ðə kɐθˈiːdɹəl wʌzðə sˈaɪt ʌvðɪ ˈoʊpənɪŋ ʌvðə fˈɜːst dˈaɪət ʌv fˈɪnlənd ˌɔn twˈɛnti ˈeɪt mˈɑːɹtʃ wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪn, æt wˌɪtʃ fˈɪnlənd wʌz dᵻklˈɛɹd ɐn ɔːtˈɑːnəməs ɡɹˈænd dˈʌtʃi, wɪððɪ ˈɛmpɚɹɚɹ ʌv ɹˈʌʃə zˈɑːɹ slˈæʃ tsˈɑːɹ æz ðə ɡɹˈænd dˈuːk ʌv fˈɪnlənd.
The cathedral was the site of the opening of the first Diet of Finland on 28 March 1809, at which Finland was declared an autonomous Grand Duchy, with the Emperor of Russia (Czar / Tsar) as the Grand Duke of Finland.