Details
Founded: 1760-1814Category: Religious sites in Latvia
Historical period: Part of the Russian Empire (Latvia)
Rating
4.5/5 (based on Google user reviews)
User Reviews
Maksim M (12 months ago)
This is an amazing place. The largest non-priest Old Believer church in the world. 5,000 people can pray here at the same time. The first wooden chapel on this site was founded back in 1760, but burned down during the War of 1812; the current church was built at the expense of Old Believers merchants later. The temple contains several thousand priceless icons from the 16th to the 20th centuries. In the main hall, the iconostasis occupies a wall six rows high, and more icons are placed along the walls and the internal partition, which previously divided the temple into male and female parts. There were even two separate entrances for men and women. This is no longer the case, since of the remaining community of approximately 10,000 people, the majority of worshipers are women. In the basement of the temple there is a museum, tours of which are conducted on Sundays by Azii Isaevich Ivanov, an 89-year-old (at the beginning of 2024) Old Believer, Doctor of Historical Sciences, who has enormous knowledge in the history of the Old Believer Church. One of the museum's rooms is a former huge wood-burning stove, which was used to heat this huge building. All Riga residents and Latvians should visit this place at least once - a real historical pearl of Latvia and the location of a unique religious community in Riga.
This is an amazing place. The largest non-priest Old Believer church in the world. 5,000 people can pray here at the same time. The first wooden chapel on this site was founded back in 1760, but burned down during the War of 1812; the current church was built at the expense of Old Believers merchants later. The temple contains several thousand priceless icons from the 16th to the 20th centuries. In the main hall, the iconostasis occupies a wall six rows high, and more icons are placed along the walls and the internal partition, which previously divided the temple into male and female parts. There were even two separate entrances for men and women. This is no longer the case, since of the remaining community of approximately 10,000 people, the majority of worshipers are women. In the basement of the temple there is a museum, tours of which are conducted on Sundays by Azii Isaevich Ivanov, an 89-year-old (at the beginning of 2024) Old Believer, Doctor of Historical Sciences, who has enormous knowledge in the history of the Old Believer Church. One of the museum's rooms is a former huge wood-burning stove, which was used to heat this huge building. All Riga residents and Latvians should visit this place at least once - a real historical pearl of Latvia and the location of a unique religious community in Riga.
Galina Survilo (2 years ago)
My church, but it's very inconvenient to get there. And now all the tram lines have been dug up, I drove past with sore legs, I knew that I couldn’t finish it. We'll have to wait until the trams run as before. There is no money for a taxi. 11€ from me. And also back.
My church, but it's very inconvenient to get there. And now all the tram lines have been dug up, I drove past with sore legs, I knew that I couldn’t finish it. We'll have to wait until the trams run as before. There is no money for a taxi. 11€ from me. And also back.
Joachim Wlezcek (2 years ago)
We would have liked to see the church, say a prayer and light a candle. We were also allowed in at the gate and adhered to the clothing regulations. When we entered the church we were thrown out by a young man. That was neither hospitable nor Christian!
We would have liked to see the church, say a prayer and light a candle. We were also allowed in at the gate and adhered to the clothing regulations. When we entered the church we were thrown out by a young man. That was neither hospitable nor Christian!
Teresa Kock (3 years ago)
This is astonishing beautiful place. The grace of the icons... The peace and calm in the atmosphere are something so wonderful I have nowhere else felt. My Husband and I are extremely grateful for the very kind elder man at the gate who let us in, made possible to visit the beautiful church. We expected that in best case we may perhaps look into the church from a entrance, but we were guided and also let set candles and pray there. I recommened every (esp. christian) person visit this place to pray.
This is astonishing beautiful place. The grace of the icons... The peace and calm in the atmosphere are something so wonderful I have nowhere else felt. My Husband and I are extremely grateful for the very kind elder man at the gate who let us in, made possible to visit the beautiful church. We expected that in best case we may perhaps look into the church from a entrance, but we were guided and also let set candles and pray there. I recommened every (esp. christian) person visit this place to pray.
Oks Ana Kot (4 years ago)
Calm and strong place
Calm and strong place
