Sunday, March 15, 2009

ESTONIA - Narva Castle

T 359

ESTONIA - Kuremäe (Pühtitsa) Convent

The convent is located on a site known as Pühitsetud ("blessed" in Estonian) since ancient times. According to a 16th century legend, near the local village, Kuremäe, a shepherd witnessed a divine revelation near a spring of water to this day venerated as holy. Later, locals found an ancient icon of Dormition of the Mother of God under a huge oak tree. The icon still belongs to the convent.
A small Orthodox Christian church was built in Pühtitsa in the 16th century. The convent was founded in 1891.
T 243

ESTONIA - Ruhnu / Wooden Church. New Church

Ruhnu (Swedish: Runö) is an island situated in the Gulf of Riga in the Baltic Sea. It belongs to Estonia and is an administrative part of Saare County. At 11.9 km² it has currently less than 100, mostly ethnic Estonian permanent inhabitants. Prior to 1944 it was for centuries populated by ethnic Swedes and traditional Swedish law was used.
The Runhu wooden church, built in 1644, is one of the oldest wood constructed buildings in Estonia. The church's baroque-style tower was finished in 1755. The stone Lutheran church next to the wooden one was built in 1912 and is currently where services are held.
T 216