About the Church
Naujosios Kietaviškės Holy Trinity Church is one of the churches of Elektrėnai municipality that not only charms with its architecture but also has a long and rich history. This church stands in the village of Naujosios Kietaviškės, on the right bank of the river Spengla, just 4 km south-west of Elektrėnai.
The first church that stood on this site was built by 1504. It is also mentioned in later documents, for instance in 1522. However, during the Reformation this church fell into decay, and by 1669 it was no longer spoken of. A second church was built by Leonardas Pacas in 1676. From 1713 a Holy Trinity confraternity was active here, but the church's life was not easy – in 1738 the presbytery and the church archive burned down. Despite the difficulties, the parish survived and grew – in 1744 it comprised the church village of Kietaviškės, a manor, four folwarks and twelve villages.
Interestingly, at the end of the 18th century the village of Šuoliai also belonged to the church. Furthermore, in 1782 sermons in Kietaviškės were preached only in Polish, which shows a certain cultural influence and the prevailing language policy of the time.
In 1905 a design for a new masonry church was approved. It is thought that its authors were the architect Vladislovas Michnevičius, or Vladislovas Soninas, and the engineer Antanas Soninas. The new church was built in 1906–1915, with the priests D. Valavičius and Kajetonas Čepanas taking part together with the parishioners. The old church was dismantled in 1915, once the new one had been completed. The priest K. Čepanas took an active interest not only in religious matters but also in education – during the German occupation (1915–1918) he founded around 30 Lithuanian primary schools in the parish's villages.
The priest Teodoras Brazys also contributed to the church's cultural life – he transcribed many folk songs and founded a church choir. After the Second World War, in 1956, the church was renovated through the efforts of the parish priest Rapolas Juknys, the vicar P. Ašaka and the parishioners. Until 1985 the parish priest here was Petras Valatka, a Siberian deportee, who likewise left a marked imprint on the church's history.
Architecturally, Naujosios Kietaviškės Holy Trinity Church is a fine example of the Historicist style. It has a rectangular plan, with an apse and two towers. Inside, the church has three aisles, and outside it is enclosed by a brick masonry fence with arched gates, which lend the church additional beauty and grandeur.
This church is not only a place of religious observance but also an important cultural and historical asset, in which the traces of various eras and the diligence and faith of its people are reflected.
The first church that stood on this site was built by 1504. It is also mentioned in later documents, for instance in 1522. However, during the Reformation this church fell into decay, and by 1669 it was no longer spoken of. A second church was built by Leonardas Pacas in 1676. From 1713 a Holy Trinity confraternity was active here, but the church's life was not easy – in 1738 the presbytery and the church archive burned down. Despite the difficulties, the parish survived and grew – in 1744 it comprised the church village of Kietaviškės, a manor, four folwarks and twelve villages.
Interestingly, at the end of the 18th century the village of Šuoliai also belonged to the church. Furthermore, in 1782 sermons in Kietaviškės were preached only in Polish, which shows a certain cultural influence and the prevailing language policy of the time.
In 1905 a design for a new masonry church was approved. It is thought that its authors were the architect Vladislovas Michnevičius, or Vladislovas Soninas, and the engineer Antanas Soninas. The new church was built in 1906–1915, with the priests D. Valavičius and Kajetonas Čepanas taking part together with the parishioners. The old church was dismantled in 1915, once the new one had been completed. The priest K. Čepanas took an active interest not only in religious matters but also in education – during the German occupation (1915–1918) he founded around 30 Lithuanian primary schools in the parish's villages.
The priest Teodoras Brazys also contributed to the church's cultural life – he transcribed many folk songs and founded a church choir. After the Second World War, in 1956, the church was renovated through the efforts of the parish priest Rapolas Juknys, the vicar P. Ašaka and the parishioners. Until 1985 the parish priest here was Petras Valatka, a Siberian deportee, who likewise left a marked imprint on the church's history.
Architecturally, Naujosios Kietaviškės Holy Trinity Church is a fine example of the Historicist style. It has a rectangular plan, with an apse and two towers. Inside, the church has three aisles, and outside it is enclosed by a brick masonry fence with arched gates, which lend the church additional beauty and grandeur.
This church is not only a place of religious observance but also an important cultural and historical asset, in which the traces of various eras and the diligence and faith of its people are reflected.