100 stories from the hiking route

1988 – village community renovates Treski Tsässon

Information

Topic

Literature and culture

Coordinates

Long-Lat WGS 84

Latitude: 57.941381

Longitude: 27.580872

L-EST 97

x: 6427866.1
y: 711995.0

Location

Ähijärve-Aegviidu Hiking route

Treski Tsässon (Orthodox village chapel in Setomaa) was last renovated in 1988 by the local village community. According to lore, the building was 230 years old at the time and to celebrate this, the community attached a tin sign with the writing “Renovations 1988. 230 years old” onto the end gable of the tsässon. According to tradition, the building and repairs of the tsässon are paid for by donations and own resources.
The Seto tsässon tradition is closely tied to holidays and saints. The holidays are a special time during which the earthly realm is more connected to the afterlife than usually. The Treski Tsässon is dedicated to John the Baptist whose holiday is celebrated on 7 July when the tsässon, located at a distance from everyday life, adopts a special significance.

“St. John’s Tsässon is located in Treske Village in Järvesuu rural municipality. Milk was taken there before and on St. John’s day. Then, a priest came every St. John’s day and blessed the milk, after which it was given to the poor. They took milk there because then nothing bad could happen to it. The Tsässon is 100 years old as at this year.” (ERA II 248, 34 (12))

Tsässons are located on the border of the earthly and the afterlife. A person who crosses the threshold of the tsässon reaches a different realm, where the chance to come into contact with something special and surreal is bigger than elsewhere. In a way, you could compare the tsässon with a domestic shrine: one mediates a relationship with the holy at the level of a home, the other at the level of a village.