Kirkkokari

Kirkkokari (Swedish: Kyrkholmen; "the Church Islet", also known as Saint Henry's Island (Finnish: Pyhän Henrikin saari, Swedish: S:t Henriks holm)) is a small island in Lake Köyliö in Köyliö municipality, Satakunta, Finland. It is the only modern day Roman Catholic pilgrimage site in Finland and one of the few in Nordic countries.^[1]

Memorial of Christianization of Finland

According to tradition, Saint Henry was murdered by Lalli on the ice of Lake Köyliö by the Kirkkokari island in the winter of 1156.^[1] Since the 13th century, it was a pilgrimage site for Catholics. A small chapel was built on the island which was used until the 18th century. Foundations of the chapel are still visible.^[2] In 1955, the memorial of Christianization of Finland was erected in Kirkkokari and a small altar, "Saint Henry's altar", in 1999.^[1]

The Finnish Roman Catholic Church organizes an annual pilgrimage to Kirkkokari via the Saint Henry's Way. The 140-kilometre-long journey starts from the city of Turku. It ends on a memorial service in Kirkkokari on the last pre-Midsummer Sunday.^[1]