St. Olaf's Church, Tallinn

St. Olaf’s Church or St. Olav's Church (Estonian: Oleviste kirik) in Tallinn, Estonia, is believed to have been built in the 12th century and to have been the centre for old Tallinn's Scandinavian community before Denmark conquered Tallinn in 1219. Its dedication relates to King Olaf II of Norway (also known as Saint Olaf, 995–1030). The first known written records referring to the church date back to 1267. It was extensively rebuilt during the 14th century.

St. Olaf's church
Oleviste kirik
59°26′29.1″N 24°44′52.1″E
LocationTallinn
CountryEstonia
DenominationBaptist
Previous denominationRoman Catholic, Lutheran
WebsiteWebsite of the Church
History
StatusActive
Founded12th Century
Specifications
Spire height124 metres (407 ft)

History

St. Olaf's Church was originally part of the united western tradition of Christianity, whose polity continues in the Roman Catholic Church today. However, during the Reformation the church became part of the Lutheran tradition. Eventually proving surplus to the requirements of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tallinn, St. Olaf's Church became a Baptist church in 1950.[1][2] The Baptist congregation continues to meet at St. Olaf's today.

From 1944 until 1991, the Soviet KGB used St. Olaf's Church's spire as a radio tower and surveillance point.[3]

Height

In 1590, the total height of the church tower was 115.35–125 m. The tower has been hit by lightning around 10 times, and the whole church has burned down three times throughout its known existence. According to a source it may have been the tallest building in the world from 1549 to 1625, but this claim is disputed. After several rebuildings, its spire is now 123.8 meters tall.[4]

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See also
  • List of tallest churches

Images
  • Exterior scene
  • The spires of the church
  • The staircase in the centre of the church

References
  1. CONTENTdm Collection : Item Viewer Archived 2013-12-02 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Guide to Tallinn. Religious sites in Tallinn, Estonia Archived 2013-12-03 at the Wayback Machine
  3. "Estonian Paper on KGB Eavesdropping Facility". Daily Report: Soviet Union. Rosslyn, VA: Foreign Broadcast Information Service/NTIS: 80. September 6, 1990. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
  4. Ants Hein (2012). "Oleviste pole kunagi olnud maailma kõrgeim ehitis" [St. Olaf's Church Never Was the World's Tallest Building]. Imeline Ajalugu.
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