St. Olaf's Church, Tallinn
St. Olaf’s Church or St. Olav's Church (Estonian: Oleviste kirik) in Tallinn, Estonia, is believed to have been built in the 12th century and to have been the centre for old Tallinn's Scandinavian community before Denmark conquered Tallinn in 1219. Its dedication relates to King Olaf II of Norway (also known as Saint Olaf, 995–1030). The first known written records referring to the church date back to 1267. It was extensively rebuilt during the 14th century.
| St. Olaf's church | |
|---|---|
Oleviste kirik | |
 | |
| 59°26′29.1″N 24°44′52.1″E | |
| Location | Tallinn |
| Country | Estonia |
| Denomination | Baptist |
| Previous denomination | Roman Catholic, Lutheran |
| Website | Website of the Church |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Founded | 12th Century |
| Specifications | |
| Spire height | 124 metres (407 ft) |
History
St. Olaf's Church was originally part of the united western tradition of Christianity, whose polity continues in the Roman Catholic Church today. However, during the Reformation the church became part of the Lutheran tradition. Eventually proving surplus to the requirements of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tallinn, St. Olaf's Church became a Baptist church in 1950.[1][2] The Baptist congregation continues to meet at St. Olaf's today.
From 1944 until 1991, the Soviet KGB used St. Olaf's Church's spire as a radio tower and surveillance point.[3]
Height
In 1590, the total height of the church tower was 115.35–125 m. The tower has been hit by lightning around 10 times, and the whole church has burned down three times throughout its known existence. According to one source it may have been the tallest building in the world from 1549 to 1625. After several rebuildings, its spire is now 123.8 meters tall.[4]
Images
Night view
Church portal
Interior
Interior
Interior
Church tower at day
Church tower at night
Spire with cross
The spires of the church
The staircase in the centre of the church
References
- CONTENTdm Collection : Item Viewer Archived 2013-12-02 at the Wayback Machine
- Guide to Tallinn. Religious sites in Tallinn, Estonia Archived 2013-12-03 at the Wayback Machine
- "Estonian Paper on KGB Eavesdropping Facility". Daily Report: Soviet Union. Rosslyn, VA: Foreign Broadcast Information Service/NTIS: 80. September 6, 1990. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
- Ants Hein (2012). "Oleviste pole kunagi olnud maailma kõrgeim ehitis" [St. Olaf's Church Never Was the World's Tallest Building]. Imeline Ajalugu. Archived from the original on 2013-01-20. Retrieved 2014-05-03.
External links
