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Archaeological excavations will soon begin on the plaza near Jonas Hill, followed by the rebuilding of the church.
As St. Lilija Petraitienė, director of the John Evangelical Lutheran Church Reconstruction Foundation, as early as August 5. promising to start archaeological research. The Klaipėda city government and municipality assigned them around 45 thousand LTL. euros Seimas Klaipeda St. The Church of San Juan was recognized as an object of national importance.
Archaeologists will explore the layers below the hedge. “I think you will find some interesting things. Already now he found some kind of brick with a seal. Our goal here is not to dig completely. Our goal is to look along the foundations and leave everything else to future generations. The works will take place until around November, ”said L. Petraitienė.
Instantly understand
- S t. The church of San Juan was first built in 1258.
- After 1854. The fire was rebuilt thanks to the townspeople.
- The neo-Gothic church marked the geographic center of Klaipeda.
- Completely demolished in 1945.
Open to tourists
The church would be rebuilt on the site of the old foundation.
During World War II, St. John’s Church was immortalized on postcards overlooking the city. The 75m tall church tower also had another functional meaning: like a lighthouse and showed the way to the arriving ships.
In 2015, after analyzing various alternatives, it was decided to rebuild the authentic church. The city, which lost its face during the war, would enrich itself in architectural, cultural and aesthetic terms.
Photo from the archives of the Minor Lithuanian History Museum / St. John’s Church, a former Klaipeda decoration, was demolished during World War II.
How 15 minutes L. Petraitienė said, the Evangelical Lutheran community in Klaipeda unites more than a thousand members. The restored church would be open not only to them, but to all the townspeople. It is being considered that the tower could have an observation platform for tourists, and the Cultural and Tourism Information Center would be located.
The news about the organ that might be playing in Klaipeda also reached Klaipeda residents in Germany.
“Still, the faithful need sacred signs, now the Lutherans go to Kretinga, Kretingale, Vanagus. The historic church was elite in the city,” said l.Petraitienė
The value of the project is estimated at 16.8 million. euros Klaipeda Evangelical Lutheran St. Funds from the Charity and Support Fund for the Restoration of the Church of Saint John, the Honorary Consul of Germany in Klaipėda and the Embassy of Germany in Lithuania, funds from the European Union, Municipalities of the City of Klaipėda , etc.
The remains of an authentic church: no smell
Reinhold Moras, a priest from Klaipeda Evangelical Lutheran Parish, stated that this help was a move toward the goal. “Our goal is to see what condition the base is in. Will it be possible to build on them, or will it be necessary to blame the posts? We will definitely find the church bricks, we have no doubts,” said the priest.
Photo by Aurelija Jašinskienė / 15min.lt / Priest Reinhold Moras from the Evangelical Lutheran Parish of Klaipeda
The church suffered severe damage at the end of the war. Finally, completely dismantled. Parishioners tried to look for signs of this sanctuary, but so far to no avail.
“I wonder if the altar painting has survived. There were wooden statues of Christ and Moses in the church. One person told me that the statue of Christ had survived, and where it later disappeared, it had not been heard. I was only told in the army by a soldier who, in 1944, when the Russian army entered, saw Christ standing among the ruins. Someone could have taken it, but no one has responded. Sometimes when churches are rebuilt, those with knowledge of the relics respond, ”Mor said. He recalled that on the eve of the opening of the church in Panevėžys, he had called from one of the Catholic churches, where the altar painting was kept. “It just came to our attention then. It can be anything,” said the priest.
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