Metropolitan Archdiocese of Riga, Latvia

Continent: East Europe

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese

Name: Riga / Rigen(sis) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Jelgava, Liepāja, Rēzekne–Aglona

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Websites:

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1186: Established as Diocese of Üxküll / Uxhall (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Hamburg–Bremen and became suffragan of Hamburg–Bremen)
1202: Renamed as Diocese of Riga / Rigen(sis) (Latin)
1213: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Leal
1219: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Curland
1220: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Virumaa
1228.10.01: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Saare-Lääne
1251: Gained territory from the suppressed Diocese of Semgallia
1255.01.20: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Riga / Rigen(sis) (Latin) (with suffragan sees Chełmno, Curland, Dorpat, Pomezania, Saare-Lääne, Sambia and Warmia)
1346: Gained suffragan see Reval
1466: Lost suffragan see Chełmno
1524: Lost suffragan see Pomezania
1525.12.10: Lost suffragan see Sambia
1557: Lost suffragan see Reval
1558: Lost suffragan see Dorpat
1560: Lost suffragan see Saare-Lääne
1561: Suppressed
1918.09.22: Restored as Diocese of Riga / Rigen(sis) (Latin) (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Mohilev)
1920.06.09: Gained territory from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Kaunas and Diocese of Žemaitija
1923.10.25: Promoted as Archdiocese of Riga / Rigen(sis) (Latin)
1924.11.01: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Administration of Estonia
1937.05.08: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Riga / Rigen(sis) (Latin) (with suffragan see Liepāja and lost territory to establish Diocese of Liepāja)
1995.12.02: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Rēzekne–Aglona and gained suffragan sees Jelgava and Rēzekne–Aglona

Papal Visits

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2010.06.19 – ...):

Archbishop Zbigņevs Stankevičs (69)

Apostolic Administrator of Jelgava (Latvia)

General Secretary of Episcopal Conference of Latvia

Auxiliary Bishop (2019.03.08 – ...):

Bishop Andris Kravalis (57)

Titular Bishop of Migirpa

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Riga (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Zbigņevs Stankevičs (69)
(2010.06.19 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Riga (Latvia)
Apostolic Administrator of Jelgava (Latvia)
General Secretary of Episcopal Conference of Latvia

Fortitudo et laus mea Dominus

Born:	1955.02.15 (Lejasciema, Latvia)
Ordained Priest:	1996.06.16
Consecrated Bishop:	2010.08.08

Priest of Riga (Latvia) (1996.06.16 – 2010.06.19)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Riga (Latvia) (2010.06.19 – ...)

Vice-President of Episcopal Conference of Latvia (2011.10.18 – 2021.12.13)

General Secretary of Episcopal Conference of Latvia (2021.12.13 – ...)

Apostolic Administrator of Jelgava (Latvia) (2025.01.05 – ...)

Cardinal Jānis Pujats (94)
(1991.05.08 – 2010.06.19)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Silvia
Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Riga (Latvia)
former President of Episcopal Conference of Latvia

Ad Jesum per Mariam

Born:	1930.11.14 (Nautrēni, Latvia)
Ordained Priest:	1951.03.29
Consecrated Bishop:	1991.06.01
Created Cardinal in pectore:	1998.02.21
Revealed as Cardinal:	2001.02.21

Priest of Riga (Latvia) (1951.03.29 – 1991.05.08)

Chaplain of His Holiness (1972.11.14 – 1988.02.23)

Prelate of Honour of His Holiness (1988.02.23 – 1991.05.08)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Riga (Latvia) (1991.05.08 – 2010.06.19)

President of Episcopal Conference of Latvia (1998 – 2010.06.19)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Silvia (2001.02.21 [2001.10.14] – ...)

