About the Church
The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Inturkė is a special church whose history and architecture delight both local residents and visitors from further afield. This beautiful wooden church stands in the village of Inturkė, next to Lake Gėluotas, whose tranquillity and beauty complement the church's spirituality.
The church's history goes back to the 16th century, when in 1555 the Rudesa estate, together with the village of Kačergai, was donated to the church of Inturkė. This shows that the area already held a certain significance in the region at that time. A second church was under construction here until 1674, and a new church was built in 1739. In the 18th century a school operated in the parish, and in 1763 a Confraternity of the Holy Rosary was established. By 1782 a chapel had been built, adding to the parish's infrastructure.
The present wooden church, which we can see today, was built in 1855. The history of its construction and existence speaks of the intense life of the parish and the community's care for its church. On the initiative of the parish priest Petras Prunskis, the first public Lithuanian-language play was staged in Inturkė on 9 August 1908, testifying to active cultural life.
In 1911–1914 a branch of the Lithuanian Catholic Temperance Society operated here. Between the wars, in 1924, the newly arrived parish priest Stanislovas Šlamas helped the celebrated Lithuanian opera soloist Kipras Petrauskas complete his studies in music and singing. After the Second World War the church was renovated at the parishioners' expense, under the supervision of the priests Vincentas Sladkevičius and Mykolas Balnys.
The church's architecture is also worth attention. It has a rectangular plan, a three-sided apse and a low tower. Inside one can see a coffered ceiling and five Baroque altars, which give the church a special aesthetic value. The churchyard wall is of stone masonry, and a wooden bell tower dating from the 18th century stands by the gate. Together all this creates an unrepeatable ensemble of historical and architectural value.
The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Inturkė is a place where spiritual peace, historical heritage and aesthetic beauty come together. The church's long history and unique architecture invite everyone to visit and experience this special atmosphere.
The church's history goes back to the 16th century, when in 1555 the Rudesa estate, together with the village of Kačergai, was donated to the church of Inturkė. This shows that the area already held a certain significance in the region at that time. A second church was under construction here until 1674, and a new church was built in 1739. In the 18th century a school operated in the parish, and in 1763 a Confraternity of the Holy Rosary was established. By 1782 a chapel had been built, adding to the parish's infrastructure.
The present wooden church, which we can see today, was built in 1855. The history of its construction and existence speaks of the intense life of the parish and the community's care for its church. On the initiative of the parish priest Petras Prunskis, the first public Lithuanian-language play was staged in Inturkė on 9 August 1908, testifying to active cultural life.
In 1911–1914 a branch of the Lithuanian Catholic Temperance Society operated here. Between the wars, in 1924, the newly arrived parish priest Stanislovas Šlamas helped the celebrated Lithuanian opera soloist Kipras Petrauskas complete his studies in music and singing. After the Second World War the church was renovated at the parishioners' expense, under the supervision of the priests Vincentas Sladkevičius and Mykolas Balnys.
The church's architecture is also worth attention. It has a rectangular plan, a three-sided apse and a low tower. Inside one can see a coffered ceiling and five Baroque altars, which give the church a special aesthetic value. The churchyard wall is of stone masonry, and a wooden bell tower dating from the 18th century stands by the gate. Together all this creates an unrepeatable ensemble of historical and architectural value.
The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Inturkė is a place where spiritual peace, historical heritage and aesthetic beauty come together. The church's long history and unique architecture invite everyone to visit and experience this special atmosphere.
Gallery and Resources
Archive captions are shown in Lithuanian.
Inturkės Švč. Mergelės Marijos Ėmimo į dangų bažnyčia. Fotografijos aprašymas ant pasporto: „Inturkė. šv. M. Marijos ėmimo į Dangų bažnyčia viet. reikšmės architektūros paminklas. 1555 m. 1751 m perstatyta 1820 m.“
Inturkės Švč. Mergelės Marijos Ėmimo į dangų bažnyčia ir stogastulpis „1387–1987 kenčiantiems“. Fotografijos aprašymas ant pasporto: „Inturkė. Prieš šią bažnyčią, 1555 m gruodžio 28 d. buvo išduotas karalienės Bonos fundacinis raštas pirmai Inturkės bažnyčiai statyti.“