Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Riga is the first sacred stone building in Riga, built after the beginning of the reformation in Livonia. In her place stood a small chapel, consecrated in 1865. In 1875 through Riga drove the Austrian Emperor Joseph II, who, after visiting this small temple was very surprised and angered by the poor and the unsightly appearance of the chapel. He donated a substantial sum of money to build more representative of the temple.

The first stone in the Foundation of the future Church was consecrated in 1784, and a year later was consecrated the newly built Church in honor of our lady of sorrows, the service was conducted by Bishop Janis Bonislawski. The construction of the Church donated the future Russian Emperor Paul I, Polish king Stanislaw Poniatowski and other Polish magnates. In addition, provided financial assistance, according to their capabilities, local Catholics. According to the instructions of the Empress Catherine II all buildings on the castle square, including the Church had to be built in the classicism style.
In the Church led three entrances, the main was located on the lateral side. The Church itself was designed in the classical style, but the individual parts belonged to the Baroque.

In may 1854 in Riga came the Russian Emperor Nicholas I, who, after seeing the temple, said that the building is too small and it is too narrow. Observations of the Emperor hastened the renovations. In 1858 began a major restoration of the building, which lasted 2 years. The leader of perestroika was a young and talented architect Johann Daniel Felsko.

The last rebuilding of the Church of our lady of sorrows, which the Church acquired a modern appearance, took place in 1895. The architect of the project was the German master William Backslap. He gave the neo Renaissance style and has expanded her through completion of the premises for the rite of baptism.

As a result, the Church of our lady of sorrows acquired a fine eclectic finish, virtually unchanged preserved to our days. The height of the Church, including the spire, is 35 meters. The main entrance is from the side of the Castle square. The length of the Church is 48 meters long and 17 meters. The Church of our lady of sorrows refers to the Church hall-type buildings. The top storey of the tower, acting dominant, crowned with a pyramidal spire.

Relative to the interior it is worth noting that after numerous reconstructions, each of which brought something of their own that it was a bizarre mix of architectural styles. Here you can see the elements of classicism, in this style, the Church was made initially. The first restructuring has brought elements of romance and Gothic, and later all has elements of neo Renaissance. The Church of our lady of sorrows survived periods of wars and the Soviet time, all this time it was in effect.