About the Church
The Church of Sts Peter and Paul, Apostles, in Nemajūnai, in Birštonas municipality, is a true gem of wooden architecture, rising on the right slope above the Nemunas. This Gothic Revival church, built in 1877, has an interesting and complex history.
The first church in this small village appeared as early as 1786, when Kristina Kačanauskienė built a wooden house of prayer at her own expense and founded the parish. At that time a parish school also operated in Nemajūnai, enriching the cultural life of the local community.
By the mid-19th century, however, the old church had fallen badly into disrepair. In 1858 a design for a new wooden church was approved, but it was later abandoned. Finally, in 1862, a design for a masonry church was approved. Despite the ambitions and plans, construction was complicated by political events. During the uprising of 1863 the parish priest Pranas Kazlauskas was arrested and exiled to penal servitude, and construction of the church itself was halted just as the walls had begun to be built.
Despite all the obstacles, in 1877 Father Anzelmas Nonevičius resolved to build a new wooden church to a design prepared by Tomas Tišeckis. Although no permission was obtained from the authorities, the construction was completed. For this unauthorised step the priest was fined 150 roubles. Unfortunately, in 1918 German gendarmes burned down the church's outbuildings together with the grain stored in them, causing further hardship for the local community.
Today the Church of Sts Peter and Paul, Apostles, in Nemajūnai stands out for its unique architectural design. The church has a rectangular plan, a hall-church layout, a square chancel and two side sacristies. Two towers dominate the facade, with a smaller turret over the central section. Inside, the three naves are separated by columns, giving the space a sense of grandeur and lightness.
The most important surviving works of art include paintings by K. Rafalavičius and N. Silvanavičius, among which a special place is held by "Sts Peter and Paul, Apostles", on the altar, painted in 1883. Also worth mentioning is a unique 19th-century piece of folk art — a carpet woven from 64 brides' sashes — which adorns the church's interior.
A visit to this church will undoubtedly leave an impression on anyone interested in Lithuania's cultural and architectural heritage.
The first church in this small village appeared as early as 1786, when Kristina Kačanauskienė built a wooden house of prayer at her own expense and founded the parish. At that time a parish school also operated in Nemajūnai, enriching the cultural life of the local community.
By the mid-19th century, however, the old church had fallen badly into disrepair. In 1858 a design for a new wooden church was approved, but it was later abandoned. Finally, in 1862, a design for a masonry church was approved. Despite the ambitions and plans, construction was complicated by political events. During the uprising of 1863 the parish priest Pranas Kazlauskas was arrested and exiled to penal servitude, and construction of the church itself was halted just as the walls had begun to be built.
Despite all the obstacles, in 1877 Father Anzelmas Nonevičius resolved to build a new wooden church to a design prepared by Tomas Tišeckis. Although no permission was obtained from the authorities, the construction was completed. For this unauthorised step the priest was fined 150 roubles. Unfortunately, in 1918 German gendarmes burned down the church's outbuildings together with the grain stored in them, causing further hardship for the local community.
Today the Church of Sts Peter and Paul, Apostles, in Nemajūnai stands out for its unique architectural design. The church has a rectangular plan, a hall-church layout, a square chancel and two side sacristies. Two towers dominate the facade, with a smaller turret over the central section. Inside, the three naves are separated by columns, giving the space a sense of grandeur and lightness.
The most important surviving works of art include paintings by K. Rafalavičius and N. Silvanavičius, among which a special place is held by "Sts Peter and Paul, Apostles", on the altar, painted in 1883. Also worth mentioning is a unique 19th-century piece of folk art — a carpet woven from 64 brides' sashes — which adorns the church's interior.
A visit to this church will undoubtedly leave an impression on anyone interested in Lithuania's cultural and architectural heritage.
Gallery and Resources
Archive captions are shown in Lithuanian.
Nespalvota fotografija su medinės Nemajūnų Šv. apaštalų Petro ir Pauliaus bažnyčios bokšto fragmento vaizdu.