Riga Cathedral

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Riga Cathedral
The Cathedral of Saint Mary
Riga Cathedral with Riga Castle and Daugava River in the background
Riga Cathedral with Riga Castle and Daugava River in the background
Riga Cathedral is located in Riga
Riga Cathedral
Riga Cathedral
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Location Riga
Country Latvia
Denomination Lutheran
Previous denomination Roman Catholic
Website Cathedral Website
Clergy
Archbishop Jānis Vanags
This article is about the Evangelical Lutheran cathedral of Riga. See other articles for the Roman Catholic cathedral and the Orthodox cathedral.

Riga Cathedral (Latvian: Rīgas Doms; German: Dom zu Riga) is the Evangelical Lutheran cathedral in Riga, Latvia. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Riga.

The cathedral is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Latvia, and is featured in or the subject of paintings, photographs and television travelogues. Like all of the ancient churches of the city, it is known for its weathercock.

The church is commonly called the Dome Cathedral, a tautology as the word 'Dome' comes from the German Dom meaning 'cathedral'.

History and architecture

Built near the River Daugava in 1211 by Livonian Bishop Albert of Riga, who came from Lower Saxony in northwestern Germany, it is considered the largest medieval church in the Baltic states. It has undergone many modifications in the course of its history.

David Caspari was rector of the cathedral school in the late 17th century. His son Georg Caspari also served at the cathedral.

Religious services were prohibited during the Soviet occupation from 1959 to 1989, and the cathedral was used as a concert hall.

In 2011 the copper roofing above the nave was replaced. In 2015 the tower exterior was also re-plated and it's wododen support structure renewed.

Pipe organ

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Main article: Dome Cathedral Pipe Organ

The organ of the Riga Cathedral was built by E.F. Walcker & Sons of Ludwigsburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, in 1882–83, [1] and was inaugurated on 31 January 1884. It has four manuals and one pedalboard. It plays 116 voices, 124 stops, 144 ranks, and 6718 pipes. It includes 18 combinations and General Crescendo.[2] A tape of Latvian composer Lūcija Garūta playing the organ for a cantata during World War II captured the sound of battle nearby.[3]

Boys choir

The Riga Dom Cathedral Boys Choir has performed internationally, recording the Riga Mass by Uģis Prauliņš and other works.[4]

Gallery

  • Riga Cathedral Nave, Riga, Latvia - Diliff.jpg

    Cathedral nave

  • Riga Cathedral Pulpit, Riga, Latvia - Diliff.jpg

    Pulpit

  • Riga Cathedral Stained Glass, Riga, Latvia - Diliff.jpg

    Wolter von Plettenberg (left) reading an edict of religious freedom in 1525 Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden (right) in 1621

  • Rīgas Doms (12).JPG

    Organ (undergoing restoration)

  • Riga Dom 02.JPG

    North wall

  • Plaza de la Catedral, Riga, Letonia, 2012-08-07, DD 01.JPG

    Cathedral Square (Doma laukums) off the north wall

  • Latvia Riga Cathedral weather cock.jpg

    Weathercock

  • Riga Dom 10.JPG

    South wall and the statue of Bishop Albert

  • Riga Dom Kreuzgang 1.JPG

    Cloister. Pinnacled roof is the Museum of the History of Riga and Navigation

  • Rīgas Doms (92).JPG

    Copy of 1910-1914 equestrian statue of Peter I, now the Freedom Monument

  • Ekumeniskais dievkalpojums Rīgas Domā (10794902675).jpg

    Cathedral doors on Herder Square

References

  1. ↑ Gerhard Walcker-Mayer Riga Cathedral organ as viewed by Walcker March 2003
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Riga Dom Cathedral Boys Choir

See Also

List of cathedrals in Latvia

External links

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