Little vicarage

Little Vicarage was built in 1795 as the residence and work premises of the chaplain of the Evangelical Lutheran congregation of Ilomantsi. The building was requisitioned for military use in July 1944.

Major General Erkki Raappana, who had commanded the 14th Division in Rukajärvi sector since the outbreak of the Continuation War (Finnish-Soviet conflict from 1941 to-1944), received a task from the General Headquarters on 24 July 1944. His orders were to repel and destroy Red Army forces that were advancing toward Ilomantsi. Raappana established his command post in Little Vicarage for a three-week period.

Why did Raappana choose Little Vicarage? He had served as the commander of the Joensuu Frontier Guard District from 1921 to 1939 and had come to know Ilomantsi parish village and its buildings well because one of his companies was based there.

Little Vicarage was a large house with several rooms for use by the general's staff. Raappana was a nature-lover, and it is also assumed that one reason he selected Little Vicarage was its stunning location.

However, the choice was dictated by practical reasons: the house was well suited for the intended purpose and had good road connections and radio communication links. Raappana often left Little Vicarage for his forward command post in the settlement of Lehtovaara on the Hattuvaara road.

Near the building, at the edge of the car park next to the water tower, is a memorial plaque mounted on an anti-tank rock.

Little Vicarage is in private use and not accessible to the public.