St. Michael's Lutheran Church In Jõhvi

St. Michael's Lutheran Church In Jõhvi / Apraksts

Jõhvi church is the most thoroughly fortified stronghold-church in Estonia. Presumably it was linked to other fortifications and strongholds, via a framework of underground passages. The church, consecrated to Michael the Archangel, is the biggest single nave church in the Estonian territory. An underground museum is located in the basement of the church.
A legend tells of two brothers who wanted to build a castle on the site of the church. They started quarreling and fighting, and one of them lost his life. The remaining brother decided to build a church instead of a castle to get repent for his sins. The sword, glove and hat of the brother are still believed to be in the possession of the church.
The first building from the 14th century was without vaults and towers, stressing the defense function of the church. The site of the church was close to an important road connecting Narva and Tallinn, and during the wars it was constantly attacked by the bypassing troops. On the upper part of the western wall we can still see a fighting platform. It was easy too shoot the enemy from there with bows and arrows. The holes in the floor of the gallery were used to pour hot water and tar, or for throwing down large stones, on the heads of the attackers.
In the 16th century the church was extended and reinforced to survive the attacks of firearms. The fortress was bordered with moats, and a watchtower was built on the western faēade. The church belonged to a unified defense system with the Edise (now destroyed) and Järve fortifications. The existence of secret underground passages is told in the legends but there has been no empirical proof found yet. The historical records tell that, in the Livonian war, Russian soldiers set the church on fire and a great number of local peasants, who were trapped inside, were killed.
The single-nave church is surprisingly wide; thick pillars on the sidewalls support the low-laying vaults. The current tower and crown are from 1875.
The most unique interior piece is a wooden baroque pulpit (1728) carved in the workshop of renowned artisan Johann V. Rabe. The carved Golgotha sculpture ensemble is of the same origin.
There are two spacious vaulted rooms in the basement of the church, once used for storing vegetables. One of the rooms houses a chapel that has been used for smaller services and sermons. In the other basement room there is a history museum displaying items, mostly jewelry and household tools, found in Ida Viru County. A glass painting on the limestone wall, tells the legend of erecting the church. In the floor of the gallery, between the two basement rooms, there are pieces of a skull and sword behind a glass shield.