Church of St. Olaf, Oleviste Church (Est. Oleviste kirik), German and old Russian name - Olai (German Olaikirche) - Baptist church in Tallinn (Lai Street, 50), a historical building of the 13th century, which is the architectural dominant of the Old Town and a popular observation point platform.
Yes, indeed, the church building is visible from almost anywhere in Old Tallinn.
Location of St. Olaf's Church:
Lai 50, 10133 Tallinn, Estonia. Official website - oleviste.ee. Phone - +372 641 2241
A little information from Wikipedia:
The Oleviste Church, built on the site where the trading court of Scandinavian merchants was located in the 12th century, is named after the Norwegian king Olaf Haraldsson (995-1030), who was later canonized. The first information about the Oleviste Church dates back to 1267 as an active church under the care of the Cistercian monastery of St. Mikhail. It was maintained by Scandinavian merchants and served as their parish church. In the 1420s, it was expanded and greatly rebuilt: new choirs were built, the longitudinal part was turned into a basilica with tetrahedral pillars. The vaults of the main nave became star-shaped, and the side ones - cross-shaped.
Inside, the church is made quite modestly and without pathos with gold, as some people like...
About Olaf himself from the same Wikipedia:
Olaf II (Olaf the Holy, Olaf Haraldsson, Olaf the Thick; Old Scand. Óláfr Digre, Norse Olav den hellige/Heilag Olav; 995-29 July (or 31 August) 1030) - king of Norway from 1015 to 1028, representative of the Horfager dynasty, son of Harald the Greenlander. The Saga of Olaf the Saint is dedicated to him. One of the most revered general Christian saints in Scandinavia (also revered in Rus').
Olaf was born in 995. He was the son of the Westfold king Harald Grenske (Greenlander) and the great-great-grandson of Harald Fairhair; Harald the Severe was his half-brother.
In 1009-1013 fought in England (first on the side of the Danes, and then on the side of the Anglo-Saxons).
In 1013, he was converted to Christianity in Normandy, baptized in Rouen and entered the service of the English king in exile, Ethelred. He helped Æthelred return to England and fought on his side against the Danes.
In 1015, Olaf, together with Bishop Siegfried, went to Norway, where the bonds and provincial rulers proclaimed him king.
In 1017, Björn Okolnichy was sent as ambassador to Sweden with proposals for peace, and one of the ways to resolve the conflict was the marriage of Olaf II to Olaf Skötkonung's daughter Ingigerde, and the decision on this marriage was made at the Thing in Uppsala.
For the Swedes, this marriage was beneficial as a way to establish peace on the border, and they convinced Olaf Skötkonung to swear an oath that he would marry Ingigerda to Olaf II. Moreover, it is known that his daughter wanted this marriage. The wedding was supposed to take place in the fall on the border of the two states on the banks of the Elv River. In accordance with the agreements reached, in the fall of 1018, Olaf II arrived at the border to meet with the bride and her father, but they were not there. Messengers sent to Sweden brought disappointing news: in the summer, matchmakers from the Novgorod “King Jaritsleiv” arrived to Olaf Shetkonung, the Swedish king married his daughter Ingigerda to Prince Yaroslav (the Wise), who was then reigning in Novgorod, and Olaf II married her half-sister Astrid .
According to “The Strand of Eymund,” during Olaf’s stay in Novgorod, Ingegerda “had a secret love affair with him.”
Conducted by Olaf more decisively and consistently than his predecessors, the fight against paganism, the reduction of traditional “freedoms” in order to strengthen royal power, changes in the system of feeding and collecting taxes, etc., led to a gap between him and most of the old nobility, as well as those who joined nobles by bonds. Olaf's opponents within the country sided with the king of England and Denmark, Canute the Great, who was claiming power in Norway.
In 1027, in alliance with Sweden, Olaf attacked Denmark, but was defeated and in 1028 was forced to flee to Sweden and then further to Rus', to Novgorod to Ingigerda (Irina). He fled there with his young son Magnus, leaving his wife Astrid in Sweden. In Novgorod, Ingegerda insisted that Magnus stay with Yaroslav. At this time, the Norwegian throne was occupied by Canute I, who appointed his son from his concubine Alviva Svein as “viceroy”.
In 1030, at the call of his supporters, he returned to Norway and tried, with Swedish help, to regain his throne, but in July of the same year (29th or 31st) at Stiklastadir he was killed in a battle with the army of the Norwegian family nobility and bonds.
