Legend
Maarja, the girl walled into Karula church
Maarja, Karula kirikusse müüritud tüdruk
The late-medieval fieldstone church of St Mary at Karula in Lüllemäe village has stood roofless since 1944, with a new church built beside it in the 1990s. Carved crosses and a pair of human figures, the so-called Karula couple, can still be seen in its walls. A woman born in 1855 told the tale behind the building: whatever was built by day the Devil pulled down at night, until the builders asked who would like to carry the church keys. A farmer's daughter named Maarja offered, and she was seized and walled up inside. After that the walls stood, and her portrait was said to be painted on the wall.
Open it on the map See the spot on the old maps and as it is today
Eesti keeles
Hiliskeskaegne maakivist Karula Maarja kirik Lüllemäe külas on 1944. aastast katuseta varemeis ning selle kõrvale ehitati 1990. aastatel uus kirik. Müürides on ikka näha raiutud riste ja kahe inimfiguuriga kivi, nn Karula noorpaari. 1855. aastal sündinud naine jutustas ehituse kohta loo: mis päeval tehti, selle lõhkus Vanatont öösel maha, kuni ehitajad küsisid, kes tahaks kirikuvõtmeid kanda. Üks talutütar Maarja pakkus end, ta võeti kinni ja müüriti seina sisse. Pärast seda jäid müürid püsima ning tema pilt olevat ka seinale maalitud.
Source: After the Estonian Folklore Archives (ERA II 290, 309, 1940), via folklore.ee ↗