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Orthodox Church of the Nativity of Saint John

Originally built for nuclear power plant workers, this church sits between apartment buildings.

Visaginas, Lithuania

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EHerron
Nativity of St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church (Landscape)   EHerron / Atlas Obscura User
Nativity of St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church   EHerron / Atlas Obscura User
Historical Marker   EHerron / Atlas Obscura User
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Situated near the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant in Lithuania is the town of Visaginas, built by Soviet planners to house the plant's workers. This power plant is the same variety as the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, making Visaginas the analog to the Ukrainian city of Pripyat. Today, the plant is currently in the process of being decommissioned and permanently shut down.

In Soviet times, the Orthodox community of Visaginas was quite small and met without a priest. In 1991, prior to the collapse of the Soviet Union, the community formed a parish in a facility owned by the power plant. The church can still be found tucked tightly between two apartment buildings, and continues to serve its community of worshipers to this day.

Related Tags

Soviet History Power Stations Nuclear Churches

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Added By

EHerron

Edited By

stefanmarquart

Published

June 25, 2024

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