Helsinki Cathedral is an Evangelical Lutheran church, one of the ten Evangelical Lutheran cathedral churches in Finland. It is considered a symbol and a notable landmark of Helsinki, and it functions as the principal church of both the Helsinki Diocese and the Helsinki Cathedral Parish. The cathedral serves the residents of central Helsinki and those who work in the city, as well as visitors. It is in active use for worship and concerts every day of the week.
Helsinki Cathedral also hosts the ecumenical services that mark the opening and closing of Parliamentary Sessions, as well as the annual Finnish Independence Day service. In addition, it serves the University of Helsinki and other institutions of higher education as the venue for promotional services in connection with the Degree Ceremonies of the various faculties. The cathedral is visited by about 500,000 people every year.