Bishop Janis Cakuls
(Apostolic Administrator 1990.05.23 – 1991.05.08)

Cardinal Julijans Vaivods
(Apostolic Administrator 1964.11.10 – 1990.05.24)

Bishop Peters Strods
(Apostolic Administrator 1958.10.01 – 1960.08.05)

Archbishop Antonijs Springovičs
(1937.05.08 – 1958.10.01)

Born:	1876.11.01
Ordained Priest:	1901.06.24
Consecrated Bishop:	1920.08.22
Died:	1958.10.01 († 81)

Bishop of Riga (Latvia) (1920.04.14 – 1923.10.25)

Archbishop of Riga (Latvia) (1923.10.25 – 1937.05.08)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Riga (Latvia) (1937.05.08 – 1958.10.01)

Archbishops of Riga (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Antonijs Springovičs
(1923.10.25 – 1937.05.08)

(see above)

Bishops of Riga (Roman Rite)

Bishop Antonijs Springovičs (later Archbishop)
(1920.04.14 – 1923.10.25)

(see above)

Bishop Eduard Graf O’Rourke
(1918.09.29 – 1920.04.10)

Serviendo goberno

Born:	1876.10.26 (Belarus)
Ordained Priest:	1907.10.27
Consecrated Bishop:	1918.12.15
Died:	1943.06.27 († 66)

Bishop of Riga (Latvia) (1918.09.29 – 1920.04.10)

Titular Bishop of Canea (1920.04.10 – 1922.04.21)

Apostolic Administrator of Gdańsk (Poland) (1922.04.21 – 1925.12.30)

Titular Bishop of Pergamum (1922.12.21 – 1925.12.30)

Bishop of Gdańsk (Poland) (1925.12.30 – 1938.06.13)

Titular Bishop of Sophene (1938.06.13 – 1943.06.27)

Metropolitan Archbishops of Riga (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Guglielmo di Brandeburgo
(1539 – 1563)

Died:

1563.02.04

Metropolitan Archbishop of Riga (Latvia) (1539 – 1563)

Archbishop Thomas Schoning
(1531.01.18 – 1539.08.10)

Died:

1539.08.10

Metropolitan Archbishop of Riga (Latvia) (1531.01.18 – 1539.08.10)

Archbishop Johannes Blankenfeld
(1524.06.29 – 1527.09.09)

Died:

1527.09.09

Bishop of Reval (Estonia) (1514.10.30 – 1524.06.29)

Bishop of Dorpat (Estonia) (1518.06.19 – 1524.06.29)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Riga (Latvia) (1524.06.29 – 1527.09.09)

Archbishop Jasper Linde
(1509.05.23 – 1524.06.29)

Died:

1524.06.29

Metropolitan Archbishop of Riga (Latvia) (1509.05.23 – 1524.06.29)

Archbishop Michael Hildebrand
(1484.06.04 – 1509.02.05)

Consecrated Bishop:	1484.06.13
Died:	1509.02.05

Metropolitan Archbishop of Riga (Latvia) (1484.06.04 – 1509.02.05)

Archbishop Silvester Stodewescher, O.T.
(1448.10.09 – 1479.07.12)

Died:

1479.07.12

Metropolitan Archbishop of Riga (Latvia) (1448.10.09 – 1479.07.12)

Archbishop Henning Scharpenberg
(1424.10.13 – 1448.04.05)

Died:

1448.04.05

Metropolitan Archbishop of Riga (Latvia) (1424.10.13 – 1448.04.05)

Archbishop Johannes Ambundii
(1418.07.11 – 1424.06.16)

Born:	1384
Consecrated Bishop:	1418.03.13
Died:	1424.06.16 († 39)

Bishop of Chur (Switzerland) (1418.02.28 – 1418.07.11)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Riga (Latvia) (1418.07.11 – 1424.06.16)

Archbishop Johannes von Wallenrodt
(1393.09.27 – 1418.05.30)

Died:

1419.05.28

Metropolitan Archbishop of Riga (Latvia) (1393.09.27 – 1418.05.30)

Bishop of Liège (Belgium) (1418.05.30 – 1419.05.28)

Archbishop Johannes von Sinten
(1374 – 1393.09.24)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Riga (Latvia) (1374 – 1393.09.24)

Archbishop Siegfried Blomberg
(1370 – 1374)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Riga (Latvia) (1370 – 1374)

