Description of the attraction
The town of Kemeri (Kemmerne) is a part of the city of Jurmala, located 44 km from Riga. For a long time the resort of Kemeri was famous for its hot mud and sulfur waters, which were called by the people "the holy spring". There have always been many people who came from different parts of the country, wishing to be healed of various diseases and ailments (chronic radiculitis, diseases of the spine and joints). Many of them had difficulty moving or could not walk at all.
For the first time to master these gifts of nature from a medical point of view, they were undertaken at the end of the 18th century. Nevertheless, as a hospital, emeri began to actively progress in the first half of the 19th century. There were many Orthodox Christians among the sick people. For them, the spiritual support from the church was very important. Therefore, people began to ask that an Orthodox church be built in the town of Kemeri.
Only in 1873, thanks to donations, the construction of the church began. There is a place for her on the second floor in a small room that belonged to the management of the hospital. They consecrated the church in the name of the holy apostles Peter and Paul and attributed it to the Assumption Castle Church in Riga.
The church accommodated only about 22 people. Accordingly, she could not accept everyone. 15 years later, the church did not at all correspond to the spirit of that time. The small room could not accommodate people who wanted to be at the service. The patients had nothing to breathe in the stuffy room. The second floor was an insurmountable obstacle for people with difficulty moving, not to mention those who did not walk. As before, it was possible to enter the temple only from the courtyard and along a steep, narrow staircase.
The poor condition and unworthy state of the church attracted the attention of His Grace Arseniy, Bishop of Riga and Mitava, who was visiting the town of Kemeri for the first time. He immediately began to seek the construction of a new temple. But there was no land, no money, no materials to create it.
This complex work began in 1891. On the day of the supreme apostles Peter and Paul, the church asked the parishioners for material assistance in creating a new church. Fundraising has begun. The director of Kemeri waters, doctor A. G. Kulyabko-Koretsky actively helped in this matter. The funds were raised a year later. At the same time, a piece of land was allocated, received free of charge. Building material was also found.
On July 9, 1892, His Grace Arseny, Bishop of Riga and Mitava, consecrated the site and foundation of the Kemern Church. The project was developed by the famous architect V. I. Lunsky. A year later, the construction was completed and the church was immediately consecrated. The temple was located in a very beautiful picturesque place among the centuries-old oak trees. On the contrary, in the so-called "state house", the Sulfur Waters Administration was located.
The external image of the temple made a pleasant impression. A very successful combination of architectural forms, artistic masonry of the walls, the density of individual parts of the building, together with the bell tower, emphasized the stylistic unity of the Peter and Paul Church. The interior of the church was distinguished by its rigor in combination with the iconostasis of highly artistic work, carved icon cases, and artistic casting utensils. During the summer, the service was held regularly.
On July 10, 1894, a remarkable event took place in the life of the church. Holy icons from Greek Athos were sent to the Kemern Church. Vladyka raised three icons: the Mother of God "Quick to Hear", the Iberian Most Holy Theotokos and the Holy Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon.
More than a century has passed since those times. The church remained active all these years. In the post-war period, there were especially many worshipers, when Kemeri became a health resort for all the republics of the USSR. The resort with its exceptional medicinal properties and natural conditions actively progressed, improved and gained wide recognition.
Currently, the temple is in good condition and is the spiritual Orthodox center of Kemeri and its environs.
