Põlva Maarja kirik (Põlva)

 temple, place with historical importance, lutheranism, interesting place, listed building / architectural heritage, lutheran church/kirk, historical building, place of worship, 15th century construction, tourist attraction

Põlva Maarja Church is a church in Põlva. The church was originally built in 1460–1470 and was expanded in 1841–1845. The church houses the altarpiece "Christ is on Earth" (1845), made by Friedrich Ludwig von Maydell. The organ was made by Willhelm Müllverstedt in 1833. The church bell was cast in 1868 in Bochum, Germany. The height of the church tower is 36.5 meters.
The church is open to visitors free of charge from Monday to Friday from 9 am to 1 pm, as well as on Sundays before and after the service. The services of the Põlva Holy Virgin Mary congregation are held in Põlva Church on Sundays at 11 am. According to legend, a church was intended to be built in an old Estonian forest. The Estonians did not like this. Every morning the walls built during the day collapsed, and this continued for a long time. Then they went to ask the wise man for advice, and the wise man had answered: "The walls of the church will remain standing if an innocent girl is walled in alive on her knees - but that is the only way out." A girl named Maarja was chosen in the congregation. A hole was made in the wall, where Maarja could fit on her knees, and it was closed with a large stone. Through another hole, she was given bread and water to stay alive. Then this hole was also closed and the walls began to bear. Because Maarja was on her knees in the wall, this place and the church began to be called Põlva.