June 28, 2018 - This is the Alexander Nevsky Russian Orthodox Cathedral. It dominates the upper part if the old City of Tallinn Estonia.
As beautiful as it is, it is emblematic of Tallinn’s struggles with it’s powerful neighbor. When it was built in 1900 Tallinn was chafing under Russian suppression. Estonia was mostly Lutheran. So Russia in what amounted to a huge “up yours” built this imposing building right across from the Estonia parliament building over the grave of a Estonian hero and tearing down a statue of Martin Luther in the process.
Tensions between the ethnic communities have only marginally improved after all this time.
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