Dome Church
Toomkirk, in Estonian, is a corruption of the German Domkirche, which is where the "Dome Church" appellation comes from. So let's just call it the Cathedral of St. Mary the Virgin. That's what this neat little medieval church on top of the hill in Tallinn is calling itself these days. Good enough.
As the oldest church on the mainland (did you know Estonia has over 2,000 islands dotted with Viking graveyards?) it's worth a visit, if for no other reason that it's one of the few churches in the old part of town that keeps its doors open and doesn't care if you snap photos. It was established in 1233, but most of the buildings on Toompea Hill got destroyed in the 1684 fire and everything has been rebuilt since.
It is known for its collection of 16th-century epitaph coat of arms ― over 100 ― representing German families, so it's firmly Lutheran.
On the altar, an intricate sculptural ensemble frames the Crucifixion painting by Eduard von Gebhardt.
Two of Tallinn's most powerful families, the Manteuffels and the Patkuls, have their own elevated pew boxes, enclosed in glass. Useful in a pandemic but kinda rude, to be honest.
In a way, the regular folks' pews are enclosed boxes, too. Each row has its own door. Not sure I have seen this before. Wonder if it is a Nordic thing.
On the day I visited, I was the only person there, save for a guy licking envelopes behind a counter. He said work on the tower should be completed by autumn 2022.
