Erottaja ( Finnish: [ˈerotːɑjɑ] ; lit. ' the separator ' ), Swedish : Skillnaden ; Swedish: [ˈʃil.naːden] ; lit. ' the difference ' ), is a public square near the centre of Helsinki , Finland .
41-466: Erottaja square has been selected as the official geographic " zero point " of Helsinki. Distances to all other cities in Finland are measured starting from here. In practice, the square functions as the meeting point of central Helsinki's two famous streets, Esplanadi and Mannerheimintie . The square is the western endpoint of Esplanadi, with the eastern endpoint being at the market square . Mannerheimintie,
82-420: A person's patron saint, having already attained the beatific vision , is able to intercede with God for their needs. Apart from Lutheranism and Anglicanism, it is, however, generally discouraged in other Protestant branches, such as Reformed Christianity , where the practice is considered a form of idolatry . A saint can be assigned as a patron by a venerable tradition, or chosen by election. The saint
123-688: A sandstone obelisk in Macquarie Place in Sydney , designed by Francis Greenway in 1818. The obelisk lists the distances to various locations in New South Wales at the time. For the railway, it is at platform 1 of Central station . The General Post Office building in Melbourne traditionally serves this purpose in Victoria . In Western Australia , road distances are measured from "Point Zero", which
164-531: A city which grew to prominence obtained for its cathedral the remains or some relics of a famous saint who had lived and was buried elsewhere, thus making them the city's patron saint – such a practice conferred considerable prestige on the city concerned. In Latin America and the Philippines , Spanish and Portuguese explorers often named a location for the saint on whose feast or commemoration day they first visited
205-453: A particular location (usually in the nation's capital city) from which distances are traditionally measured and some use this as their official country location or coordinates for faster search at space satellites, this is also used for measuring distances between different countries around the world. Historically, they were markers where drivers could set their odometers to follow the directions in early roaming guide books . One such marker
246-743: A point of reference from the capital city. In Sarawak, kilometre zero of Pan Borneo Highway started in Telok Melano. In Sabah, the starting point for Kota Kinabalu City's kilometre zero began in front of the Sabah Tourism Board building, which used to be a post office during the British colonial era. Kilometre zero of Mexico is located next to the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral in Mexico City . The North Korean kilometre zero
287-507: Is a saint who in Catholicism , Lutheranism , Anglicanism , Eastern Orthodoxy or Oriental Orthodoxy is regarded as the heavenly advocate of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person. The term may be applied to individuals to whom similar roles are ascribed in other religions . Saints often become the patrons of places where they were born or had been active. However, there were cases in medieval Europe where
328-746: Is at Kim Il-sung Square in the capital Pyongyang . Kilometre zero for roads from Oslo , the capital of Norway , is at the address Observatoriegaten 1 . Kilometre zero for most railways in Norway is 0.27 kilometres (0.17 mi) westwards into the Oslo Tunnel . The Panamanian kilometre zero is at the Martin Sosa Bridge on the Simon Bolivar Avenue (Transisthmian Highway) in the capital Panama City . Patron saint A patron saint , patroness saint , patron hallow or heavenly protector
369-710: Is by the old Treasury Building on the corner of Cathedral Avenue and St Georges Terrace in Perth , because this building once housed the Lands and Surveys Department. All national distances from Santiago , the capital of Chile , originate at the Km. 0 plaque at the Plaza de Armas main square in its downtown. (Coordinates: 33°26′16″S 70°39′02″W / 33.4378°S 70.6505°W / -33.4378; -70.6505 .) Chile's Autopista Central – Eje Norte-Sur (the eastern segment of
410-489: Is considered a special intercessor with God and the proper advocate of a particular locality, occupation, etc., and merits a special form of religious observance. A term in some ways comparable is "titular", which is applicable only to a church or institution. Although Islam has no codified doctrine of patronage on the part of saints, it has nevertheless been an important part of both Sunni and Shia Islamic traditions that particularly important classical saints have served as
