The cathedral, one of the symbols of Riga. The main church of the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church.
The cathedral church is the only complex of a cathedral-type church and a cathedral monastery in the Baltic States. The foundation stone of the cathedral was laid in 1211, but construction began around 1215. The construction of the premises was completed around 1300. During the construction, the plans, styles and materials of the temple changed. Instead of the planned two towers, it was necessary to stop at one for financial reasons.
The 140-meter church tower, built in 1595, was the tallest in Riga at that time. In 1710, during the siege of Riga, the roof of the church was badly damaged. During the restoration of the destroyed church, the roofs of the side buildings of the church were rebuilt, changing the slopes of the roofs.
In 1772, after Catherine II of Russia banned burials in churches, burials were moved from the cathedral, as a result of which the floor level of the church was raised. In 1775, the Riga court ordered the spire of the tower to be demolished and a new one built - the one that can be seen now with the tower's baroque finish. From 1888 to 1914, the church and the cross underwent repair and restoration work by the Riga Dome Department of the Society for the Study of History and Antiquities. Now the length of the cathedral is 87.1 m, the width is 43.5 m, the height of the tower is about 90 m.
In Soviet times, 1959-1962, the building was converted into a concert hall. The altar was dismantled and chairs were installed overlooking the organ. From 1981 to 1984, the Dutch organ building company "Flentrop Orgelbouw Zaandam" reconstructed the organ. In parallel, internal repairs were carried out, all engineering communications were reconstructed.
At the same time, the copper cladding of the visor of the tower, the railings of both galleries were renewed, a new cockerel was made on the tower and the globe was restored, an automatic fire extinguishing system was installed in the tower, and air conditioning equipment was installed.
The cathedral church is the only complex of a cathedral-type church and a cathedral monastery in the Baltic States. The foundation stone of the cathedral was laid in 1211, but construction began around 1215. The construction of the premises was completed around 1300. During the construction, the plans, styles and materials of the temple changed. Instead of the planned two towers, it was necessary to stop at one for financial reasons.
The 140-meter church tower, built in 1595, was the tallest in Riga at that time. In 1710, during the siege of Riga, the roof of the church was badly damaged. During the restoration of the destroyed church, the roofs of the side buildings of the church were rebuilt, changing the slopes of the roofs.
In 1772, after Catherine II of Russia banned burials in churches, burials were moved from the cathedral, as a result of which the floor level of the church was raised. In 1775, the Riga court ordered the spire of the tower to be demolished and a new one built - the one that can be seen now with the tower's baroque finish. From 1888 to 1914, the church and the cross underwent repair and restoration work by the Riga Dome Department of the Society for the Study of History and Antiquities. Now the length of the cathedral is 87.1 m, the width is 43.5 m, the height of the tower is about 90 m.
In Soviet times, 1959-1962, the building was converted into a concert hall. The altar was dismantled and chairs were installed overlooking the organ. From 1981 to 1984, the Dutch organ building company "Flentrop Orgelbouw Zaandam" reconstructed the organ. In parallel, internal repairs were carried out, all engineering communications were reconstructed.
At the same time, the copper cladding of the visor of the tower, the railings of both galleries were renewed, a new cockerel was made on the tower and the globe was restored, an automatic fire extinguishing system was installed in the tower, and air conditioning equipment was installed.
Translated automatically from Ukrainian. View original
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