Peter Nikolai Arbo Tore Hund, at right, spears Olaf at the battle of Stiklestad The glorification of Olaf as a saint took place in Norway on August 3, 1031 (July 29) - on this day Bishop Grimkel, with the consent of King Svein and “by decision of all the people,” “announced that King Olaf was a saint” and transferred his remains to the church of St. . Clement, founded by Olav in Nidaros (Trondheim). In 1164 he was canonized by Pope Alexander III and began to be revered as the patron saint of Norway.
Saint Olaf is the last Western saint (before the Great Schism of 1054), also revered in the Christian East (St. Olaf II Haraldsson, King of Norway, baptist and educator of the Norwegians).
In Russia, churches in Novgorod (where he lived for several years) and Staraya Ladoga were consecrated in the name of St. Olaf, where he was passing through visiting the mayor Rögnvald Ulvson, a relative of his former bride Ingigerda, since between Olaf and Ingigerda there was “the greatest friendship” or , as it is said in “The Strand of Eymund”, Ingigerda “had a secret love affair with him.”
The donjon of Vyborg Castle, long considered the highest in Scandinavia, is also named after the Norwegian king. The fortress of St. Olaf in Savonlinna (Finland) and the Church of St. Olaf - Old Tallinn are famous. St. Olaf is considered the patron saint of travelers on the Baltic Sea.
History of St. Olaf's Church
At the turn of the 16th century, the height of the main tower with its spire reached 159 meters, which allowed the church to be in peace until a fire occurred in 1625 and the palm passed to the Church of St. Mary in Stralsund, and after the disaster in Stralsund to the Strasbourg Cathedral. The church spire soaring into the sky was visible for many kilometers and was a good landmark for ships. However, such a gigantic height also concealed a significant threat: the church was struck by lightning eight times, and three times during a thunderstorm it was subjected to a devastating fire. According to the information that reached us, the fiery glow was visible even from the Finnish coast. The church in its current form has a height of 123.7 meters. According to the decree of the Tallinn city government, skyscrapers built in the city center cannot be higher than St. Olav's Church
Another interesting fact related to the history of the church is mentioned by the church’s pastor, the famous chronicler Baltazar Russov. In 1547, tightrope walkers arrived in Tallinn. They pulled a long rope between the church tower and the fortress wall and began to perform dangerous tricks on it.
In 1513-1523, the chapel of the Virgin Mary in the late Gothic style was added to the church. Under its outer wall there is a symbolic grave (cenotaph) of the initiator of the construction, Hans Pavels, with eight reliefs depicting the Passion of Christ.
The Reformation in Tallinn began on September 14, 1524 in the Oleviste Church, which eventually became Lutheran. In the 18th century it became the center of the Pietist awakening in Estonia, and Count N. L. von Zinzendorf preached here in 1736. In the 19th century, many evangelical preachers worked in the Oleviste church, whose influence spread far beyond the church.
The temple delighted many travelers who visited Tallinn with its elegant architecture. In particular, the famous Russian poet Prince Pyotr Andreevich Vyazemsky, who vacationed in the city in 1825, 1826, 1843 and 1844, dedicated a separate poem to the temple.
Until 1944, the Oleviste Church belonged to the German Lutheran community.
In 1950, the building was given to VSEKhB. The new Oleviste church included believers of four movements: Baptists, Evangelical Christians, Pentecostals and Free Christians. The grand opening of the church took place on September 17, 1950. The service was led by the senior presbyter for Estonia, I. Lipstock; Guests were present: General Secretary of the All-Russian Agricultural Society A.V. Karev from Moscow, Senior Presbyter for the Baltic States N.A. Levindanto from Riga and others.
Oswald Tärk and Oskar Olvik, who had higher theological education, were elected elders of the united Oleviste church.
The overhaul of the church also contributed to the unity of believers of different faiths into a single Christian family, since after the war the church building was not used for its intended purpose for a long time and fell into disrepair. In 1981, a large baptistery was built in the church.
The Oleviste Church eventually became the mother church of the entire Estonian brotherhood. Bible and prayer hours for elders and Sunday services began to be held, reminiscent of the spiritual conferences held in the past.
In 1978-1980, the church became the center of a charismatic “awakening” that, before government intervention, attracted thousands of people from all over the Soviet Union.