Archbishop Bromhold von Vyffhusen
(1348 – 1369)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Riga (Latvia) (1348 – 1369)

Archbishop Engelbert von Dolen
(1341.10.18 – 1347.09.09)

Died:

1347.09.09

Bishop of Dorpat (Estonia) (1323.11.26 – 1341.10.18)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Riga (Latvia) (1341.10.18 – 1347.09.09)

Archbishop Friedrich von Pernstein
(1304 – 1341)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Riga (Latvia) (1304 – 1341)

Archbishop Jens Grand
(1302.03.30 – 1310.02.11)

Died:

1327.05.30

Metropolitan Archbishop of Lund (Sweden) (1290.03.18 – 1302.03.30)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Riga (Latvia) (1302.03.30 – 1310.02.11)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Hamburg–Bremen (Germany) (1310.02.11 – 1327.05.30)

Archbishop Isarnus Takkon
(1300.12.19 – 1302.04.11)

Died:

1310.09

Metropolitan Archbishop of Riga (Latvia) (1300.12.19 – 1302.04.11)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Lund (Sweden) (1302.04.11 – 1310.06.12)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Salerno (Italy) (1310.06.12 – 1310.09)

Archbishop Johannes von Schwerin
(1294 – 1300)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Riga (Latvia) (1294 – 1300)

Archbishop Johannes von Vechten
(1285 – 1294)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Riga (Latvia) (1285 – 1294)

Archbishop Johannes von Lune
(1273 – 1284)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Riga (Latvia) (1273 – 1284)

Archbishop Albert Suerbeer, O.P.
(1253 – 1273)

Died:

1273

Metropolitan Archbishop of Armagh (Northern Ireland) (1240 – 1247?)

Apostolic Administrator of Chiemsee (Germany) (1246.03.30 – 1247)

Bishop of Lübeck (Germany) (1247.07.09 – 1253)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Riga (Latvia) (1253 – 1273)

Bishops of Riga (Roman Rite)

Bishop Nikolaus von Nauen
(1229 – 1253)

Bishop of Riga (Latvia) (1229 – 1253)

Bishop Albert di Buxhoeveden
(1199 – 1229)

Bishop of Riga (Latvia) (1199 – 1229)

Bishops of Üxküll (Roman Rite)

Bishop Berthold
(1196 – 1198)

Bishop of Üxküll (Latvia) (1196 – 1198)

Saint Bishop Meinhard, C.R.S.A.
(1186 – 1196.10.11)

Born:	1134 (Germany)
Died:	1196.10.11 (Riga, Latvia † 61)
Canonised:	1993.09.08 (Riga, Latvia) (equipollently)
Feast:	10.11

Bishop of Üxküll (Latvia) (1186 – 1196.10.11)

Bishop and religious of Canons Regular of Saint Augustine.

Former Prelates

Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Janis Cakuls (1991.05.08 – 1993.06.18)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Vilhelms Nukšs (1987.11.23 – 1993.02.27)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Valerians Zondaks (1972.10.28 – 1986.09.27)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Kazimirs Dulbinskis (1946.07.19 – 1991.10.17)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Peters Strods (1946.07.19 – 1960.08.05)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Jazeps Rancans (1923.10.29 – 1969.12.05)
Coadjutor Apostolic Administrator: Bishop Janis Cakuls (1982.11.09 – 1990.05.23)

Special Churches

Cathedral, World Heritage Site (Minor): Svētā Jēkaba Katedrāle, Rīga
Former Cathedral (now Protestant church): Sv. Jāņa baznīca, Cēsis
Former Cathedral (now ruined): Sv. Meinarda baznīca, Ikšķile
Former Cathedral (now Protestant church): Sv. Pētera baznīca, Rīga
Jubilee Churches in the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy (2016)

Jelgava (↙), Talinn (↑), Rēzekne–Aglona (→)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 23,587 km²

Population: 198,480 Catholics (17.3% of 1,150,100 total)

Pastoral Centres: 65 parishes, 2 missions

Personnel: 56 priests (43 diocesan, 13 religious), 4 deacons, 68 religious (13 brothers, 55 sisters), 3 seminarians