451-642: Is in Menelik II Square, Addis Ababa , in front of St. George's Cathedral ; it is the point from which all Ethiopian highway distances are measured. The point was designated by Emperor Haile Selassie in 1930. Kilometre zero in Finland is at the Erottaja square in central Helsinki . Point zero of the French national highways is located in the city square of Parvis Notre-Dame – Place Jean-Paul II of Paris facing
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#1732845460392492-583: Is in its capital Havana in El Capitolio . Embedded in the floor in the centre of the main hall is a replica 25 carats (5.0 g) diamond, which marks kilometre zero. The original diamond, said to have belonged to Tsar Nicholas II of Russia and have been sold to the Cuban state by a Turkish merchant, was stolen on March 25, 1946, and mysteriously returned to the President, Ramón Grau San Martín , on June 2, 1946. It
533-584: Is marked by a monument, forming the number "zero". The starting point was initially reckoned from the threshold of the Buda Royal Palace , but it was taken down to the Széchenyi Chain Bridge when it was built in 1849. The city of Kecskemét also has a zero kilometre stone on Kossuth Square. In India, the Zero Mile Stone is a monument in the city of Nagpur , Maharashtra. The Zero Mile Stone
574-509: Is on the middle of Nihonbashi bridge in Tokyo , the capital city of Japan . Tokyo Station is considered the originating point of the national railway network and has several posts and monuments indicating kilometre zero for lines originating from the station. The kilometre zero in Kyrgyzstan is located in its capital Bishkek . Kilometre zero for the major roads radiating from Antananarivo ,
615-695: Is the Milliarium Aureum ("Golden Milestone") of the Roman Empire , believed to be the literal origin for the maxim that " all roads lead to Rome ". Argentina marks kilometre zero with a monolith in Plaza Congreso in Buenos Aires . The work of the brothers Máximo and José Fioravanti , the structure was placed on the north side of Plaza Lorea on October 2, 1935; it was moved to its present location on May 18, 1944. An image of Our Lady of Luján (honored on
656-806: The Altar of the Twelve Gods in the ancient agora of Athens . So, that altar can be considered the first kilometre zero in human history. Nowadays, the kilometre zero for Greek highways is the National Observatory of Athens . The kilometre zero is located at the National Palace in Guatemala City . The National Palace is also the residence for the Guatemalan president. Traditionally, milestones for Castle Peak Road , Tai Po Road and Clear Water Bay Road ,
697-504: The GPO building in Princes Street. For most mainline railways, miles are measured from the associated London terminal station . The 0 km point for the whole London Underground network is located at Ongar railway station which is actually no longer part of the network and is only operated as part of a heritage railway . See also: In Ancient Greece , distances were measured from
738-755: The General Post Office on the city's main thoroughfare, O'Connell Street . In Jerusalem , its kilometre zero or zero point is at Jaffa Gate . Some say it is at The Garden Tomb . However, there is no precise marker, as of today. However, the Railway system uses a different kilometre zero point at the former Haifa East railway station . The Italian kilometre zero is on the top of the Capitoline Hill in Rome . Kilometre zero in Japan ( 日本国道路元標 , Nipponkoku Dōro Genpyō )
779-687: The Panamerican Highway that passes through Santiago) has its kilometre zero at the intersection with the Alameda del Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins , the capital's main avenue. (Coordinates: 33°26′46″S 70°39′39″W / 33.4462°S 70.6607°W / -33.4462; -70.6607 .) China Railway 's kilometre zero is at the entrance to the Fengtai Yard on the Beijing–Guangzhou railway just outside its capital Beijing . This point
820-683: The 18th century. Elijah and Jethro ( Shuaib ) are considered patron saints of the Druze people . In the Old Testament , Jethro was Moses ' father-in-law, a Kenite shepherd and priest of Midian . Muslim scholars and the Druze identify Jethro with the prophet Shuaib, also said to come from Midian. Shuaib or Jethro of Midian is considered an ancestor of the Druze who revere him as their spiritual founder and chief prophet. Druze identify Elijah as "al- Khidr ". Druze, like some Christians , believe that
