About the Church
Alovė Holy Trinity Church is an extraordinary monument of architecture and history, situated in Alytus district, in the village of Alovė, right by the Alovė stream. This wooden church, built in 1802, is a fine example of vernacular Classicism with Baroque elements.
The church's history began several centuries earlier. According to the priest J. Kurčevskis, the first church in Alovė already stood in 1697, although it is not mentioned in the visitation records of the 18th century. In 1797 a chapel was being built, and five years later the estate owner Jokūbas Kęstutis Gediminas financed the construction of the present wooden church. Although the church was built fairly quickly, over its long history it endured various misfortunes. For example, in 1818 a strong storm tore off its roof.
In 1866, on the initiative of the parish priest Juozas Svetlavičius, the church was renovated – new windows were installed. In the late 19th century the local faithful asked permission to build a masonry church, but the tsarist authorities allowed only the renovation of the old one, which was carried out in 1889.
In the early 20th century, in the time of the priest Rapolas Juknys, the parish of Alovė saw considerable turmoil over the language question. At that time services in the church were conducted in Polish, but more and more parishioners wanted services in Lithuanian. After lengthy disputes and disturbances in the church, a schedule was introduced in 1907 under which sermons were preached in Lithuanian on two weekends and in Polish on the third. However, this arrangement did not suit the Polish community, and their protests even became a court case, known as the 'Alovė case'.
Despite the difficulties, the church continued to expand and grow more beautiful. In 1907 three new altars were installed and the churchyard was enclosed with masonry. This work attests to the parishioners' constant care for their church. In addition, from 1912 to 1914 a branch of the Lithuanian Catholic Temperance Society was active, promoting a healthier way of life. In 1918 the youth organisation 'Pavasarininkai' was founded, and four years later the parish was established.
Architecturally, Alovė Holy Trinity Church is a valuable building. It has a rectangular plan, is pseudo-basilical, with a three-sided apse, a two-storey sacristy and a columned portico. Inside, faceted columns divide the church into three aisles. The organ-loft gallery has a wooden baluster rail, and the organ, made in 1916 in Saint Petersburg, is still in use.
The high altar, with its tabernacle and the painting 'The Holy Trinity', and the altars with the paintings 'The Blessed Virgin Mary' and 'St Michael the Archangel', add to the church's stately atmosphere. A surviving memorial plaque with a Polish inscription attests to the parish's multi-layered history.
A wooden bell tower stands by the church, forming a harmonious ensemble together with it. Since 1997 this ensemble has been included in the Register of Cultural Property as a monument of architecture and art, and is therefore protected by the state.
The church's history began several centuries earlier. According to the priest J. Kurčevskis, the first church in Alovė already stood in 1697, although it is not mentioned in the visitation records of the 18th century. In 1797 a chapel was being built, and five years later the estate owner Jokūbas Kęstutis Gediminas financed the construction of the present wooden church. Although the church was built fairly quickly, over its long history it endured various misfortunes. For example, in 1818 a strong storm tore off its roof.
In 1866, on the initiative of the parish priest Juozas Svetlavičius, the church was renovated – new windows were installed. In the late 19th century the local faithful asked permission to build a masonry church, but the tsarist authorities allowed only the renovation of the old one, which was carried out in 1889.
In the early 20th century, in the time of the priest Rapolas Juknys, the parish of Alovė saw considerable turmoil over the language question. At that time services in the church were conducted in Polish, but more and more parishioners wanted services in Lithuanian. After lengthy disputes and disturbances in the church, a schedule was introduced in 1907 under which sermons were preached in Lithuanian on two weekends and in Polish on the third. However, this arrangement did not suit the Polish community, and their protests even became a court case, known as the 'Alovė case'.
Despite the difficulties, the church continued to expand and grow more beautiful. In 1907 three new altars were installed and the churchyard was enclosed with masonry. This work attests to the parishioners' constant care for their church. In addition, from 1912 to 1914 a branch of the Lithuanian Catholic Temperance Society was active, promoting a healthier way of life. In 1918 the youth organisation 'Pavasarininkai' was founded, and four years later the parish was established.
Architecturally, Alovė Holy Trinity Church is a valuable building. It has a rectangular plan, is pseudo-basilical, with a three-sided apse, a two-storey sacristy and a columned portico. Inside, faceted columns divide the church into three aisles. The organ-loft gallery has a wooden baluster rail, and the organ, made in 1916 in Saint Petersburg, is still in use.
The high altar, with its tabernacle and the painting 'The Holy Trinity', and the altars with the paintings 'The Blessed Virgin Mary' and 'St Michael the Archangel', add to the church's stately atmosphere. A surviving memorial plaque with a Polish inscription attests to the parish's multi-layered history.
A wooden bell tower stands by the church, forming a harmonious ensemble together with it. Since 1997 this ensemble has been included in the Register of Cultural Property as a monument of architecture and art, and is therefore protected by the state.
Gallery and Resources
Archive captions are shown in Lithuanian.
Alovės miestelio Švč. Trejybės bažnyčios krucifiksas (nukryžiuotasis).