kirkonkirjoilla
Kirkonkirjoilla is a Finnish term meaning “in the church records.” In Finland it refers to the parish registers kept by congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church (and historically also by Orthodox congregations in certain areas). These church books served as the main source of local vital records for centuries, recording information about individuals and families within a parish.
What is typically recorded are events such as baptisms, confirmations, marriages, and deaths or burials. Many
K kirkonkirjat are a foundational resource for genealogy and local history. Researchers use them to establish
Access to kirkonkirjat has expanded through digitization and online archives. Many parish registers have been scanned,