861-566: The Prophet Elijah came back as Saint John the Baptist , since they believe in reincarnation and the transmigration of the soul, Druze believe that El Khidr and Saint John the Baptist are one and the same; along with Saint George . Due to the Christian influence on the Druze faith , two Christian saints become the Druze's favorite venerated figures: Saint George and Saint Elijah. Thus, in all
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#1732845460392902-659: The capital of Madagascar , is on the square in front of the Soarano Railway Station. Kilometre zero for roads and highways in Peninsular Malaysia is located in front of Johor Bahru General Post Office. It is one of the rare cases where the national kilometre zero is not at the capital (in this case, Kuala Lumpur ) due to the fact that the distances for three major backbone routes ( Federal Routes 1 , 3 and 5 ) are measured from Johor Bahru, where they meet. In addition, Kuala Lumpur has its own Zero Mile marker as
943-459: The centre of Charing Cross in London , there is a plaque bearing the inscription: On the site now occupied by the statue of King Charles I was erected the original Queen Eleanor's Cross , a replica of which stands in front of Charing Cross station. Mileages from London are measured from the site of the original cross. In Scotland , distances from Edinburgh are measured from a bollard in front of
984-609: The first three highways extending from the city centre in Kowloon to the rural areas, were all measured from the Star Ferry pier at Tsim Sha Tsui. There are still milestones preserved today but there is no Milestone 0. However, modern highways in Hong Kong no longer use this system. Each trunk route has its own Km. 0 at one end. The Zero Kilometre Stone in Budapest , the capital of Hungary ,
1025-626: The heavenly advocates for specific Muslim empires , nations , cities , towns , and villages . Martin Lings wrote: "There is scarcely a region in the empire of Islam which has not a Sufi for its Patron Saint." As the veneration accorded saints often develops purely organically in Islamic climates, in a manner different from Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Christianity , "patron saints" are often recognized through popular acclaim rather than through official declaration. Traditionally, it has been understood that
1066-722: The longest and most famous street in Helsinki, begins at Erottaja and continues northwest, past the districts of Töölö and Ruskeasuo , until finally merging with a highway leading outside the city. The starting points of both Finnish national roads , the Tampere Highway ( E12 ) and the Lahti Highway ( E75 ), are located approximately in Erottaja. The name 'separator' originates from 19th century, when Erottaja separated actual city centre from Uusimaa ( Swedish : Nyland ) suburb . There
1107-565: The main entrance of Notre-Dame with the medallion installed in 1924. (Coordinates: 48°51′12″N 2°20′56″E / 48.8534°N 2.3488°E / 48.8534; 2.3488 ). It was established by King Louis XV in April 1769. A commemorative kilometre zero for the Liberty Road was erected in Sainte-Mère-Eglise , liberated by U.S. paratroopers on 6 June 1944. Initially,
1148-539: The monolith as "the patron saint of the national road network") appears on the monolith's north face, a relief map of Argentina is on the south face, plaques in honour of José de San Martín are west, and on its eastern side, the date of the decree and the name of the relevant authorities. Highways in Australia are usually built and maintained by the states and territories . In the state of New South Wales , highway distances ( mileages ) were traditionally measured from
1189-459: The origin point of all Prussian roads leading to and from the capital Berlin was at Dönhoff-Platz in the city centre (1730–1875) and in 1975 a reconstructed milestone was placed in front of the Spittelkolonnaden [ de ] at Marion-Gräfin-Dönhoff-Platz. (Coordinates: 52°30′39″N 13°23′56″E / 52.5108°N 13.3990°E / 52.5108; 13.3990 .) In
1230-609: The original Finnish edition of Monopoly , even more expensive than Mannerheimintie (the second most expensive lot). This has earned the square fame even outside Helsinki. 60°10′00″N 024°56′36″E / 60.16667°N 24.94333°E / 60.16667; 24.94333 This Southern Finland location article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Kilometre Zero In many countries, kilometre zero (also written km 0 ) or similar terms in other languages (also known as zero mile marker , zero milepost , control stations , or control points ) denote
