Pastor Normunds Zariņš Revives Historic Latvian Church, Fundraises for Roof Restoration

Pastor Normunds Zariņš has found a deep connection with the Sārnate Baptist church, a historic wooden structure built in 1900. He describes his initial encounter with the building as love at first sight, inspiring his commitment to its preservation. Zariņš, who also serves the Gothenburg Latvian Lutheran congregation in Sweden, is spearheading a new fundraising campaign aimed at restoring the church's roof.

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"I saw it and fell in love," says clergyman Normunds Zariņš about the Sārnate Baptist church, built in 1900.

The current campaign, which concludes on July 28, is particularly meaningful as it is dedicated to the 101st birthday of Lidiija Doronina-Lasmane. The dissident, who has faced multiple repressions under Soviet rule, holds the Sārnate church in high regard and considers it a source of strength. Even in her youth, she would visit the church and pray, once famously battling a persistent nettle plant growing near its walls.

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A new fundraising campaign for the Sārnate church's roof was announced a month ago and will conclude on July 28, dedicated to the 101st birthday of Lidiija Doronina-Lasmane.

Zariņš's dedication extends beyond fundraising. He travels from his home in southwestern Sweden, a journey involving buses, trains, and ferries, to minister and oversee the church's needs. This dedication is particularly poignant given his personal mobility challenges. While he uses a wheelchair in Sweden, he often relies on a cane and physical support in Latvia due to less accessible environments. Despite these hurdles, he travels with a "missionary consciousness."

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"I just spoke with Lidiija, she is thinking – what will happen!" Normunds Zariņš enthusiastically reports on the phone from Sweden.

Support for the Sārnate church's restoration comes from various prominent figures, including Professor Valters Nollendorfs and composer Pēteris Vasks, who have contributed to the fundraising efforts. Writer Inga Ābele is also involved, planning to bring Doronina-Lasmane to Sārnate for her birthday celebration. The church, located in the village of Sārnate in the Užava parish of Ventspils municipality, is not just a building but a symbol of resilience and community, deeply cherished by those who have a connection to it.

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The church has been a support for the woman, who has been repeatedly repressed by the Soviet authorities and whose strength of spirit has become an example of inner fortitude.