Helsinki, Finland｜Red Rose and White Rose

After dinner last night, we took a cruise north across the Gulf of Finland, reaching Helsinki in two and a half hours. The night wind was harsh and cold. Exhausted, I quickly washed up and threw myself onto the bed for a deep sleep. After visiting the Rock Church, we continued to visit the White Church (Helsinki White Church) and the Red Church (Uspenski Cathedral). These are the Finnish equivalents of the red mole and white moonlight, with architectural features of Greek Corinthian columns and traditional red brick structures, respectively. The religious denominations are Eastern Orthodox and Christian (Lutheran). Interestingly, in the center of the square where the White Church stands, there is a bronze statue of Tsar Alexander II, who ruled Finland during the Russian Empire era in 1894. The fact that Finns have preserved the statue of a ruler who once governed their country’s top echelon without overthrowing it reveals a fascinating aspect of their emotional world.