St. John's Church, Riga

St. John's Church
St. John's Church
St. John's Church
56°56′51.09″N 24°6′38.90″E / 56.9475250°N 24.1108056°E / 56.9475250; 24.1108056Coordinates: 56°56′51.09″N 24°6′38.90″E / 56.9475250°N 24.1108056°E / 56.9475250; 24.1108056
Location	Riga
Country	Latvia
Denomination	Lutheran

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St. John's Church (Latvian: Svētā Jāņa Evaņģēliski luteriskā baznīca) is a Lutheran church in Riga, the capital of Latvia. It is a parish church of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia. The church is situated at the address 24 Skārņu Street.^[1]

Dedication

The church is dedicated to St John the Baptist and contains several art works related to the saint, including a large painting on the north side of the crossing, and a stained glass window depicting the saint, to the right (south) of the high altar. The window, with others, was installed around 1900.

History

The church is built on the site of the palace of Bishop Albert of Riga (thirteenth century). In 1234 Dominican friars took responsibility for the original small chapel and dedicated it to St John the Baptist. It was extended around 1330, and continued as a Dominican chapel and parish church until 1523, and the Reformation. It continued as a parish church of the reformed Evangelical Lutheran Church. From 1587 there was further expansion of the church, in stages. The church suffered severe damage in Riga's great city fire of 31 May 1677, but was repaired, with a new spire added.^[2]

Current use

The church is an active place of worship, with more than a thousand registered members, and public worship every Sunday morning and Wednesday evening. It is also a popular tourist venue, and is regularly open to visitors when guides are available. The church is also used as a concert venue, due to its large size and good acoustic properties.

The interior looking toward the high altar
Looking north west toward the organ
St John the Baptist Church - the high altar and chancel area

References

↑ Banga, Vita; Marina Levina; et al. (2007). Rīgas dievnami: Arhitektūra un māksla. Riga's Churches. Architecture and Art (in Latvian, German, English, and Russian). Riga: Zinātne, Apgads Mantojums. ISBN 978-9984-823-00-3. OCLC 217266501.
↑ "Riga St John's Church", by Ojars Sparitis, privately published 2006.

External links

Official website (in Latvian).

Places of worship in Riga

Lutheran churches:	Bolderāja Cathedral Church of Christ Church of Jesus Church of Luther Church of the Cross Church of the Resurrection Daugavgrīva Holy Trinity Jaunciems Mežaparks New St. Gertrude's Old St. Gertrude's St. Catherine's St. John's St. Martin's St. Paul's St. Peter's

Catholic churches:	Assumption of Our Lady Cathedral Christ the King Our Lady of Sorrows St. Albert's St. Catherine's St. Francis St. George's St. Joseph's St. Mary Magdalene's

Orthodox churches:	All Saints Annunciation of Our Most Holy Lady Ascension Christ the Saviour Holy Archangel Mikhail Holy Trinity Holy Trinity Cathedral Icon of Our Lady of Kazanha Nativity Cathedral St. Alexander Nevsky St. John the Forerunner St. Peter and St. Paul St. Sergius of Radonezh Shelter of Our Most Holy Lady Revelation of Christ

Old Believers place of worship:	Grebenstchikov House of Prayer

Other Christian churches:	St. Saviour's Church (Anglican)

Synagogues:	Peitav Synagogue

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