Svenskfinland in English is on a bit of a summer pause right now. Not much is going on anyway to write about – at least in current affairs.

Some good news today. It has been announced that our cathedral in the city of Borgå (Porvoo) will reopen to the public again already next week. So reports Radio Östnyland.

The cathedral, which is the seat to the Swedish-speaking diocese of the Finnish Church, was set on fire on a Sunday night in late May 2006 by young vandals from Askola. One of these (an 18 year old) was later sentenced by Borgå court to 3 years and 2 months in prison for sabotage. Two others who were accussed of assiting him escaped penalty. The fire destroyed the roof of the historic mediaeval church building but luckily the interior escaped largely undamaged. The sight of the church without its roof shocked many Borgå residents used to it dominating the skyline of their hometown. For those of us who live in this district, it was quite a horrific crime.

The renovation work has now, however, been completed – long ahead of schedule. The new fire prevention and sprinkler system has been tested too. Despite the reopening, there will however not be any church services in the cathedral until the officially scheduled reinaugration ceremony on the 1st day of advent.

2009 will be a significant year for the building and for the city of Borgå. 29 May 2009 is the 200th anniversary of the Borgå lantdag, Diet of Borgå. It was at this meeting that Russian tsar Alexander I proclaimed to the assembled Finnish dignitaries that he would maintain the laws, relgion and language from Swedish rule and that Finland would have autonomy as a grand duchy within the Russian empire.

Borgå cathedral, and the skyline of the old town of Borgå, can be seen as the title photograph of this blog.

Picture in this blog entry, Borgå cathedral in the aftermath of May 2006’s fire. Photo source: Svenska Yle. Logo for the anniversary 200th year since the Borgå lantdag. Image source: Borgå stad.