Orthodox Christianity Growing in Latvia
Orthodox Christianity Growing in Latvia
Follow @KnightsTempOrgThe Latvian Orthodox Church has been restoring previously defunct churches and building new churches since Latvia separated from the Soviet Union in 1991.
Now the Council of the Latvian Orthodox Church has announced that since 1992, the number of Orthodox communities in the tiny country has grown from 93 to 126.
Orthodoxy is the largest religion in Latvia, with every fourth resident identifying as an Orthodox Christian. The second largest religion is Catholicism with 20% of the population, and third is Lutheranism with 17%. Many Orthodox in Latvia are actually former Catholics and Lutherans, disillusioned with their previous churches' liberalism.
The Latvian Orthodox Church is an autonomous structure within the Moscow Patriarchate.