The good acoustics of the Oleviste Church provide excellent opportunities for choral and musical activities. Taking into account traditions, in addition to the united choir, organized in the first years of joint ministry, which included singers from all choirs, two more mixed choirs were formed, as well as male and female choirs, string and brass bands. A youth choir sings in the church and musical groups and ensembles serve - Sanctus, Effafa, Gloria and various chamber compositions.
The organ plays a special role in the development of music and singing ministry. It serves not only to accompany general singing, but also allows the performance of large vocal and symphonic works.
The senior presbyter A. Sildos worked in the church for many years, his deputy was I. Laks, and his advisers were O. Tärk and O. Olvik. Presbyterian service in the church was carried out by Master O. Tärk - from 1950 to 1971, Oskar Olvik - from 1950 to 1977, Y. Meriloo - from 1971, H. Hunt - from 1977. As of 1989, the church had over 1,320 members; About forty brothers preached.
With the arrival of a new generation of ministers, the Oleviste Church continues to worthily fulfill its role in the multinational Baptist Union of Estonia.
Observation deck on the tower of St. Olaf's Church.
It is through such a narrow staircase that you have to make your way to the very tower of St. Olaf’s Church. And at the top there is a grid and you can watch the world through the grid:
True, the view is wonderful.
Climbing the tower costs 2 euros (for children under 14 years old - 1 euro). And you won’t be able to get up here at sunset. The church and observation deck are open daily 10.00-18.00, in July and August, 10.00-20.00
Have you ever been to Tallinn?
Lutheran Church of St. Olaf (Oleviste) is one of the main attractions of Tallinn and the main city dominant - the church spire is visible for many tens of kilometers.
In its current form, St. Olav's Church is 123.7 meters high and, according to a resolution of the Tallinn City Council, skyscrapers built in the business center of the city cannot be higher Oleviste Church.
The legend about the construction of the Church of St. Olaf (Oleviste)
In the Middle Ages St. Olaf's Church was the tallest building in Eastern Europe, the construction of which and its very name was associated with the following legend:
In those years Tallinn was still very small and merchant ships preferred other, larger harbors. And the townspeople decided to build a temple in their city that would outshine all other buildings in the world with its height and splendor - then the ships would notice it and come to Tallinn with their goods. The search went on for a long time, and the townspeople completely despaired of finding an architect capable of such work, when suddenly an unknown master of enormous stature appeared and agreed to build a unique church - but the trouble is, he asked for a considerable fee, ten barrels of gold.
It was impossible to find so much money in all of Tallinn at that time - and the townspeople became despondent again. Then the master added the following condition: if the townspeople found out his name, he would not take a single coin from them. The Tallinn residents agreed with relief - the church was taking a long time to be built, during its construction they would somehow contrive and find out the name of the builder, and thus avoid payment. Then the question arose of where exactly to build a new church - in the Upper Town or the Lower Town.
Opponents of construction in the Upper Town argued that the tallest church in the world there would reach the clouds with its calm, and if lightning struck it during a thunderstorm, it would burn (legend is legend, but the subsequent fate of the church more than once confirmed the validity of their fears). The argument was considered reasonable and they decided to build a church in the Lower Town, not far from its northern border.
The master began to work - and he was very successful in it: he puts a stone - the wall rises, puts another - and the vault is ready. And the shoes he’s wearing are unusual, magical - he only takes a step, but he’s walked a mile. The townspeople tried to make friends with him and find out his name, but it was all to no avail - the architect was a man of few words and did not get along closely with anyone.
Meanwhile, the construction was nearing completion, and the higher the walls of the church rose, the greater the fear of the cunning Tallinn residents of the ten barrels of gold promised to the architect. Where can I get them? The townspeople decided to send a spy to the builder’s wife - how could he find out anything? The spy had no luck for a long time, until one day he heard her cradling the child and saying:
“Sleep, my baby, go to sleep.
Soon Olev will return home
with a bag full of gold."
The scout hurried to the city with good news - the name of the builder is Olev! The architect was just at the top of the tower, installing a cross. Tallinn residents started shouting to him from below:
- Olev, try your best! Look, the cross has tilted! Correct him!
The master was struck by lightning: the townspeople recognized his name and he would never see any gold! In horror, his hands unclenched, let go of the cross, his foot stumbled - he lost his balance and flew down from the scaffolding. The church was tall, and its builder fell for a long time - and when he hit the ground, his body turned to stone, and a toad jumped out of his mouth and a snake crawled out. So the petrified Olev remained in the courtyard of the church, and the church itself was named Oleviste - after the name of the master who built it.
