BALTIC MEETINGS - Baltic Writers Council

Anatoly Bakhtin
Cultural Heritage in the Kaliningrad Region
e territory of the Region used to contain a large number of monuments of architecture,
culture and history which have no parallels in Russia. ey included churches, Order castles,
estates, separate constructions and whole towns. Some of these monuments have been officially
listed by the state, at least formally. At the same time it is worth noting that not only separate
constructions but even parts of the towns disappeared after 1945. Some of the towns lost their
status and became working settlements and even villages. Some towns were badly damaged as
a result of combat operations; others were destroyed after the war and for various reasons were
not rebuilt.
Churches were the most widely represented in the region. Before World War II in the
territory of the region there were 223 buildings identified as churches. ere were numerous
other buildings designed for religious purposes: community houses, chapels, synagogues.
e population of East Prussia was multi-confessional. Among the local residents were
representatives of different religions including Evangelic, Lutherans, Roman Catholics, New
Apostolic and Mormons. Undoubtedly, the churches built in the Order period are of special
interest. First of all, they are the oldest ones, and second, they have no parallels in Russia. ese
are the most valuable monuments from the point of view of architecture and history. As a rule,
all of them had medieval frescos under the lime layer on the walls.
As for the situation of the churches in general, after the combat operations of 1945, 133
churches out of 223 remained absolutely intact and 70 churches were damaged. In spite of
the fact that some churches were officially listed by the state, half of them were still destroyed .
In the period of 1945-2000, 93 churches were completely demolished. To this we can add 70
more churches which are almost destroyed. As a result, a total of 161 churches were lost forever
and the loss is irreplaceable.
Before 1985 only one church in Chistye Prudy (Tollmingkehmen) was restored, because its
building was used to house the Memorial museum of Kristijonas Donelaitis (1714-1780), the
classic of Lithuanian literature. Some church buildings were utilised in Kaliningrad as well.
e Church of Queen Louise’s Memory was reconstructed and used as the Puppet eatre; the
Catholic Church of the Holy Family was also repaired and used as the Philharmonic Hall. e
other surviving churches were used as warehouses, gyms, and Houses of Culture.
As a result of the sharp change in state policy, especially as regards the Orthodox Church, that
came about in 1985, 22 former religious buildings were given to the Russian Orthodox Church,
18 of which were operational in 2001 and the rest are still being reconstructed or prepared for
reconstruction. e financial resources of the Orthodox Church in the Kaliningrad Region
were limited. Besides, nowadays, there a discernible tendency towards constructing new
Orthodox churches instead of restoring old religious buildings. As an example, the Orthodox
church in Bagrationovsk, which opened in 1998, can be mentioned.
ere is another example of the restoration of old churches in the region: by giving the surviving
monuments to other confessions. In 1993 the New Apostolic Community restored a beautiful
monument of the Middle Ages - a 14th century church in Guryevsk (former Neuhausen).
e Catholic Community repaired the churches in Bolshakovo and Chernyakhovsk (former
Catholic temples). Restoration work is being carried out in the 14th century church in
Maryino not far from Kaliningrad. e restoration of the church tower is already finished.
e next stage in the work will be the restoration of the surviving frescos and reconstruction
of the roof. It is planned to open a historical and cultural centre with a Museum of eodor
von Schön in Maryino.
e Evangelic-Lutheran Community has carried out a great deal of exterior repair work in
the 15th century church in the village of Gvardeyskoye. is church is historically significant
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