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The Aid of the Finnish Orthodox Culture.was founded on 29th March, 2000. In 2004, the association established the Foundation of the Finnish Orthodox Cultural Centre, whose main goal was to create and run the activities of the cultural centre and find a suitable space for it. During the same year seminars and discussions were organised and publishing activities started.
The foundation bought the property from the Op Pohjola Group in 2006 and activities started at the beginning of 2007. On 25th May, 2007, Archbishop Leo inaugurated the Chapel of Holy Wisdom. The formal opening ceremony and ecclesiastical blessing were held in February 2008.
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Social demand
The Orthodox culture is an unbreakable, communal tradition. The Cultural Centre Sofia cherishes the Orthodox tradition and brings more discussions of values to the society. Sofia forwards ecumeny and traditions of eastern and western Christianity. The structural change that has occurred over the past three decades has brought most of the Orthodox population to southern Finland. The existing cultural centres of the Orthodox Church are situated in Kuopio (the Orthodox Church museum) and in Heinävesi (Valamo and Lintula monasteries). An Orthodox cultural centre was missing in the metropolitan area.
The Developmental phases of the Training Centre
Architect Aarre Piirainen started to design the Gebhard Academy in 1957. The B building was completed in 1958 and the C building in 1963. When more space was required, the C building was ready in 1980. The name was changed to Osuuspankki Academy. The Foundation of the Finnish Orthodox Cultural Centre purchased the property on 14th September, 2006.
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