St. John's Church, Valga, Estonia

The St. John’s (Jaani) church in Valga is one of the most beautiful churches in Estonia. The construction started in 1787, but it was not completed until 1816. The church represents Baroque and Classicism styles. It was built according to the design of architect Christoph Haberland and it is the only church in Estonia with an oval ground plan. The unique organ has been preserved in its original shape and it is the only instrument built by Friedrich Ladegast still left in Estonia.

Reference: Visit Estonia

User Reviews

Rudo Lilleleht (3 years ago)
Ainus ovaalse põhiplaani ja Ladegasti oreliga pühakoda mitmesaja km ulatuses

George On tour (3 years ago)
The church was built in the years 1787 - 1816 , the cornerstone was laid on 31 May 1787 . The stone church was designed by Riga architect Christoph Haberland . Before that, only the wooden churches in Valga were destined to wreak havoc in wars and fires . The church was built on a former cemetery, later on the marketplace; To this day, the center of Valga has become the place. The church was built from donations. Within two years, the church became under the roof, but due to lack of money, the construction was completed until 1816 when the bell tower of the church was ready. Emperor Alexander I donated 5,000 rubles, then the church was ready and holy on September 3, 1816 . 2016 The 200th birthday of the Valga Jan Church was celebrated in the year

Rudo Lilleleht (3 years ago)
Uus õpetaja, uus hingamine

Kalev Härk (3 years ago)
Unikaalse ehitusstiili ja Ladegasti oreliga kirik, mille tornist näeb Valgat ja Valkat (Läti Vabariik)

Tanel Aavistu (6 years ago)
We went to Christmas ceremony with our class here. It was cold but it was still fun.

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Photo from Flickr, copyright twiga-swala

Historic Site of the week

Heraclea Lyncestis

Heraclea Lyncestis was an ancient Greek city in Macedon, ruled later by the Romans. It was founded by Philip II of Macedon in the middle of the 4th century BC. The city was named in honor of the mythological hero Heracles. The name Lynkestis originates from the name of the ancient kingdom, conquered by Philip, where the city was built.

Heraclea was a strategically important town during the Hellenistic period, as it was at the edge of Macedon"s border with Epirus to the west and Paeonia to the north, until the middle of the 2nd century BC, when the Romans conquered Macedon and destroyed its political power. The main Roman road in the area, Via Egnatia went through Heraclea, and Heraclea was an important stop. The prosperity of the city was maintained mainly due to this road.

The Roman emperor Hadrian built a theatre in the center of the town, on a hill, when many buildings in the Roman province of Macedonia were being restored. It began being used during the reign of Antoninus Pius. Inside the theatre there were three animal cages and in the western part a tunnel. The theatre went out of use during the late 4th century AD, when gladiator fights in the Roman Empire were banned, due to the spread of Christianity, the formulation of the Eastern Roman Empire, and the abandonment of, what was then perceived as, pagan rituals and entertainment.

Late Antiquity and Byzantine periods

In the early Byzantine period (4th to 6th centuries AD) Heraclea was an important episcopal centre. A small and a great basilica, the bishop"s residence, and a funerary basilica and the necropolis are some of the remains of this period. Three naves in the Great Basilica are covered with mosaics of very rich floral and figurative iconography; these well preserved mosaics are often regarded as fine examples of the early Christian art period.

The city was sacked by Ostrogoth/Visigoth forces, commanded by Theodoric the Great in 472 AD and again in 479 AD. It was restored in the late 5th and early 6th century. When an earthquake struck in 518 AD, the inhabitants of Heraclea gradually abandoned the city. Subsequently, at the eve of the 7th century, the Dragovites, a Slavic tribe pushed down from the north by the Avars, settled in the area. The last coin issue dates from ca. 585, which suggests that the city was finally captured by the Slavs. As result, in place of the deserted city theatre several huts were built.

The Episcopacy Residence was excavated between 1970 and 1975. The western part was discovered first and the southern side is near the town wall. The luxury rooms are located in the eastern part. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th rooms all have mosaic floors. Between the 3rd and 4th rooms there is a hole that led to the eastern entrance of the residence. The hole was purposefully created between the 4th and 6th century.

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