Saarna

Saarna is a Finnish noun meaning sermon, a religious discourse delivered during a church service. It is typically spoken by a pastor, priest, or other ordained speaker as part of Christian worship, often interpreting scripture, offering guidance, and exhorting the congregation.

In Finnish usage, saarna is primarily associated with liturgical contexts but may also appear in religious writing, theology, and public discussions about church life. The act of delivering a sermon is saarnaaminen, and the verb form saarnata means to deliver a sermon. The term can take on a broader, figurative sense when referring to moralizing or exhortative speech outside of formal worship.

Orthography and related terms are straightforward in Finnish: saarna appears as a standalone noun, while related words derive from the same root, such as saarnata (to sermonize) and saarnaaminen (the act of delivering sermons). The concept is closely tied to Christian traditions present in Finland, including Lutheran and other Protestant communities, where sermons are a central element of regular services.

See also: Sermon; Finnish language; Christian worship.