About the Church
Aukštadvaris St Dominic Church is a special place where rich history and architectural beauty come together. Standing in Aukštadvaris, this church has marked the life of the town for more than 500 years.
Its early history goes back to 1518, when the first wooden church was built with the support of Bishop Vaitiekus Radvila. But that was only the beginning of a long historical journey. In 1629 the town's owner, Jonas Alfonsas Liackis, began building a masonry church, also founding a Dominican monastery and a primary school. The whole complex was completed in 1667, although Liackis himself had already died in 1646.
In 1832 the Russian authorities closed the monastery, and its buildings were converted into barracks. The church, converted into an Orthodox church in 1843, also went through difficult times – during the First World War the Germans turned it into a grain store. Only in 1919 were the buildings returned to the Catholics, and soon after, in 1923, Bishop Jurgis Matulaitis handed them over to the Women's Culture Society. An agricultural school was then established in the monastery.
After the Second World War the church was used as a warehouse, and later as a restaurant. Only after the restoration of Lithuania's independence did the church regain its original function and get handed back to the faithful. Major reconstructions were carried out in 1960 and 1999.
Architecturally the church is impressive. It has a composite volume – the main body has a rectangular plan, complemented by a polygonal, three-tiered bell tower with a spire. A porch links the main body with the bell tower, in whose tower a bell is mounted. Over time certain changes were made: in 1960 the interior space was divided into two floors, a garage was added to the north facade, and a three-storey stairwell annex appeared at the east facade.
The gates of the churchyard around the church face the southern facade of the former monastery. Here one can also find the Chapel of St Dominic, restored in 1999 – the mausoleum chapel of the Liackis family.
Aukštadvaris St Dominic Church is not only a fine monument of architecture but also an important historical site, recalling the long and varied twists of Lithuania's history.
Its early history goes back to 1518, when the first wooden church was built with the support of Bishop Vaitiekus Radvila. But that was only the beginning of a long historical journey. In 1629 the town's owner, Jonas Alfonsas Liackis, began building a masonry church, also founding a Dominican monastery and a primary school. The whole complex was completed in 1667, although Liackis himself had already died in 1646.
In 1832 the Russian authorities closed the monastery, and its buildings were converted into barracks. The church, converted into an Orthodox church in 1843, also went through difficult times – during the First World War the Germans turned it into a grain store. Only in 1919 were the buildings returned to the Catholics, and soon after, in 1923, Bishop Jurgis Matulaitis handed them over to the Women's Culture Society. An agricultural school was then established in the monastery.
After the Second World War the church was used as a warehouse, and later as a restaurant. Only after the restoration of Lithuania's independence did the church regain its original function and get handed back to the faithful. Major reconstructions were carried out in 1960 and 1999.
Architecturally the church is impressive. It has a composite volume – the main body has a rectangular plan, complemented by a polygonal, three-tiered bell tower with a spire. A porch links the main body with the bell tower, in whose tower a bell is mounted. Over time certain changes were made: in 1960 the interior space was divided into two floors, a garage was added to the north facade, and a three-storey stairwell annex appeared at the east facade.
The gates of the churchyard around the church face the southern facade of the former monastery. Here one can also find the Chapel of St Dominic, restored in 1999 – the mausoleum chapel of the Liackis family.
Aukštadvaris St Dominic Church is not only a fine monument of architecture but also an important historical site, recalling the long and varied twists of Lithuania's history.
Gallery and Resources
Archive captions are shown in Lithuanian.
Atvirukas, nespalvotas. Pavaizduota Aukštadvario (Trakų raj.) Šv. Dominyko bažnyčia. Viršutiniame kairiajame kampe – kunigo atvaizdas. Kitoje atviruko pusėje yra spausdintas tekstas lietuvių kalba, padėka aukojusiems bažnyčiai.
Aukštadvario Šv. Dominyko bažnyčia. Fotografijos aprašymas ant pasporto: „AUKŠTADVARIS. Buvusio dvaro bokštas.“