The Evangelical Lutheran Parishes of Espoo, Helsinki and Vantaa will host a diverse programme including a Multilingual Festival Worship Service at the World Village Festival on 16 to 17 May 2026 under the theme Freedom to believe, to hope and to love. This year’s theme of the World Village festival, which focuses on sustainable development, is freedom.

The Lutheran Church’s participation in the festival is centred on dialogue. Rather than offering ready-made answers, the Church creates a space for questions, invites people to pause and reflect: What does freedom mean to me, to us – and what kind of freedom do we want to build for the future?

The whole festival programme organised by the churches here:

Festival programme at Kamppi Chapel: 16 May and 17 May

Mass of Freedom – multilingual worship service 17 May at Bio Rex, Lasipalatsi

Freedom Means Both Rights and Responsibility

‍The theme of freedom is both natural and challenging for the Lutheran Church. In the Christian tradition, freedom does not mean no boundaries, but rather orientation towards the good: “I have the right to do anything,” one might say – but not everything is beneficial, as the First Letter to the Corinthians reminds us.

“Freedom is above all responsibility – a call to build what is good for others and to care for our shared world,” says Minna Saarnivaara, Specialist in International Affairs and Multicultural Work at the Vantaa Parishes.

Questions of freedom are particularly topical today. Globally, there is ongoing debate about the freedom of religion, freedom of movement, war and peace, and who has the right to a safe life. On a personal level, many people are also reflecting on what freedom means amid pressure, fear and uncertainty.

From the Church’s perspective, freedom is not only about rights, but also about responsibility. “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom,” as the Second Letter to the Corinthians states. This freedom calls for building connection, reconciliation and peace, rather than excluding anyone.

Saarnivaara adds that, from the Church’s standpoint, freedom is always linked to human dignity.

“Every person is created with inherent worth, and this value does not depend on status, background or opinions. That is why the Church wants to be involved in defending a kind of freedom that belongs to everyone – not just for few.”

“Freedom finds its meaning from the way we use it – together,” Minna Saarnivaara emphasises.

The World Village Festival will take place on 16 to 17 May 2026 in a new setting in the city centre of Helsinki: at Bio Rex, Lasipalatsi Square, Mauno Koivisto Square and Narinkkatori.

Pictures from the multicultural worship service at World Village Festival 2025. Photographer: Jani Karlsson, Vantaa parishes.

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