It was also known as St Nicholas's Church (Finnish: Nikolainkirkko, Swedish: Nikolajkyrkan) until Finland declared its full independence in 1917.

Engel originally intended to place a further row of columns on the western end to mark the main entrance opposite the eastern altar, but this was never built.

After Helsinki was made into the capital of Finland in 1812, Alexander I decreed in 1814 that 15 percent of the salt import tax were to be collected into a fund for two churches, one Lutheran and one Orthodox.

[12] He also erected larger-than-life sized zinc statues of the Twelve Apostles at the apexes and corners of the roofline in 1849.

[17] The opening sequence of the music video for "Sandstorm" by Darude was filmed on Senate Square, prominently featuring the Cathedral in the background.