The Lutheran Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Tallinn is also called the Toom Kirk. It is Estonia’s oldest, functioning church. It is also the country’s major Lutheran place of worship. It is a church with a past. Its roots date back to the 13th century, but the structure reflects the ongoing building and reconstruction process between the 13th and 18th centuries.
Originally, in 1219, the church was a wooden structure. A stone church rose up on this same spot by 1243. The exteriors are the result of a 14th century makeover. The Baroque tower, however, dates from 1779. Some of the chapels associated with the church are from an even later period. Inside the church, you will find, again, the mixture of different styles. There is a fine Baroque pulpit featuring depictions of the Apostles by Christina Ackermann. The redodos also date from this same period. Yet, what interests people the most are the tombstones. There are several finely carved tombs. These include that of Pontus de la Gardie and his wife Sophia Gyllenhelm. He was the Swedish commander of the city. You can also admire the Greek-Temple style sarcophagus of one of the lover’s of Catherine the Great of Russia, Admiral Samuel Greigh.