Life and work of Johannes Karhapää during 1910–1918
Keywords:
Johannes Karhapää, Sonkajanranta, Oikeauskoiskirkollinen seura, ortodoksinen, fennomaanit, venäläistyttäminen, sotasurma 1918, kiertävä uskonnonopettaja, Pohjois-Karjala, marttyyriAbstract
In November 2018, the Finnish catechist and teacher of religion Johannes Karhapää (1884‒1918) was included in the martyrs and confessors of the Orthodox Church. Shortly thereafter, a collection of various documents related to Karhapää between 1910‒1918 was delivered to the Orthodox parish of Joensuu. This article examines the ecclesiastical and social activity of Johannes Karhapää in the light of the newest sources.
First, Karhapää had an impact on the development of the village of Sonkajanranta. Later, he served in the office of the itinerant teacher of religion in the province of Kuopio. A youth association, a school, a church, and a road were built on his initiative in Sonkajanranta. His activity raised public opposition in the local village meetings and even in the newspapers nationwide, as he had sought and received support from the Russian ecclesiastical and secular authorities. He was claimed to be the henchmen of the tsar and the dark power of North Karelia. Harsh measures were demanded. As a result of the intolerance, Johannes Karhapää was executed in Joensuu during the Finnish Civil War (1918) together with some ‘red’ prisoners.
The sources indicate that Karhapää took care of the everyday needs and administrative duties of the youth assosiation and the school of Sonkajaranta but also of his teacher office. The documents highlight Karhapää’s own voice and diligence. Karhapää was determined, hard-working, aware of his calling, and therefore, uncompromising. In a letter dated to October 1917, Karhapää confessed that he understood the seriousness of his situation, yet, without compromising, he noted that he had only tried to fulfil his calling.
