Construction of the Church of St Catherine in Võru commenced in 1793 during the reign of Empress Catherine II. It is thought to have been designed by the Livonian architect Schons, while the man responsible for the building of the church was Võru's own Johann Karl Otto. The church was surrounded with a formidable fence. It is famous for its cross-shaped floor plan, substantial bell tower, high dome-like secondary tower and arched windows. Designed in classicist style, it was completed in 1804 in honour of St Catherine. The grounds around the church were restored in 2008 and are now home to an open air exhibition of religious text-themed illustrations by artist Marje Ernits.
Come and take look at the modern and spacious church of the Tartu Salem Baptist Congregation (architect Maarja Nummert). The church was opened on 28 June 1988 with a concert and thanksgiving service. You are welcome to enjoy concerts in the church hall that has great acoustics and space for almost 400 people. Interesting facts: - the only baroque organ in Tartu is in the Tartu Salem Baptist Church; - the church offers accommodation to travellers.
After the Second World War, the Baptist congregations in Tartu joined the only remaining Baptist church: the Kolgata congregation, whose chapel was opened in 1931.In 2013, the congregation moved from the old prayer house located in Karlova district to a modern church building (completed in 1995) at the edge of the centre of the city due to lack of space. The first service in the building on Veski Street took place on 10 November 2013, when the Kolgata congregation celebrated its 112th anniversary.The congregation belongs to the Union of Evangelical Christian and Baptist Churches of Estonia. Services in Estonian are held on Sundays at 11 a.m. and in Russian at 1 p.m.
The medieval Rõngu St Michael's Church is dedicated to the Archangel Michael. The church is also known as the oldest building in Rõngu.The church has suffered major damage in several wars, and over time, the original architecture has been partially altered during the restorations. The current shape of the church dates from the last reconstruction in 1901.Today, the most significant parts of the church are the altarpiece (1901, the work of a Dresden artist), the organ (V. Müllverstedt, 1874), and the stained-glass windows (1900, the work of Riga artists).The church participates in both the 'Wayfarers' Churches' and the 'Night of Churches' programme.The church can be visited on Sundays during the service or by prior arrangement.
Baroque architecture in concordance with pseudo Gothic architecture (alteration by Johann Gottfired Mühlhausen). Twelve small spiring pinnacles symbolise the twelve apostles of Jesus. The church manor is a historical parochial centre; there is a museum in the vicarage (built in 1817).
St. Paul's Church in Tartu is unique because it is the only Art Nouveau church in Estonia. The church features a national romantic and geometric design. The church is also famous for its two steel bells, which were made in 1922 in Germany. The glass-domed bell tower offers a stunning view of the city of Tartu. It can be reached by stairs, and on the way to the tower, you can see a small gallery that explains the church's history. A visit to the church tower is available for an additional fee. The church has a columbarium, a crypt, and a bookstore. You can also order a church tour, a private organ concert, or catering from the church kitchen.
The patron saint of the Värska Orthodox Church is St. George. The most important church holiday is St. George's Day, which is celebrated in Setomaa on May 6 and culminates with the afternoon kirmaski, or village party. The church was built with money from the community, and the original iconostasis from the beginning of the 20th century has been preserved, part of which is an icon of St. George painted on a tree in the 17th century. The church also has several handmade holy shawls. Värska cemetery is next to the church, and several important Seto cultural figures are buried there.
The Helme-Tõrva Apostolic Orthodox Church of the Birth of Christ was built in Valga Street in the years 1903 to 1904. Karl Shurin was in charge of the building work. The two domes and bell tower made the church one of the most imposing churches in the Viljandi Apostolic Orthodox Deanery. The church was seriously damaged during the fierce battles fought in September 1944 and it was only restored in 1990 as a chamber hall.Interesting facts: * the church was also used for salt and cement storage during the Soviet times; * the church-chamber hall currently belongs to the Lutheran church.