Description of the attraction
For many years, the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity has always been the most luxurious and monumental architectural monument in Liepaja. The construction of the temple began in 1742. The first pile was driven in on May 29, and on July 19, the main stone was laid. The architect was J. C. Dorn, the assistant was M. Fröhlich. The church was consecrated on December 5, 1758. Only in 1866 the construction was completely finished.
For many years, there was a functioning parish at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. The activity of the parish did not stop, despite numerous wars, the change of eras and political regimes.
The Holy Trinity Cathedral is a unique structure. It has retained its original appearance, without undergoing any restructuring or changes in the interior decoration. Only before the Great Patriotic War, during the existence of the German parish here, was renovation done. But the most valuable thing is that the most famous organ of the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity has survived as it was created. It was built by the outstanding organ builder H. A. Konciuss. This organ is famous for the fact that it was the largest in the world until 1912. It is characterized by a completely mechanical play tract (electronic and pneumatic control is not used). The organ consists of 4 manuals, 131 registers and more than 7000 pipes. The organ of the Sydney Opera House, containing 5 manuals, 125 registers and about 10,000 pipes, disputes the status of the largest organ in the world.
The church with an amazing organ is proud of its organists. This is Rudolf Perle, who served in the church almost all his life and has collected a luxurious music library. He invented a new cantata for every Sunday service. Janis Sermukslis is another outstanding organist. He won the competition and played this organ for a quarter of a century. The first woman organist Maria Meirane and her student Tobij Jaugietis deserve great attention. Since 1939, when the Germans left Latvia, he played the famous organ. During the war, Tobiy Yaugietis and his father were in the cathedral all day and night. They carried water in buckets in order to extinguish the slightest sparks that got in through the broken windows. They saved the church from destruction.
The German parish existed until 1939. Then the Latvian parish appeared. The cathedral became the property of the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church. At the beginning, the services were conducted by priest Ernst Bans, who during the war did it in Latvian and German. After the Great Patriotic War, evangelists Arnold Karlis and Ulpe Konrads, priest Karlis Daugulis worked here. The priest Theodore Calx led the parish for a long time. Priests Voldemar Gutmanis, Ilmar Krievinsh, Sigurd Sprogis, Zigurd Augstkalns also conducted divine services.
Currently, the parish in the Church of the Holy Trinity is very close-knit. A large number of young people are involved in the life of the parish. Of the 300 parishioners, about half regularly attend church services. The organ is played by Voldemar Christian Baris and Liga Augusta. A youth liturgical choir was created in the church under the direction of Maya Porini, a pupil of the music school. Various concerts are organized. The cathedral cooperates with the Department of Culture and the City Council. In the future, the parishioners plan to do concert activities at a higher level.
Now the parish has a special status - a cathedral parish. You can come to church services every day at 6 pm. And festive services are especially solemn. They are led by Bishop Pavil Bruvers of Liepaja.
In the cathedral, the rite of ordination to the priesthood is held, the consecration of oil, which will then be used in divine services. All the preparatory work is done by the parishioners.
The question arises of how to preserve the church for future generations. And there was a way out. With the help of the church renovation fund and donations from the charity portal ziedot.lv, renovation work has begun. The fungus was destroyed in the basement and under the floor of the church. Repaired 1 organ fur. The tower was preserved from further damage. In 2008, the 13,000 cubic meter interior of the cathedral was treated with methyl bromide to destroy the grinder beetle. Specialists from Germany have given a guarantee that bugs will not appear for at least 30 years. I would like to believe that this great architectural monument will be transformed and preserved for future generations.
