The Interior of Church of Ēdole: Theological Implications of the Altar and Pulpit Built by Tobias Heinz in 1647/1648

Ralfs Kokins The Church of Ēdole is one of the most beautiful and most unusual monuments of mannerism and rococo-style in Latvia. Unfortunately it is seldom mentioned and insufficiently studied, being severed from the context of theological ideas of its time. The altar and pulpit, designed by Tobias Heinz in 1647/1648, carry a powerful theological message at several levels, by embracing the most important, most beautiful and most influential topics of the New Testament. Every part of the church interior addresses people in the language of symbols and allegory, focusing on the beauty of life and its tragic character at the same time, thus encouraging reflection on  how fragile and  brief everything is in relation to eternity.