The story of Riga Cathedral

Many people call this the Dome Cathedral, which really says the same thing twice: 'Dome' comes from the German word Dom, meaning cathedral. Its formal name is the Cathedral Church of Saint Mary, and it was built near the Daugava in 1211 by Bishop Albert of Riga, who came from Lower Saxony. It is considered the largest medieval church in the Baltic states, and like the city's other oldest churches, it is known for its weathercock.

Inside waits a mighty organ, built by Walcker of Ludwigsburg and inaugurated on 31 January 1884, with four manuals and 6718 pipes. During World War II, a tape of the Latvian composer Lūcija Garūta playing this organ for a cantata even captured the sound of battle nearby. Under Soviet occupation, religious services were banned and the cathedral was used as a concert hall.

Worship returned in 1991. Today it is the seat of the Archbishop of Riga and home to a boys choir that has performed internationally.