Temporary Riga photos are being published not in a regular manner due to blog author has moved to Vilnius.

Rising Orthodox Church


Today is Easter Sunday for Orthodox Christians. Christ is Risen!
There is an interesting phenomenon in Latvia, despite that religion is becoming weaker worldwide, religion in Latvia is getting more popular, stronger and affecting people's everyday life more than before.
On the picture: a continued bulding of new Orthodox Church in Daugavgriva. Two cupolas are still on the ground.

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Assumption of the Virgin Mary Church

Assumption of the Virgin Mary Church
The Orthodox Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Jelgava looks like a small doll house.
The church was built in 1889 in the middle of cemetery, and despite its little size, it can fit 200 parishioners.

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Grīziņkalns area

Grizinkalns area
Grīziņkalns is the name of one of the official Riga apkaimes aka neighbourhoods, which is located between Zemitani Station, Avotu iela, Artilerijas iela and Brivibas iela. It's became part of Riga in 1786.
On the picture you can see Caka iela, School #24 and Orthodox Cathedral of Holy Trinity.

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Jurmala Orthodox Church

Jurmala Orthodox Church
Свято-Владимирский храм в Дубулты or Pareizticīgo Sv. kņaza Vladimira Dubultu baznīca is the first Orthodox Church in Jurmala located in Dubulti and named after Vladimir I of Kiev, the Grand Prince of Rus.
The church was built in 1867 and hence it is the oldest Orthodox Church in Jurmala.

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Jelgava Orthodox Church

Jelgava Orthodox Church
Елгавский собор свв. прав. Симеона Богоприимца и Анны Пророчицы or Jelgavas Sv. Simeona un Sv. Annas pareizticīgo katedrāle is Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Jelgava town, which is located in 30 km from Riga.
Initially the church was built in 1774, but then it was expanded and its current look is the same since 1892, except Khrushchyovka building on the left side, of course :)

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Ave Sol

Ave Sol
This is the former Orthodox Church Saint Peter and Saint John, which is used as concert hall nowadays.
It was built in 1728 in the place of the former Swedish Lutheran Church, then it got cathedral status in 1836.
During Soviet times cathedral was closed and reopened in 1987 as concert hall.

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Armenian Church


St. George's Armenian Orthodox Church (Սուրբ Գրիգոր Լուսավորիչ եկեղեցի or Церковь Сурб Григор Лусаворич) was built in 1997.
This is the third largest branch of Orthodox Christians living in Latvia, after Russian Orthodox and Old Believers.
The church is located between Maskavas and Krasta streets, behind Mols Shopping center.

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St John's Cathedral

St.John's Orthodox Cathedral
Православный кафедральный собор Св. Иоанна Предтечи or Sv. Jāņa Priekšteča pareizticīgo katedrāle (St. John the Baptist Orthodox Cathedral) is located in Maskavas Forstate.
Initial building was the reassembled wooden All Saints church in 1883, which got new name of St. John the Baptist.
There is no clear information when the brick building with onion domes was built, but it was somewhere between 1911 and 1923.

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Transfiguration Church

Transfiguration Church
Храм Преображения Господня or Kristus apskaidrošanas pareizticīgo baznīca (Orthodox Church of Transfiguration) is located on the border between Sarkandaugava and Mezaparks neighbourhoods.
Church of Transfiguration was built in 1890 in the place of former multi-religious church for Catholics (moved to King's Church in 1942), Lutherans (moved to Trinity church) and Orthodox (stayed here).

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Women's Monastery

Womens Monastery
Рижский женский монастырь Св. Сергия or Rīgas Sv. Trijādības Sergija sieviešu klosteris (Riga St. Trinity Sergius Women's Orthodox Monastery) was opened in 1894.
Despite it is located in the very center of Riga, on Kr Barona street, only few know that it does exist.
Monastery is hidden behind the thick trees and modest wooden fence next to Holy Trinity Cathedral.
I guess it is very calm and sacred place protected by the most tallest walls in the center.
It is hard to believe that in the middle of vainglorious and lascivious city some people can keep a vow.

