(24K) 672 x 450 | This "island" was actually the first Church in Latvia, founded by St. Meinard in 1185. When a hydroelectric dam was built in 1970, it created the lake and now we only see the top of the Church sticking out of the water. (We didn't have a boat to go visit it.) |
(42K) 450 x 672 | The historical marker / boulder on the shore commemorating this Church (its called Ikskile). Pope John Paul II visited Riga to restore the cult of sainthood to St. Meinard, the first bishop of Latvia. |
(44K) 450 x 672 | Besides the ancient church steeples, the first thing one sees in Riga is the new communions tower. |
(83K) 864 x 576 | Here I am, overlooking the city of Riga from the belltower of St. Peters. The Church right of me is the Catholic Cathedral of St. James, to the left is the Dome Cathedral. |
(45K) 450 x 672 | Looking down on the Church of St. Peters - a Catholic Church from 1209-1523, when it was turned Lutheran. |
(54K) 672 x 450 | Looking east, notice the freedom monument in the center, and the Orthodox Basilica just above and to the left of it. |
(41K) 450 x 672 | The wooden belltower of St. Peters was the highest in Europe when built, it collapsed in 1666 and burned in 1941 during the war, rebuilt in 1973. |
(57K) 577 x 864 | In front of the Blackheads house, which was rebuilt in 2001 for the city's 800th anniversary. It was used by Guild members since 1334 and destroyed during World War II. In front of it is Roland's statue, considered in the 14th century to be a just judge and defender of the accused, it was placed here in Town Hall Square. |
(53K) 450 x 672 | A view of the Dome Cathedral, built 700 years ago, but again taken and made the Evangelical-Lutheran Cathedral. |
(35K) 672 x 450 | The Dome Cathedral stands crooked - must be a Protestant Church. It is the largest place of worship in the Baltics (187 x 43 meters). |
(48K) 672 x 450 | Inside of St. James Catholic Cathedral, one of the older Churches in Riga (built before 1225), it became Lutheran in 1522, and was return in 1922. |
(50K) 450 x 672 | Notice how the Catholic Churches are all quite small compared to the one's that were taken. |
(47K) 450 x 672 | There are actually 3 Catholic Churches here in the old part of the city - all within a few blocks. |
(57K) 450 x 672 | They actually call it St. Jacob's - St. James. Pope John Paul II visited here in 1993. |
(32K) 450 x 672 | The freedom monument constructed in 1935 - but the Latvian freedom didn't last very long as soon the Soviets would come. |
(57K) 672 x 450 | Actually called Catholic Street (Katolu iela), the front building and dome is the Orthodox Church, and the steeples in the distance is St. Francis, the Catholic Church and Seminary where I stayed. |
(101K) 672 x 450 | St. Francis Church and the seminary grounds, as seen from the nearby park. |
(68K) 450 x 672 | St. Francis Church is the local parish, although it shares the same grounds as the Catholic Metropolitan Seminary. |
(76K) 672 x 450 | The Small Guild House, also called St. John's Guild. An association of crafts-corporation which dates from 1330. |
(47K) 672 x 450 | The Merchant guild had the larger building, so the craftsmen occupied the "Small Guild" |
(50K) 450 x 672 | St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church, where I celebrated Easter Sunday Mass in English. |
(53K) 672 x 450 | Each Church, on Good Friday and Holy Saturday, set up a side altar with a display of the entombment of Jesus. Some were quite elaborate. And then the Eucharist would be exposed up on top, and crowds of people came to pray each day. |
(48K) 450 x 672 | Our Lady of Aglona, a side altar painting in the Catholic Cathedral. |
(48K) 672 x 450 | The original organ was fashioned in 1761 - this one dates from 1913. |
(39K) 450 x 672 | The "entombment" of Christ in St. Francis Church, which was crowed with people praying all on Holy Saturday. |
(46K) 672 x 450 | The Missionaries of Charity (and the Seminary) are in a run down part of the city, where many live in abandoned buildings. But this man found a nice jacket in the dumpster here. |
(45K) 672 x 450 | The Missionaries of Charity's house, where I gave them a retreat and they run there soup kitchen, catechism classes and other outreaches to the poor. |
(69K) 864 x 576 | Easter Sunday morning, after Mass, we had an Easter feast to celebrate the Resurrection, here are some of the priests and seminarians - and check out the food. |
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