Suistamo, Republic of Karelia Russia
Orthodox Church of Finland
The church was built from 1839-1844. It was repaired in 1903 and 1938. The area was in the Finnish Karelia ceded to the Soviet Union in 1944. The Soviets used the church as a theater, replacing the altar with a stage. When the area was retaken in the Continuation War, retreating Russian soldiers set it on fire. However, there was time for Finnish soldiers to extinguish the blaze with minor damage. Repairs were finished by 1943. It was then used for a youth camp canteen, with a kitchen in place of the altar, and also as a laundry. The clock tower was dismantled. A lease was taken out in 1991 for 50 years and the church was given to the current residents for use as a church. 150 years of worship was celebrated in 1994.