About the Church
The Church of St Joseph in Šešuoliai is not only an architectural marvel but also a witness to history. Standing on a small rise, this wooden Baroque church draws the attention of both local residents and visitors.
Its history began as early as the 15th century, when between 1449 and 1478 the Šešuoliai manor was donated to the Bishop of Vilnius. The first wooden church here was built in 1572, when the first parish priest, Pranas Rapolkevičius, was obliged to maintain a school and a teacher. Unfortunately, during the war with Russia the church burned down in 1656 and was soon rebuilt thanks to the efforts of Bishop Konstanty Kazimierz Brzostowski.
The present Church of St Joseph was built in 1751 on the initiative of Bishop M. Zieńkowicz. It is a wooden, three-towered work of sacred art that has retained its authenticity and distinctiveness from its construction to the present day. The church's interior is also worth attention: the altar holds 18th-century paintings — of the Blessed Virgin Mary (painted in 1747) and of St Joseph. The church is further adorned with old paintings depicting its founders and saints.
Over time the church was continually maintained and renovated. In the late 19th century it was very thoroughly repaired, the bell tower was rebuilt, and the churchyard was enclosed with a masonry wall. Under tsarist rule the Šešuoliai church belonged to the Giedraičiai deanery, and the parish numbered around 5,000 parishioners.
During the interwar period and the Soviet era the church became a centre not only of religious but also of cultural events. A branch of the Lithuanian Catholic Temperance Society and of the "Rytas" society operated here, and Lithuanian schools were established. Parish priests Jonas Kunigėlis and Jonas Kazlauskas made particularly notable contributions to the well-being of the church and parish — they organised schools and courses for adults, carried out necessary repairs, and kept the Lithuanian spirit alive.
Today the Church of St Joseph in Šešuoliai serves its parish not only as a place of prayer but also as important cultural heritage, recalling Lithuania's history, traditions, and the people whose work contributed to its survival. A visit to this church is a journey through time, letting visitors sense the rhythm of past life and get to know the rich history of the Šešuoliai region.
Its history began as early as the 15th century, when between 1449 and 1478 the Šešuoliai manor was donated to the Bishop of Vilnius. The first wooden church here was built in 1572, when the first parish priest, Pranas Rapolkevičius, was obliged to maintain a school and a teacher. Unfortunately, during the war with Russia the church burned down in 1656 and was soon rebuilt thanks to the efforts of Bishop Konstanty Kazimierz Brzostowski.
The present Church of St Joseph was built in 1751 on the initiative of Bishop M. Zieńkowicz. It is a wooden, three-towered work of sacred art that has retained its authenticity and distinctiveness from its construction to the present day. The church's interior is also worth attention: the altar holds 18th-century paintings — of the Blessed Virgin Mary (painted in 1747) and of St Joseph. The church is further adorned with old paintings depicting its founders and saints.
Over time the church was continually maintained and renovated. In the late 19th century it was very thoroughly repaired, the bell tower was rebuilt, and the churchyard was enclosed with a masonry wall. Under tsarist rule the Šešuoliai church belonged to the Giedraičiai deanery, and the parish numbered around 5,000 parishioners.
During the interwar period and the Soviet era the church became a centre not only of religious but also of cultural events. A branch of the Lithuanian Catholic Temperance Society and of the "Rytas" society operated here, and Lithuanian schools were established. Parish priests Jonas Kunigėlis and Jonas Kazlauskas made particularly notable contributions to the well-being of the church and parish — they organised schools and courses for adults, carried out necessary repairs, and kept the Lithuanian spirit alive.
Today the Church of St Joseph in Šešuoliai serves its parish not only as a place of prayer but also as important cultural heritage, recalling Lithuania's history, traditions, and the people whose work contributed to its survival. A visit to this church is a journey through time, letting visitors sense the rhythm of past life and get to know the rich history of the Šešuoliai region.
Gallery and Resources
Archive captions are shown in Lithuanian.
Architektūrinė kompozicija. Šešuolių (Ukmergės r.) Šv. Juozapo bažnyčia buvo pastatyta 1751 m., turi baroko bruožų. Su dviem bokštais, trisiene apsida, dviem nedidelėmis zakristijomis. Vaizde – bažnyčios šoninio fasado fragmentas.
Aprašė Aldona Rudzevičienė