Narva-Jõesuu Makes First Steps Toward Church Restoration

Antique postcard showing Narva-Jõesuu's original Russian Orthodox church ( Photo: Courtesy of Narva-Jõesuu Municipality )

1/3/2011

Municipal authorities in Narva-Jõesuu are to sign memorandums of intent with church officials for the restoration of the town’s two main churches, one Lutheran and one Russian Orthodox, which were both destroyed in World War II.
Narva-Jõesuu Mayor Andres Noormägi and the head of its municipal council, Raivo Murd will meet with representatives of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate in the first week of March to sign the documents.

Under the terms of the memorandums, the parties agree to collaborate on the church restoration, with the municipal administration helping to secure additional parcels of land needed for the project, a statement from the town administration said.

In the statement, Noormägi said that the restoration of the churches is an important element in the restoration of the town in general, a process which is gaining momentum this year as 12 million euros are being invested into its infrastructure.

The northeastern beach resort town has recently been showing initial signs of recovery from the decline it experienced in the latter part of the 20th century.

Mati Maanas, who will be signing the memorandum on behalf of the EELK, told ERR News that the actual details of any restoration, including funding, would be decided far in the future.

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