Pirita convent

Monastery in Tallinn; now in ruins

Pirita Convent (Estonian: Pirita klooster) was a Bridgettine monastery for both nuns and monks, located in the district of Pirita in Tallinn, Estonia.^[1] It functioned from 1407 to 1575.^[1] It was the largest convent in Livonia,^[1] and one of the largest in Northern Europe.

History

The idea of founding the monastery dates to merchants (H. Huxer, G. Kruse, H. Swalbart) of Tallinn of around 1400. In 1407, two monks from Vadstena Abbey arrived in Tallinn to counsel the merchants. The first permit to break dolomite to gather building material for building the complex was acquired in 1417. The convent was constructed under the supervision of the architect Heinrich Swalbart.

The main church of the monastery was consecrated on 15 August 1436 by the Bishop of Tallinn, Heinrich II. Several of the merchants who had originally proposed the monastery later became its monks. During its heyday, Pirita Convent became the largest Catholic monastery in Livonia.

The decline of the convent started after the adoption of the Protestant reformation in Estonia in 1525, although it was allowed to continue to function. During the Livonian War in 1577, Pirita Convent was attacked by Russian troops under the leadership of Ivan the Terrible. They sacked the monastery, looted its riches and burned it down. Pirita Convent was abandoned since then, but local people used adjacent lands as a cemetery.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "History | Pirita klooster". piritaklooster.ee. Retrieved 18 January 2022.

Sources

"Pirita klooster AD MMI-MMXI." Toimetus: Ema Riccarda, Lagle Parek, Vello Salo, Ilmo Au. Illustreeritud. – Tallinn, Pirita klooster 2001. 80 lk. ISBN 978-9949-21-998-8

External links

Official website
Ermak Travel Site of Pirita Convent

Tallinn landmarks

Buildings and
structures

Precincts

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parks

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Culture

Museums and galleries	Kumu (Art Museum of Estonia main branch) Mikkel Museum Estonian Open Air Museum (Kolu kõrts) Estonian Maritime Museum (Seaplane Harbour) Estonian Firefighting Museum Estonian History Museum Estonian Museum of Natural History Estonian Health Care Museum Estonian Theatre and Music Museum Museum of Estonian Architecture Museum of Occupations
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Other	National Library of Estonia Song Festival Grounds Culture Factory Polymer