Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church

Ruga, Latvia

Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church
Riga, Latvia

"Our Lady of Sorrows Church (Latvian: Sāpju Dievmātes Romas katoļu baznīca) is a Roman Catholic church in Riga, the capital of Latvia. The church is situated at the address 5 Pils Street.^[1] It was built in 1785." (Link 1.)

Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church

"The white and blue Our Lady of Sorrows Church was the first stone church built in Riga after the Reformation had reached Livonia (a historic region once encompassing present-day Latvia and Estonia). The idea of constructing the church was especially supported by Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II. The Classicism-style building was dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows symbolising the oppressed Catholic Religion in Terra Mariana.

Church Plaque

"Our Lady of Sorrows Church was preceded by a modest and small chapel build under Father Isidor Schmidt and noticed by Emperor Joseph II, who paid a visit to Riga in 1780. Emperor promised to talk to Catherine II in order to get her consent to building a new Catholic church. The construction began after four years and was finished in 1785."According to an order by the Empress of Russia, the church was designed in the Classicism style like the all surrounding buildings on Pils Square. It was dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows as a symbol to the oppressed Catholic Religion in Terra Mariana. The name also applies to the bellfry which was erected rather low and unpretentious.

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Location of  Latvia  (dark green)

"Latvia  ..., officially the Republic of Latvia (Latvian: Latvijas Republika), is a sovereign state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe.^[13] Since its independence, Latvia has been referred to as one of the Baltic states. It is bordered by Estonia in the northern region, Lithuania in the southern, to the east is Russia, and Belarus to the southeast, as well as sharing a maritime border with Sweden to the west. Latvia has 1,957,200 inhabitants^[14] and a territory of 64,589 km²(24,938 sq mi).^[15] The country has a temperate seasonal climate."(Link 3.)

Riga Location of Riga in Latvia

"Riga  is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 641,481 inhabitants (2016),^[4] it is also the largest city in the three Baltic states, home to one third of Latvia's population and one tenth of the three Baltic states' combined population.^[9] The city lies on the Gulf of Riga, at the mouth of the Daugava. Riga's territory covers 307.17 km²(118.60 sq mi) and lies 1–10 m (3 ft 3 in–32 ft 10 in) above sea level,^[10] on a flat and sandy plain." (Link 4.)

Photos: Taken  with an iPhone by Richard Wilson in August 2018 while attending 

               the 2018 Cycle Messenger  World Championships.

Link 1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_Sorrows_Church,_Riga

Link 2: https://www.liveriga.com/en/2968-our-lady-of-sorrows-church

Link 3: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latvia

Link 4: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riga

CELEBRATING MY 80TH BIRTHDAY

SUZANNE MARIE (FRANK, MOORE) WILSON

BORN MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN

SEPTEMBER 16, 1938