Suure-Jaani John the Baptist’s Church, built around the 13th century, was
one of the very first churches in Sakalamaa. The present appearance of the
church dates back to the years 1869-1872. In the vestibule of the western
portal, at the foot of the tower, there is a limestone round cross bearing the
name of Anne Ratccep, a figure of battledore and the year 1598. It is one of
the oldest crosses in its kind survived in Estonia. The organ was made by
the brothers Kriisa (1937). Near the organ hangs a candlestick presented by
the Ilmatari Society. The church has also memorial plaques connected with
the Fersens family.In Suure-Jaani there is a museum dedicated to the famous Kapp family: the
schoolmaster Joosep (1833-1894), the parish clerk Hans (1870-1938), the
composers Artur (1878-1952) and Villem (1913-1964). The museum is in
Hans’s house, one room is arranged as a music salon for chamber concerts.
The War of Independence monument under the name of Lembit, made by A. Adamson, also deserves the visitor’s attention. Johan Köler (1826-1899), the renowned Estonian artist has been buried in
Suure-Jaani cemetery. The graves of all the members of the Kapp family,
except Eugen Kapp, also the graves of Mart Saar, Julius Vaaks and others can
be found in the cemetery. Suure-Jaani Russian Orthodox Church, built in
1907, and dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul lies in Nuutre.
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