Our Lady of Sorrows was the first stone Catholic church to be built in Riga after the Reformation – in 1785 – over 200 years after the beginning of the Reformation.
With the exception of one church, belonging to the Cistercian Sisters, which was not permitted to celebrate mass anyway, all of Riga’s Catholic churches became Lutheran as a result of the Reformation. Catholic masses did continue, though they had to be held secretly and in private houses.
When Russia annexed Latvia in 1710 Catholicism was again officially permitted. With the support of Empress Catherine II permission was given to construct a Catholic church and a small wooden oratory was in operation by 1765. In 1780 Austrian (Holy Roman) Emperor Joseph II, passing though Riga, supported the building of a proper brick church.
Our Lady of Sorrows and the adjacent presbytery, in a classicism style, were built between 1783 and 1785. The classicism style was at the request of Catherine II and in keeping with the style of the adjacent Riga Castle. The modest height (12 metres) of the original spire (it was later raised to 35 metres) and the name chosen for the church underlined the subordinated role of Catholicism at the time in Latvia. The next Catholic Church in the Riga area (at Jurmala) wasn’t constructed until 1884.
While visiting Riga in 1854, Tsar Nicholas expressed the view that the church was too small. Over the next hundred plus years the church was renovated and enhanced many times though it has retained its distinctive blue and while coloured exterior throughout. Readers more familiar with architectural styles than I will notice a shift towards a Neo-Renaissance style – a shift which I read about.
What particularly stands out in this church are the large number of frescos and paintings depicting different scenes from the life of Christ. These line the tops of the aisle arches and are tucked away in various alcoves throughout the church. I was surprised to learn that these only date back to the 1950s and 1960s.
The painting that appealed to me most and which takes pride of place as centerpiece of the main altar is a 15th century painting of Our Lady of Sorrows, in the Dutch style, with a silver coating in the Russian Orthodox icon style. Attempts to remove the silver coating for its Catholic church role failed so the coating remains. Note the Eye of Providence above the painting of Our Lady of Sorrows on the altar.
A nice view of the church can be had if you approach from the Daugarva River. From this angle you will be able to see a statue of Our Lady of Lourdes adorning the rooftop.
This lesser visited church in Riga is well worth a look.
Opening hours:
Daily: 07:00 – 18:00
Entrance Fee
Free
This blog entry is one of a group (loop) of entries on the Old City area of Riga. I suggest you continue with my next entry – Riga Cathedral and Cloisters – or to start the loop at the beginning go to my first entry – SamaraH Hotel Metropole – Riga.
The Rambling Wombat 