A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols

A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is a festive evening of traditional English carols and readings, in Helsinki's beautiful cathedral. 

The format of this service is based on an order drawn up by Edward Benson, later Archbishop of Canterbury but at that time Bishop of Truro, for use on Christmas Eve (24th December) 1880. Tradition says that he organized a 10 p.m. service in a wooden shed which then served as his cathedral in Truro and that the purpose of the service was to keep men out of the pubs!

The original liturgy has since been adapted and used by other churches all over the world. Numerous Christian denominations have adopted this service, or a variation of this service, as part of their Christmas celebrations. In Finland, this would be 'Kauneimmat joululaulut'. The best-known version of course is the annual broadcast from King's College, Cambridge.

The service follows that same order which can also be found in Common Worship: Times and Seasons of the Church of England. The tradition of this Festival in Helsinki by the Anglican Church in Finland dates back, at least, to the 1960s.

The service is led by The Rt Revd Dr David Hamid, Suffragan Bishop in Europe and The Revd Tuomas Mäkipää, Chaplain of St Nicholas' Church and Area Dean.

The Service is sung by St Nicholas Chamber Choir
The Choir is conducted by Erik Johannes Riekko
The organ is played by Kadri Toomoja

Cathedral

8.12.2023

19.00-20.15

Free entry, but there will be a charitable collection during one of the carols