Ships in churches.

Have You ever seen them in Your country?

When photographing churches indoors I take look at shrines, altarpieces, pulpits, glass paintings, floors, ceilings, candlesticks, fonts, family arms, wedding carpets, pews, how they are like and of course I take my time to quiet down on some pews to test them. But there are also other things to see in the churches also: bells which are used to wake up sleeping people and amazingly ships.

Why there are ships in the churches? Why we can see so earthly things in the churches? That is the question.

I have to confess that I did not notice them until one my friend asked me about them when she looked at one of my photograph. These ships are called as Votiivi-ships in my country. Votiivi comes originally from Latin word Votum which means: Promise given in pray.

They have been donated by some congregants who have been saved from some distress at sea or thankfulness from some successful sea voyage. Originally they are memories to some person who has been drowned. People has gathered by the side of these ships to remember those who have been drowned and to pray for them.

Ships are old Christian symbols: Church is a ship, that lead us safely at world’s rough seas. As an example is used Noah's ark. These ships are hanging from ceiling and their prow is pointing direct to the shrine. Also they are extremely meticulous work of art from the original models.

I was told that one can spend 2500 working hours to make these ships. Yes, I can understand it. If we change 2500 hours to 8 hours working days, then we have 312,5 working days and this does not include normal daily coffee and tobacco breaks or meetings with the boss. Well, when we add all this, we can say that it takes about one year to make the ship. So all the ships in churches are worth of big sum of money, but also worth of hat off. In my country there are listed 200 these Votiivi-ships and now I am presenting to You only 11 ships.

Are there ships in the churches of Your country or have You seen them somewhere else?

This ship is found in the church of Karjaa. It is quite modest.

This ship is found in the church of Masku. Look how many canons there are. It’s a real war ship.

This ship is found in the church of Pietarsaari. Pirates of Caribbean style. Lol.

This ship is in the old church of Porvoo. It's style of Hansakogg ship from the 16th century and these ships could be seen in southern part of Finland when they made commercial trips to Europe of that epoch. What a beauty!

This ship is found in the church of Pyhamaa. This ships reminds me about the real ship I presented to You earlier – Suomen Joutsen.

This ship is found in the old church of Pyhamaa.

This ship is found in the church of Pyharanta. Port Caledonia, what a name for Finnish sailing boat!

This ship is found in the church of Raahe. I like this model.

This ship is found in the church of Rauma.

This ship is found in the church of Sysma. Maybe Koggi-style?

This ship is found in the cathedral of Turku. It is nice.

This ship is found in the small city of Ulvila.

Aren’t they incredible? Did You like these photos and real story, ships in churches in Finland?