About the Church
The Church of the Apostle St James in Joniškis, standing in the town of Joniškis by Lake Arinas, is one of Lithuania's historically and culturally significant wooden churches. Built in the early 18th century, it served not only as a religious centre but also as a place where parish life thrived.
The church's history began in 1726, when it was built by the Jesuits. Next to this wooden church a parish school operated, where local youth were educated. In 1752 the church was granted the right to indulgences (atlaidai), and by 1782 two confraternities were active here: that of the Holy Trinity and that of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
The 19th century was full of change. Through the efforts of the parish priest F. Petrauskas and the parishioners, the church's log walls were replaced in 1848, thereby ensuring the building's long-term survival. After the parish priest Tomas Sirvydas introduced services in Lithuanian after 1891, disagreements arose in the church between the Polish and Lithuanian communities. In 1912 a court punished individuals who had terrorised those who spoke Lithuanian, read Lithuanian prayers, or sang Lithuanian hymns.
Between the wars the church became not only a religious but also a cultural centre. The parish priest Andrius Juknevičius organised religious and cultural education. Meanwhile, after the Second World War, the political climate in Lithuania meant that several of the church's parish priests — Antanas Mažeika, Juozas Voveris and Juozas Šalčius — were deported or sentenced.
Architecturally, the church of Joniškis is a unique building. Of rectangular plan, with a twin-towered facade, a three-sided apse and lower sacristies, it stands out for its monumentality. Inside, three naves supported by columns create a grand sense of space. The stone-masonry wall enclosing the churchyard protects many historical graves, among them that of the priest Stanislovas Šlamas, who was a distributor of the banned press.
The church's organ, built at the end of the 18th century, is considered one of the oldest surviving organs of the Baroque Vilnius school. Its sound still fills the church with a special musical aura.
Undoubtedly, the Church of the Apostle St James in Joniškis is not only an important religious building but also a living witness to history, telling of the fates of local people, their struggles for national identity, and their fostering of traditions.
The church's history began in 1726, when it was built by the Jesuits. Next to this wooden church a parish school operated, where local youth were educated. In 1752 the church was granted the right to indulgences (atlaidai), and by 1782 two confraternities were active here: that of the Holy Trinity and that of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
The 19th century was full of change. Through the efforts of the parish priest F. Petrauskas and the parishioners, the church's log walls were replaced in 1848, thereby ensuring the building's long-term survival. After the parish priest Tomas Sirvydas introduced services in Lithuanian after 1891, disagreements arose in the church between the Polish and Lithuanian communities. In 1912 a court punished individuals who had terrorised those who spoke Lithuanian, read Lithuanian prayers, or sang Lithuanian hymns.
Between the wars the church became not only a religious but also a cultural centre. The parish priest Andrius Juknevičius organised religious and cultural education. Meanwhile, after the Second World War, the political climate in Lithuania meant that several of the church's parish priests — Antanas Mažeika, Juozas Voveris and Juozas Šalčius — were deported or sentenced.
Architecturally, the church of Joniškis is a unique building. Of rectangular plan, with a twin-towered facade, a three-sided apse and lower sacristies, it stands out for its monumentality. Inside, three naves supported by columns create a grand sense of space. The stone-masonry wall enclosing the churchyard protects many historical graves, among them that of the priest Stanislovas Šlamas, who was a distributor of the banned press.
The church's organ, built at the end of the 18th century, is considered one of the oldest surviving organs of the Baroque Vilnius school. Its sound still fills the church with a special musical aura.
Undoubtedly, the Church of the Apostle St James in Joniškis is not only an important religious building but also a living witness to history, telling of the fates of local people, their struggles for national identity, and their fostering of traditions.