About the Church
The Church of St George in Zibalai, in the small town of Zibalai just 4 km north of Širvintos, is distinctive for its architecture and history. Built of wood in 1861, this church is considered one of the more remarkable examples of sacred architecture in the region. From a distance it even resembles a traditional Lithuanian dwelling house — a form that gives it a unique and cosy appearance.
The church's history goes back to the early 17th century, when Bishop Abraomas Vaina, between 1631 and 1641, donated the Zibalai grange of the Šešuoliai manor to the Šešuoliai church. This act became the foundation for the formation of a religious community in Zibalai. The first chapel was built in 1744 through the efforts of parish priest Kitkevičius, and around 1774 it became a filial church.
1920 was an important year for the Zibalai parish — it was then that parish priest Kazimieras Lajauskas founded the parish. Unfortunately, his ministry was short-lived: he was tragically killed by Poles in 1921. One of the most notable later parish priests was Bronius Bulika, who, persecuted by the Soviet regime, was sentenced in 1950 and exiled for ten years.
In 1950 the parish was also served by the future bishop Vladislovas Michelevičius, who later became vicar general to the Archbishop of Kaunas and a long-serving seminary lecturer. His work not only strengthened the parish but also contributed to the revival of the Lithuanian Catholic Church during the difficult Soviet years.
In terms of architecture, the Church of St George in Zibalai has a modest yet expressive style. It is a single-nave church, with a three-sided apse and two small sacristies on either side of it. The turret on the church roof adds a further vertical accent, and the wooden-post fence enclosing the churchyard gives the whole area a sense of cosiness and calm. The churchyard also contains a wooden bell tower and a roofed post shrine with sculptures, dated to 1883.
The Church of St George in Zibalai is not merely a religious building — it is a place where many stories live on, linking past and present. Every detail, from the wooden walls to the old sculptures, invites visitors to explore and get to know Lithuania's rich religious heritage.
The church's history goes back to the early 17th century, when Bishop Abraomas Vaina, between 1631 and 1641, donated the Zibalai grange of the Šešuoliai manor to the Šešuoliai church. This act became the foundation for the formation of a religious community in Zibalai. The first chapel was built in 1744 through the efforts of parish priest Kitkevičius, and around 1774 it became a filial church.
1920 was an important year for the Zibalai parish — it was then that parish priest Kazimieras Lajauskas founded the parish. Unfortunately, his ministry was short-lived: he was tragically killed by Poles in 1921. One of the most notable later parish priests was Bronius Bulika, who, persecuted by the Soviet regime, was sentenced in 1950 and exiled for ten years.
In 1950 the parish was also served by the future bishop Vladislovas Michelevičius, who later became vicar general to the Archbishop of Kaunas and a long-serving seminary lecturer. His work not only strengthened the parish but also contributed to the revival of the Lithuanian Catholic Church during the difficult Soviet years.
In terms of architecture, the Church of St George in Zibalai has a modest yet expressive style. It is a single-nave church, with a three-sided apse and two small sacristies on either side of it. The turret on the church roof adds a further vertical accent, and the wooden-post fence enclosing the churchyard gives the whole area a sense of cosiness and calm. The churchyard also contains a wooden bell tower and a roofed post shrine with sculptures, dated to 1883.
The Church of St George in Zibalai is not merely a religious building — it is a place where many stories live on, linking past and present. Every detail, from the wooden walls to the old sculptures, invites visitors to explore and get to know Lithuania's rich religious heritage.