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Orthodox Church of Vernicle

Orthodox Church of Vernicle
Православная церковь Нерукотворенного образа спаса or Kristus Pestītāja Svētbildes pareizticīgo baznīca (Orthodox Church of Vernicle) was built in 1893 in territory of Tornakalns cemetery, at then border of Riga, hence it is so small and almost invisible.
This church was built mainly for requiem service, but today it is church in the full sense of the word.
Today taking this picture I met a woman who gave me a candy by saying С Праздничком! (Happy feast!)
I am curious what she meant, because today is dual holiday - St Valentine's day and Maslenitsa.

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Grebenschikova Old Believers church

Old Believers Church in Riga
Рижская Гребенщиковская староверческая церковь or Rīgas Grebenščikova vecticībnieku baznīca (The Grebenschikov's Old Believers church) is the only church in Riga belonging to Russian Orthodox Old-Rite Church. Sorry for pun ;)
Despite this is not very popular religion in Latvia, just 5000 members, it is very rich. For example Old-Rite Church is the biggest landowner in Riga. The land territories from Daugava till Purvciems neighborhood are belonging to Old Believers.

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All Saints Orthodox Church

All Saints Orthodox Church
Православная церковь всех святых or Visu svēto pareizticīgo baznīca (All Saints Orthodox Church)
This church was built after great fire in 1812. In the beginning the building was built from wood, but after it was rebuilt piecemeal into brick building.
The initial wooden building was moved 500 meters away and named after St. John The Baptist Church.
Today the Orthodox church celebrates Pascha (Easter), the last day of 49 days long fasting season.
Христос воскресе! (Happy Easter!)

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Yellow Church

Yellow church in Riga
The full name of this church in is Александро-Невская правосланая церковь in Russian or Sv. Ņevas Aleksandra pareizticīgo baznīca in Latvian, which in English means Alexander Nevsky Church.
It was built in 1825 on Brivibas street (at that time Petersburg road)

This photo published as part of city's theme day, which is Yellow.
Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

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Church Building Freeze


Building Freeze of Orthodox church in Daugavgriva area.
due global financial crisis, Latvia is suffering from lack of money, so many buildings are being stopped now.
Hopefully building of National Library is in force.
Updated: a church building is nearly finished in spring of 2012

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Holy Trinity Church


Св. Троицкий Задвинский приход aka Рижская православная церковь Св. Троицы (Riga Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, in Latvian Rīgas Sv. Trijādības pareizticīgo baznīca) is the only Orthodox Church in Pardaugava. It has not only colourful design, but very long and interesting history.
The Church in that area was hundreds years before Riga was founded by Roman Catholic Bishop Albert.
At that time this area was an island with still bays and it was important point on the Trade route from the Varangians to the Greeks. Travelling traders, loggers, craftsman lived here, and many of them were members of the Orthodox Church.
During ages the Church was rebuilt, moved and renamed several times.
Last time it was built anew in 1895 in Moscow Orthodox architecture style.

See Also Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral.

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Holy Trinity Cathedral


One of the largest Orthodox churches in Riga is Riga Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral (in Russian Рижский православный кафедральный собор Святой Троицы or in Latvian Rīgas Svētās Trijādības pareizticīgo katedrāle), located on Kr. Barona street in the section between Pernavas and Erglu streets.
By the way, today the Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter Monday, which means next day after Easter.

See Also Holy Trinity Church and Orthodox Cathedral.

Guest Photographer: Oleg

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Orthodox Cathedral


No doubt that one of the most famous sights depicting Russian Empire Epoch in Riga is this Pareizticīgo Kristus dzimšanas Rīgas katedrāle (Orthodox Cathedral) built in 1884. Katedrale was closed down during Soviet Epoch (inside was opened observatory and cafe) and reopened again as church in 1992.
It's located in very center, next to Hotel Latvija.
See Orthodox Cathedral during the winter.

See Also Riga Cathedral.

Guest Photographer: Eva

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Again White


Building of Riga Katedrāle (Riga Cathedral) was used for different purposes.
It was observatory, warehouse and now it is again Orthodox Church, as in the beginning.
Soviet regime banned any religion, so almost all churches, mosques, synagogues in Union were destroyed or rebuild to different type building.
Blasphemous method to easier control the people.

See Orthodox Cathedral during the spring.

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