Of course, this is nothing more than a beautiful legend, which every decent building should have. And the historical truth is that by its name the church St. Olaf - Oleviste(Oleviste kirik) obliged to the Norwegian king Olaf II Haraldson, who brought Christianity to Northern Europe and for this was canonized. In addition, St. Olaf was revered as the patron saint of sailors.
For many years the spire has risen to the sky St. Olaf's Church served as an excellent landmark for ships calling at the Tallinn port - in the 16th century the height of the church reached 159 meters. True, the height of the spire also carried a serious danger: eight times the church was struck by lightning strikes, and three times during its construction there were devastating fires - according to the chronicle, once the fiery glow was visible even from the shores of Finland, which is 80 kilometers from Tallinn .
In 1820 St. Olaf's Church once again burned down and after perestroika became noticeably lower - now its height is 123.7 meters. The fire also destroyed the rich interior decoration, which after restoration became much more modest.
In 1547 in history St. Olaf's Church an event occurred mentioned in the chronicle of the famous chronicler Baltazar Russov: tightrope walkers came to the city and pulled their rope between the tower Church of St. Olaf-Oleviste and the city fortress wall and began to perform their tricks on it to the horror and delight of the townspeople.
Bell tower of St. Olaf's Church
In the summer you can climb the bell tower of the Oleviste Church - to do this you need to climb the medieval spiral staircase:
In terms of climbing, the bell tower of St. Olav's Church is the most interesting of all the bell towers in Tallinn (because it is the highest and extremely well located) - and, by the way, the most inexpensive: you can climb to the observation deck for only 2 euros. The views from there are simply amazing - the entire Lower Town and Toompea Hill are in full view:
From my point of view, the views from the observation deck more than compensate for the costs incurred: on a clear day, the Upper and Lower cities of Tallinn are clearly visible, as well as the Baltic Sea and the ferry port, from where huge ships depart for Helsinki, Stockholm, Riga and St. Petersburg.
The Belfry of St. Olaf's Church is open from 1 April to 30 June from 10:00 to 18:00; from July 1 to August 31 from 10:00 to 20:00; from September 1 to October 31 from 10:00 to 18:00.
Bas-relief depicting the progress of the construction of St. Olaf's Church:
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Observation deck at St. Olaf's Church
Tallinn's St. Olaf (Oleviste) Church, located on Lai (Shirokaya) Street, was built in the 13th century. To this day, it is recognized as one of the tallest buildings in the city (the height of its spire reaches 124 m).
The observation deck of the church tower is located at a height of 60 meters. It offers a magnificent perspective of the sea area, the passenger port and the development of Vyshgorod. Visitors will be able to see the facades of the traditional residences of the Baltic barons: the pink Stackelberg Palace, built in 1810, and the Stenbeck House, the construction of which began in 1792.
Before visiting the observation deck of St. Olaf's Church, visitors have the opportunity to view the interior of the ancient Gothic temple. In 1513, a chapel in honor of the Virgin Mary was added to the cathedral building. Under one of its walls there is a cenotaph with bas-reliefs that depict the Passion of Christ.
The excellent acoustics of St. Olaf's Church provide opportunities for musical activities, in which organ music and choral singing play a key role. It makes sense to attend one of the musical events in Olevista, which usually feature choirs, string and brass bands.
The main transport arteries of old Tallinn are Lai (Wide) Street, on which St. Olav's Church is located and the adjacent (Long) Church. The development of these streets has enormous historical value. 100 meters from St. Olav's Church is located perhaps the most luxurious hotel in the Estonian capital - organized in adjacent merchant houses built in 1361. Unique buildings have been recognized as one of the main attractions for several decades.
St. Olaf's Church is one of the most beautiful sights in Tallinn, built in the 13th century. From its platform it is very good to explore the city.
Urban legends
There is a legend about this place. It says that the construction of the church was carried out in order to create an unusually tall building for that time on the territory of Tallinn. Merchants should have seen it from their ships when sailing to the shore.
A master unknown to the townspeople agreed to carry out the grandiose plan. As a reward, he asked for ten barrels of gold, which would be given to him upon completion of the work.
City residents said the price was too high. Then the unknown person changed the condition and said that customers would have to give his name as payment. If they succeed, he will build the building completely free of charge.
The deal was concluded, but when the payment deadline approached, Tallinn residents began to panic. They did not have the required amount of money. And then a spy was sent to the builder’s wife. When she was rocking the baby before bed, she mentioned the name of his father. It turned out his name was Olev. So the city residents were able to fulfill the master’s condition.
