Saatse Suurmärter Paraskeva kirik (Saatse)

 temple, christianity, orthodox christianity, interesting place, listed building / architectural heritage, place of worship, Russian Orthodox Church, 19th century construction, tourist attraction, Orthodox church

The Orthodox Church of Saatse was dedicated to the great martyr Paraskeva (Russian: Параскева Иконийская, Greek: Параскева) from the city of Iconium (Greek: Ικόνιον) in Asia Minor. In memory of the great martyr Paraskeva, there are two church holidays in Saatse: Päätnitsa Day (the last Friday of July) and Rämman Day (November 10). The Church of St. Paraskeva is in the traditional classicist style. The church building is an elongated, Latin cross-shaped ground plan, with a bell tower, a white-plastered brick building. There are three towers: a four-sided bell tower with a pointed dome, an octagonal bell tower with an onion dome, and a small tower with an onion dome on a round apse. The classicist facades have relief window decorations and arched lintels, cornices, the bell tower has corner pilasters, and the wing has a transom. The Great Martyr Paraskeva Church in Saatse is one of the oldest Orthodox rural churches in Estonia. Construction periods 1711–1840. The new stone church in Saatse was completed in 1801, the location of the old church is marked by a stone pillar near the new church. In 1839, a wooden bell tower was built on the church. In 1869, a three-story iconostasis was placed in the church. The royal doors are woodcarvings. In 1884, the church building was extended and a bell tower with a sharp peak was built. In 2005–2011, priest Father Afrat (Ergo) Laas served in the church. Extensive restoration work took place in the church building between 2014 and 2017, during which all the opening fillings and roofs were restored. During the roofing work, the bell tower spire was restored and new gilded crosses were installed on the roofs.