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.

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Address

Tartu 26, Võru, Estonia
See all sites in Võru

Details

Founded: 1804
Category: Religious sites in Estonia
Historical period: Part of the Russian Empire (Estonia)

More Information

www.voru.ee
orthodox-world.org

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5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

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User Reviews

Kiizu Miizu (3 months ago)
Häid jõule ja hea koht.
Janno Kuuƨ (3 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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