The architect was annoyed that he had lost the opportunity to receive an award for his work. He was at a high altitude when he learned about this. In anger, Olev let go of the cross he was holding on to and fell to the ground. At the moment of death, a snake and a frog came out of his mouth. The legend explains this by saying that the builder of the temple dealt with dark forces, for only they could help in creating such a magnificent structure.
Surviving information
The building has a rather interesting history. Before the emergence of the holy temple on this land, there was a courtyard where Scandinavian merchants carried out trade. From 1015 to 1028, Olaf Haraldsson ruled here, who was later canonized as a saint. In fact, St. Olaf's Church is named after him.
The photos of this place amaze with their beauty and attract large flows of people here. The building is quite old. The first information about it appeared only in 1267, when church activity was already in full swing here.
The superior organization that took care of the temple was the Cistercian monastery for women. Scandinavian merchants provided funds through which the Church of St. Olaf (Tallinn) could function. In the 1420s, its expansion and large-scale reconstruction were carried out. There were updated choirs and a basilica, which was decorated with pillars with four sides. The main nave was decorated with star vaults.
Distinctive Features
The sailors saw the spire while still at sea, and could navigate along it in search of the shore. Of course, such beauty and majesty came at the cost of some risks associated with them.
The tall spire attracted lightning, which struck it eight times. Three times, thunderstorms caused fires that caused terrible destruction.
Over the many years that St. Olaf's Church existed, history has seen everything. The triumph that the temple achieved was overshadowed in the minds of people by a huge fire that happened in 1625. The fire was visible even on the Finnish shores. Then the primacy in beauty and grandeur had to be ceded to the Church of St. Mary (Stiralsund).
There are records describing the changes that St. Olaf's Church experienced. At the moment, the building rises to 123.7 m. The city government has adopted a resolution that none of the nearby buildings should be higher than this structure.
From the records of B. Russov, a famous chronicler, you can find out that in 1547 there were tightrope walkers in Tallinn. They stretched a cane between the tower and the wall of the fortress, on which they showed tricks.
In the period from 1513 to 1523, architects were engaged in the construction of the Chapel of the Virgin Mary, whose style is classified as late Gothic. Near the outer wall you can find a cenotaph - a symbolic burial dedicated to H. Pavels, who was the initiator of the construction. Here the Passion of Christ is depicted in eight reliefs.
Association of faiths
The Reformation, which began in Tallinn in September 1524, affected the Church of St. Olaf. Since then it has been under the jurisdiction of the Lutherans. In the 18th century, the epicenter of the Pietist Estonian awakening unfolded here.
In 1736, Count von Zinzendorf was here, leading sermons. During the 19th century there were also evangelical preachers here. Their words greatly influenced the people of that time.
The elegant architecture of the local buildings delighted visiting travelers. There is a famous poem dedicated to the temple by someone who visited here several times.
Until 1944, the building was managed by the Lutheran German community. In 1950, power over the temple passed to the All-Russian Christian Philharmonic. Baptists, Christians and Pentecostals began to pray here. The church began to be called united. The presbyters here were O. Tärk and O. Olvik.
St. Olaf's Church is a place where people of different faiths united into one family. Today, a thorough renovation has been carried out here. After the war, the temple did not carry out active activities for a long time, so updating the building was simply necessary.
In 1981, a baptistery appeared here. The entire Estonian brotherhood considered this shrine one of the most important. Hours of prayer and Bible reading were held for the elders, and services similar to spiritual conferences were held on Sundays. From 1978 to 1980, an “awakening” took place here, in which many people from all over the Soviet Union participated.
Having found out where St. Olaf's Church is located and having come here for informational purposes, one can note that excellent conditions have been created for the choir and music thanks to good acoustics. Nowadays a large number of ensembles perform here, which are extremely interesting and pleasant to listen to. There is an excellent organ, whose presence makes the sound three-dimensional.
What else should you pay attention to first if you only have a short time to get a good look at St. Olaf's Church? The attractions that made the temple famous are, first of all, the star-shaped vaults, on which a beautiful pattern was created with frame arches.
Also, one cannot ignore the sculptural relief, which can be seen by looking behind the altar. A beautiful building is the Chapel of the Virgin Mary, located on the eastern side. And, of course, you should pay attention to the cenotaph in honor of H. Pavels.
