Anete Jenča (Turaida Museum Reserve)
This paper explores the role of the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Third Awakening (1987–1991), a critical period in Latvia’s peaceful struggle for independence often referred to as the “Singing Revolution.” While the Soviet regime sought to silence religious institutions and suppress national identity, the Lutheran Church became a space of silent resistance — a spiritual and cultural stronghold that nurtured hope, unity, and civil courage.
Drawing on testimonies, historical records, and the case study of congregations in the Sigulda district, the paper examines how faith communities resisted totalitarian control through quiet perseverance, symbolic acts, and moral leadership. It highlights the importance of clandestine baptisms, public devotions, and the spiritual leadership of pastors, who bridged religious and national awakening.
The study challenges the stereotype of religious passivity under communism by showing how, even in silence, choices were made — choices that shaped the collective memory and identity of the Latvian people. It argues that the Lutheran Church did not merely survive under Soviet rule but actively contributed to the formation of a civic society, becoming an essential force in the reestablishment of Latvian independence.
In doing so, the paper positions the Church as both a symbolic and practical participant in the broader movement of nonviolent resistance that swept across Central and Eastern Europe during the final years of the Soviet Union.