Kirkkokari ("the Church Islet", also known as Saint Henry's Island) is a small island in Lake Köyliö in Köyliö municipality, Satakunta, Finland. It is the only Roman Catholic pilgrimage site in Finland and one of the few in Nordic countries. [1]
According to tradition, Saint Henry was murdered by Lalli on the ice of Lake Köyliö by the Kirkkokari island in the winter of 1156. [1] Since the 13th century it was a pilgrimage site for Catholics. A small chapel was built on the island which was used until the 18th century. Foundations of the chapel are still visible. [2] In 1955 the memorial of Christianization of Finland was erected in Kirkkokari and a small altar, "Saint Henry's altar", in 1999. [1]
The Finnish Roman Catholic Church organizes an annual pilgrimage to Kirkkokari via the Saint Henry's Way. The 140-kilometre-long journey starts from the city of Turku. It ends on a memorial service in Kirkkokari on the last pre-Midsummer Sunday. [1]
61°08′50″N 22°19′32″E / 61.147199°N 22.325543°E
Kirkkokari ("the Church Islet", also known as Saint Henry's Island) is a small island in Lake Köyliö in Köyliö municipality, Satakunta, Finland. It is the only Roman Catholic pilgrimage site in Finland and one of the few in Nordic countries. [1]
According to tradition, Saint Henry was murdered by Lalli on the ice of Lake Köyliö by the Kirkkokari island in the winter of 1156. [1] Since the 13th century it was a pilgrimage site for Catholics. A small chapel was built on the island which was used until the 18th century. Foundations of the chapel are still visible. [2] In 1955 the memorial of Christianization of Finland was erected in Kirkkokari and a small altar, "Saint Henry's altar", in 1999. [1]
The Finnish Roman Catholic Church organizes an annual pilgrimage to Kirkkokari via the Saint Henry's Way. The 140-kilometre-long journey starts from the city of Turku. It ends on a memorial service in Kirkkokari on the last pre-Midsummer Sunday. [1]
61°08′50″N 22°19′32″E / 61.147199°N 22.325543°E