St Nicholas’ Lutheran Chapel in Saha

I want to introduce you to a very ancient and mysterious object – the Saha Chapel, which is located not far from Tallinn.

 

 

Saha Chapel used to be one of the oldest ecclesiastical centres built on the site of an ancient sacred place of Estonians. According to a folk story it is even 50 years older than the City of Tallinn and it was established by bishop Fulco.
The exact time of establishment of the chapel is not known, but the original wooden church was burnt down during an uprising in 1223. The present-day chapel was probably built at the same time as the Pirita Convent, i.e. in the second quarter of the 15th century.
Interesting to know: Saha Chapel is like a minor version of Pirita Convent. The latter – the largest and the most gorgeous convent in Old Livonia lies mainly in ruins.

According to legend, this chapel was built by three shipwrecked merchants at sea. They swore to each other that if they survived, they would build a chapel on the shore. Also, according to legend, a local ghost lives here, which can be found on the attic floor of the chapel, and also in the dark, a female silhouette from time to time looks out of the stone windows of the building.

 

I visited this chapel several times, at different times of the year, and each new time, the atmosphere here was different. Light and carefree in the summer, mysterious on a foggy autumn morning, gloomy on a winter night.

Saha Chapel: sunny and warm summer day

 

Saha Chapel: mysterious and foggy autumn morning

 

Saha Chapel: gloomy winter night

 

I also want to bring to your attention a rather detailed walk around this mysterious place. At the moment, the video is available in Russian, but in the near future I will definitely make an option either with English subtitles or with voice acting in English.

 

Date of visit: 03.06.2022
© Photos and video by Deniss Ignatjev