I had business on the western outskirts of Greater Helsinki. On the way home today, I visited the Church of Kirkkonummi (St. Michaels Church), a municipality west of Helsinki. The church was built mostly likely between 1400 and 1490. Photograps below.
The frontside
The bellfry
Fallen soldiers' memorial
This memorial is for those war dead who were left behind in the ceded province of Karelia. Finland had a unique institution of bringing all fallen soldiers home, if at all possible, and burying them in the cemeteries of their own churches.
This path leads to a monument on the far side of the churchyard.
Kirkkonummi/Kyrkslätt is bilingual (Finnish/Swedish). You may be able to guess the meaning of the Swedish text even if you don't know Swedish.
The monument
I suppose cremation is more popular a choice in the more densely populated parts of the country.
I haven't seen anything like this in any graveyard in Finland.
