Ropaži Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Date from:
- 00.00.1320
- Address:
- Ropaži, Ropažu pagasts, Ropažu novads, Latvija
- Political territory:
- null
- Categories:
- Church, National heritage site
- Coordinates:
- 56.973224906226,24.631849853667
Ropaži Evangelical Lutheran Church – a Lutheran church in Ropaži, Ropaži parish, Ropaži Municipality, Latvia.
The Ropaži church is first mentioned in written records in 1320, during the construction of the Ropaži Livonian Order castle. It can be seen in drawings by Johann Christoph Brotze from the 1790s.
The current masonry church building was erected in 1893.
At the end of World War II, in the autumn of 1944, the church tower was blown up (according to some sources – shelled). Nevertheless, services continued to be held there until 1959. After that, the church was devastated and left in ruins.
In 1997, worship services resumed in the church ruins.
In 2001, the tower of Ropaži Church was restored.
Today, the Ropaži Lutheran Church has been almost completely restored and regular services are held there. The pastor is Rolands Pētersons.
Since 2020, during Advent and Christmas, a special “Garden of Light” (Gaismas dārzs) installations have been created in Ropaži Church, turning it into a major visitor attraction and tourism destination. During the Advent season, excellent charity concerts are also held here.