1271-448: The patron saint of a particular place prays for that place's wellbeing and for the health and happiness of all who live therein. However, the Wahhabi and Salafi movements have latterly attacked the veneration of saints (as patron or otherwise), which they claim are a form of idolatry or shirk . More mainstream Sunni clerics have critiqued this argument since Wahhabism first emerged in
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1312-426: The place, with that saint naturally becoming the area's patron. Occupations sometimes have a patron saint who had been connected somewhat with it, although some of the connections were tenuous. Lacking such a saint, an occupation would have a patron whose acts or miracles in some way recall the profession. For example, when the previously unknown occupation of photography appeared in the 19th century, Saint Veronica
1353-448: The villages inhabited by Druzes and Christians in central Mount Lebanon a Christian church or Druze maqam is dedicated to either one of them. According to scholar Ray Jabre Mouawad the Druzes appreciated the two saints for their bravery: Saint George because he confronted the dragon and the Prophet Elijah because he competed with the pagan priests of Baal and won over them. In both cases
1394-609: The zero point used to be at St. Thomas Cathedral , but now it is at the Horniman Circle . In Chennai , kilometre zero is at the midpoint of Muthuswamy Bridge on Muthuswamy Road near the Chennai Fort railway station on the south-western side of Fort St. George . {{{annotations}}} In Iran , the Azadi Tower in its capital Tehran serves as the kilometre zero. In Ireland , distances from its capital Dublin are measured from
1435-455: Was also a minor bus station at Erottaja. Very few lines started or ended there, most of them started or ended at the Kamppi Center , at Elielinaukio or at Rautatientori . Helsinki route 20 (Erottaja - Lauttasaari ) buses were a familiar sight for decades at Erottaja. Bus station as well as a well-known 'nakkikioski' (a kiosk selling sausages and other fast food) disappeared when the square
1476-607: Was erected by the British Raj , and consists of four horses and a pillar made of sandstone. There is no verifiable evidence that it is a monument locating the geographical centre of colonial India in the city of Nagpur, or that the Zero Mile Stone was erected by the British to use this point to measure all the distances. Incidentally, the city of Nagpur lies geographically central to all the four major metros of India, viz. Chennai , Mumbai , Kolkata and New Delhi . In Mumbai ,
1517-519: Was historically the start of the line; the marker is a simple concrete marker, with "0" painted on it. There is no ceremonial plaque. The kilometre zero point for highways is at Tiananmen Square , just outside the Zhengyangmen Gate. It is marked with a plaque in the ground, with the four cardinal points, four animals, and "Zero Point of Highways, China" in English and Chinese. Cuba 's kilometre zero
1558-469: Was made its patron, owing to how her veil miraculously received the imprint of Christ 's face after she wiped off the blood and sweat. The veneration or commemoration and recognition of patron saints or saints in general is found in Catholicism (including Eastern Catholicism ), Eastern Orthodoxy , Oriental Orthodoxy , and among some Lutherans and Anglicans . According to the Catholic catechism
1599-512: Was renovated in late 2010's. The Swedish Theatre ( Swedish : Svenska teatern , Finnish : Ruotsalainen teatteri ) is located at Erottaja, at the western edge of the Esplanadi park. A sculpture named Usko toivo rakkaus (Swedish: Tro hopp kärlek ), meaning "Faith hope love", by Eva Lange , was erected in front of it in September 2019. Erottaja is also famous for being the most expensive lot in
1640-514: Was replaced in El Capitolio by a replica in 1973. Traditionally, distances to Copenhagen , Denmark 's capital, were measured to the old city gates. City Hall Square (old Vesterport) is the zero point for roads from south and west such as from Korsør or Rødby . For road from north such as from Helsingør or Hillerød , point zero is Østerport located on the North side of the inner city. Nørreport
1681-606: Was used from Frederikssund , and Amagerport from Amager . There are old monuments at these locations. On railways distances are in general measured from Copenhagen Central Station . DR-1 , DR-2 , and DR-3 all depart from kilometre zero at Santo Domingo 's Parque de Independencia. Kilometre zero in Egypt is at the Attaba Square Post Office in 1st of Abdel Khaliq Sarwat Pasha Street, Cairo . Kilometre zero in Ethiopia