Võry Orthodox Church, Võru, Estonia

The late-classicism style church was designed by M. Schons, chief architect of the Livonian Province. The master carpenter was Johann Karl Otto, a resident of Võru. The church was completed in 1804 and named the Greatmartyr Catherine’s Church in honour of Catherine II. The building has a simple rectangular ground planning, a sturdy western spire, a cupola-like ridge roof on the high tambour and arched windows in sham niches.

User Reviews

Kiizu Miizu (5 years ago)
Häid jõule ja hea koht.

Janno Kuuƨ (7 years ago)
Kiriku ehitamist alustati Katariina II valitsusajal 1793. aastal. Kiriku projekteeris Liivimaa kubermanguarhitekt Matthias Schons. Ehitusmeister oli võrulane Johann Karl Otto. Kiriku pühitsemine toimus 6. novembril (vkj) 1804. aastal Riia arhimandriidi Benedikti poolt Aleksandria Katariina auks ja kannab tema nime. Kiriku ülalpidamiseks andis riik sellele 1870. aastal Võru mõisa hooned, loomad, inventari ja 248 ha maad, seega ulatusid kiriku valduse piirid Mustjärvest Kirumpää linnuseni. Kirikul lubati ka Tamula ja Vagula järvest püüda kala. Kirikus on palju pühakujusid ja rikkalik ikonostaas. 1922. aastal võõrandati riigi poolt suurem osa kiriku maast. Kirikule jäi vaid 72 ha. 1944. aastal vähendati maavaldust 14 hektarini, 1949. aastal võõrandati ka see maa koos sinna külvatud rukkiga. 1933. aastal ehitas kogudus Võru surnuaiale väikese kabeli. 1999. aasta septembris leidsid restaureerijad kiriku ristimunast laeka, milles oli ülempreestri Joann Jelenini 17. juunil 1854 kirjutatud kiri, kus ta annab ülevaate õigeusu levikust Võrumaal, tolleaegsetest kirikutegelastest ja Võru eluolust. Laekast leiti veel kolm ajalehte Severnaja Ptšela aastast 1854, Eesti rahva kalender 1854, Riias 1848. aastal trükitud aabits, kolm eestikeelset õigeusuteemalist trükist ja 22 vaskmünti. Dokumendid anti üle Võrumaa Muuseumile.

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The castle of La Iruela, small but astonishing, is located on the top of a steep crag in Sierra de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas Natural Park. From the castle, impressive views of the surrounding area and of the town can be enjoyed.

The keep dates from the Christian era. It has a square base and small dimensions and is located at the highest part of the crag.

There are some other enclosures within the tower that create a small alcázar which is difficult to access.

In a lower area of the castle, protected with defensive remains of rammed earth and irregular masonry, is an old Muslim farmstead.

After a recent restoration, an open-air theater has been built on La Iruela castle enclosure. This theater is a tribute to the Greek and Classic Eras and holds various artistic and cultural shows throughout the year.

History

The first traces of human activity in La Iruela area are dated from the Copper Age. An intense occupation continued until the Bronze Age.

Originally, La Iruela (like Cazorla) was a modest farmstead. From the 11th century, a wall and a small fortress were built on the hill to protect the farmers.

Around 1231, don Rodrigo Ximénez de Rada, Archbishop of Toledo, conquered La Iruela and made it part of the Adelantamiento de Cazorla. Over the Muslim fortress, the current fortress was built.

Once the military use of the fortress ended, it was used as cemetery.

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