event is held outdoors, but the public may visit the church interior during the celebration.

Please note: The interior of Syväniemi Church is currently closed for services due to an indoor air quality assessment, but it may be visited during the event. The St. Lucia celebration will mainly take place outdoors. Dress accordingly.

The St. Lucia celebration runs from 3–6 p.m. The light installation is illuminated from 12:00–24:00.

The church will also be lit during the Christmas holidays, 24–26 December 2025, from 12:00–21:00, and on New Year’s Eve, 31 December 2025, from 12:00–01:00.

Parking is available in front of the church. Address: Kuttajärventie 117, 71570 Syvänniemi.

Baritone Kevin Greenlaw Performs

American baritone Kevin Greenlaw, who has captivated audiences across Europe, began his career at the Paris Opera, performing with leading conductors and directors. He is known for his expressive interpretations and his warm, resonant voice that makes his performances deeply moving.

In Finland, he has appeared as a soloist with the Tampere Philharmonic, the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Jyväskylä Symphony. A Finnish work especially dear to him is Sibelius’s Kullervo, which he has performed in Tampere and Bilbao. He debuted at the Finnish National Opera in Fantomine in The Phantom of the Opera and received the Enrico Caruso Award for his portrayal of Germont in Verdi’s La Traviata in Rijeka. He has also been praised for the title role in Thomas’s Hamlet. Other significant roles include Oreste (Iphigénie en Tauride), Pelléas (Pelléas et Mélisande), Figaro (Il Barbière di Siviglia), and Escamillo (Carmen) at the Royal Albert Hall.

Greenlaw has previously performed in Syvänniemi with his wife, opera star Marjukka Tepponen. In summer 2026, the couple will appear in Verdi’s La Traviata at the Bregenz Festival in Austria.

Syväniemi Church and Village History

In 1920, the church in Karttula was destroyed by fire, and the new building was decided to be located in Syvänniemi.

The new church was designed by Johan Victor Strömberg, a significant and progressive architect for Kuopio, who brought home new influences and technological innovations from his international travels. His work includes the Kuopio Market Hall, the Kuopio Museum, and the stone cowshed of the Syvänniemi Manor. The monumental stone church in Syvänniemi represents the symmetrical classicism typical of his later work. Culturally and historically important, the church is a central landmark for the Syvänniemi community. The Saastamoinen family gifted approximately 100 hectares of land for the church and the parsonage.

Strömberg also designed the building of the old Syvänniemi spool factory, closely connected to the history of the Saastamoinen industrial family. The factory, founded by Herman Saastamoinen, began operations in 1891. In June 1906, it burned down except for the chimney and was rebuilt in 1907. During its operation, Saastamoinen Ltd. became the world’s largest producer of thread spools. The factory closed in 1932. Although the buildings were demolished in the 1960s, the tall chimney still stands as a reminder of the factory’s history.

Saastamoinen Foundation continues the industrial family’s legacy at the old factory site and plans to establish an international science and art residency on the estate area during the 2020s.

Inquiries:
Marja Karttunen, puh. +358 40 5555 159, marja.karttunen@saastamoinenfoundation.fi
Saara Lappalainen, saara.lappalainen@saastamoinenfoundation.fi
Saastamoinen Foundation