Once in Tallinn, be sure to check out the part of the city where St. Olaf’s Church is located. Her address: st. Lai, house 50. This is a most beautiful work of architecture, in which all the most refined and sublime features of Gothic are intertwined.
Address: Estonia, Tallinn, st. Barking
Date of foundation: XIII century
Height: 124 m
Coordinates: 59°26"28.8"N 24°44"51.1"E
Brief description
Citizens and tourists arriving in Tallinn by sea can see the Church of St. Olaf (or Oleviste) tens of kilometers from the coast.
In 1549 - 1625, the Temple of Oleviste bore the title of the tallest building in medieval Europe, and to this day its spire, soaring 124 meters into the air, makes a majestic impression. At the turn of the 16th century, the church spire, which reached a height of 159 meters, not only served as a reliable landmark for ships, but was also a good target for lightning. The church was struck by lightning 8 times, and burned three times during thunderstorms.
According to legend, the fiery glow from the fire was visible even from the shores of Finland. Today, St. Olav's Church is one of the TOP 20 tallest churches in the world and is the second tallest building in Tallinn after the Tallinn TV Tower. In order to show due respect to the ancient church, the Tallinn authorities adopted a decree prohibiting the construction of skyscrapers higher than the Oleviste spire in the city center.
Towers of the fortress wall against the backdrop of St. Olav's Church
The legend about the construction of the Oleviste Church
Tradition says that many centuries ago the people of Tallinn decided to erect a large church in their city with a spire so high that it could be seen by foreign merchants sailing on ships on the sea. Among the masters there was an unfamiliar architect who was willing to take on such a difficult task, but for his work he asked for 10 barrels of gold. For the city authorities, this price was too high, and then the master put forward an unusual condition - if Tallinn residents recognize his name, he will not take a penny for his work, otherwise the payment remains unchanged. When the construction of the temple was nearing completion, the townspeople sent a spy to the architect’s wife. Having waited until nightfall, the scout crept to the window and overheard the words of a lullaby that a mother sang to her child: “Sleep, my baby, go to sleep. Tomorrow Papa Olev will return home with ten barrels full of gold.” When the mysterious master was already installing the cross on the top of the spire, the townspeople called out to him: “Hey, Olev! And your cross is tilted!” The disgruntled master let go of the cross from his hands, the scaffolding bent under his feet, and Olev flew down, hitting the ground. At that same moment his body turned to stone, and a frog jumped out of his mouth and a snake crawled out.
View of the church from Oleviste street
The townspeople believe that Olev fell victim to an evil spirit, because without the participation of a demon it is impossible to build such a grandiose structure. The church was consecrated in honor of the canonized Norwegian king Olaf II, who established Christianity in Norway, and is popularly called the Oleviste Temple - after the name of the master Olev.
History of the Oleviste Church
Historians believe that the Church of St. Olaf already stood in its current location in the 12th century - where the trading court of Scandinavian merchants was located in the Middle Ages. In written evidence from 1267, the Oleviste Church is mentioned as an active temple, under the tutelage of the Cistercian monastery of St. Mikhail. In the 1420s, the Oleviste Church underwent reconstruction: the longitudinal baptismal room was turned into a basilica, and new vaults and choirs were built. In 1524, during the reform movement directed against the abuses of the Catholic Church, the Catholic clergy was expelled from the churches of Tallinn. On the night of September 14, 1524, a reformist crowd plundered the interior of the Church of St. Olaf, but the outside of the temple was not damaged.
View of the church from Lai Street
Since then, the Oleviste Church has become Lutheran, and in 1950, under the arches of this historical building, the unification of seven religious communities of Estonia took place, creating a single Estonian brotherhood. The Livonian chronicler Balthasar Russov, in his chronicles of the life of Tallinn, reports another interesting event related to the history of the Oleviste church. In 1547, a troupe of traveling artists stopped in Tallinn while passing through. Having pulled a rope between the fortress wall and the tower of the church of St. Olaf, the acrobats decided to amuse the “respectable audience.” One performer performed breathtaking tricks on a tightrope, while another walked down a tightrope.
Attractions of the Oleviste Church
The main decoration of the church of St. Olaf are Gothic star vaults, in which the intersection of frame arches creates a complex "star" geometric pattern. Also worthy of special attention is the ancient sculptural relief of St. Olaf, located behind the altar, and the chapel of the Virgin Mary, built on the east side of the church. On the outer wall of the Chapel of Mary there is a symbolic slab (cenotaph) in memory of the initiator of the construction of the chapel, Hans Pavels (1513).
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