Tallinna Rootsi-Mihkli kirik (Tallinn)

 church, orthodox christianity, interesting place, listed building / architectural heritage, lutheran church/kirk, historical building, place of worship, tourist attraction

This centuries-old church on Rüütli street has been a spiritual home for generations of Estonian Swedes. As an ethnic group, Swedes have been a part of Tallinn's cultural mosaic since the Middle Ages. St. Michael's had originally been an almshouse for the city's poor, but in 1733 the tsarist government gave it to the Swedish congregation, which had been left without its own church since the Great Northern War.
During Soviet times the building was converted into a sports hall and fell into disrepair, but was renovated and re-consecrated in 2002. It now has a congregation of around 200, and continues to hold services in Swedish. In addition to its Baroque altar by Joachim Armbrust and a Baroque pulpit, the church has a unique baptistery created by famed sculptor Christian Ackermann in 1680. Services in Swedish on Sundays at 12pm.