Saint Henry’s Way – A Historical Pilgrimage Route in Finland
Saint Henry’s Way is a 140-kilometer pilgrimage route through the Finnish countryside, stretching from St. Henry’s Chapel in Kokemäki in the north to Turku Cathedral in the south. The route can be done in either direction. The trail is marked on maps with a red line. Where walking is the only viable option, alternative routes are indicated with dashed or blue lines. Map can be found in https://www.henrikinvaellus.fi/
Along the trail, the route is primarily marked with red wood-fiber ribbons featuring the association’s logo.
One of the unique features of the route is its passage through the Vaskijärvi Strict Nature Reserve. Please note that access to the reserve is strictly prohibited from February 1 to May 31. The restricted area is marked on the map with a green square, and signs from Metsähallitus (the Finnish Forest Administration) indicate the beginning of the protected zone along the trail.
The Origin of the Pilgrimage
Saint Henry’s Way follows the legendary path of Saint Henry, an English-born bishop who arrived in Finland in the 1150s, likely accompanying King Eric of Sweden on a crusade to Christianize the region. Henry remained in Finland to continue missionary work after the crusade.
According to tradition, Henry was murdered in winter on the ice of Lake Köyliö by a local man named Lalli after a dispute. This event, believed to have occurred around the year 1156, made Henry a martyr and one of the most important saints in Finnish Christian history.
The pilgrimage route honors his memory by connecting the places associated with his mission, martyrdom, and legacy, offering modern-day pilgrims a meaningful journey through Finnish history, nature, and spirituality.
