About the Church
Babtai Sts Peter and Paul Church is an impressive wooden Roman Catholic church standing in the small town of Babtai, near the Nevėžis river. Although its present form dates only from the 19th century, the spiritual heritage of this place goes back almost three centuries.
The first wooden church here was built in 1672 on the initiative of the local landowner Mlečka. More than half a century later, in 1715, it was rebuilt from the ground up. At first this church was a filial church of Vandžiogala, but in 1744 it became a parish church. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries the parish was actively engaged: a parish school was founded here, and sermons were preached in both Polish and Lithuanian.
Unfortunately, a fire in 1830 destroyed the town and the church. Nevertheless, in 1845 a design for a new wooden church, prepared by the engineer Maleševskis, was approved. Through the efforts of the parishioners and the parish priest Mykolas Petraševičius, construction was completed in 1853. Fr Petraševičius, unfortunately, was not to enjoy a peaceful old age: he was arrested in 1863 and died in Kaunas prison in 1864.
The church has a richly furnished interior. Here one can find statues of St Michael the Archangel and St Florian, along with various paintings, including "The Blessed Virgin Mary with the Child" and "The Adoration of the Magi". The high altar is graced by an image of Our Lady of Częstochowa. The church's grandeur is further enhanced by a 19th-century organ, registered as a Lithuanian cultural heritage object.
Most interesting of all, Fr Ričardas Mikutavičius, who served as parish priest here, contributed greatly to its embellishment. Thanks to his efforts the church acquired a cross by the cross-maker Vincas Svirskis and 18th-century angel sculptures, further enriching the shrine.
The churchyard is enclosed by a metal fence with masonry gate posts, and the old cemetery has survived within it. There also stands an open bell tower and a wayside shrine-pillar, "Christ the Blessing", dedicated to the 250th anniversary of the Babtai parish.
Today's Babtai Sts Peter and Paul Church not only represents religious heritage but also testifies to the community's perseverance and love for its shrine, whose history is full of challenges and triumphs.
The first wooden church here was built in 1672 on the initiative of the local landowner Mlečka. More than half a century later, in 1715, it was rebuilt from the ground up. At first this church was a filial church of Vandžiogala, but in 1744 it became a parish church. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries the parish was actively engaged: a parish school was founded here, and sermons were preached in both Polish and Lithuanian.
Unfortunately, a fire in 1830 destroyed the town and the church. Nevertheless, in 1845 a design for a new wooden church, prepared by the engineer Maleševskis, was approved. Through the efforts of the parishioners and the parish priest Mykolas Petraševičius, construction was completed in 1853. Fr Petraševičius, unfortunately, was not to enjoy a peaceful old age: he was arrested in 1863 and died in Kaunas prison in 1864.
The church has a richly furnished interior. Here one can find statues of St Michael the Archangel and St Florian, along with various paintings, including "The Blessed Virgin Mary with the Child" and "The Adoration of the Magi". The high altar is graced by an image of Our Lady of Częstochowa. The church's grandeur is further enhanced by a 19th-century organ, registered as a Lithuanian cultural heritage object.
Most interesting of all, Fr Ričardas Mikutavičius, who served as parish priest here, contributed greatly to its embellishment. Thanks to his efforts the church acquired a cross by the cross-maker Vincas Svirskis and 18th-century angel sculptures, further enriching the shrine.
The churchyard is enclosed by a metal fence with masonry gate posts, and the old cemetery has survived within it. There also stands an open bell tower and a wayside shrine-pillar, "Christ the Blessing", dedicated to the 250th anniversary of the Babtai parish.
Today's Babtai Sts Peter and Paul Church not only represents religious heritage but also testifies to the community's perseverance and love for its shrine, whose history is full of challenges and triumphs.
Gallery and Resources
Archive captions are shown in Lithuanian.
Nuotrauka. Kauno r. Babtų Šv. apaštalų Petro ir Povilo bažnyčia. Joje Ričardas Mikutavičius klebonavo 1983–1989 m.
Babtų Šv. apaštalų Petro ir Povilo bažnyčia. Fotografijos aprašymas ant pasporto: „BABTAI. Medinė bažnyčia pastatyta 1853 m. Pirmoji parapijos bažnyčia statyta 1682 m. dvarininko Mlečkos lėšomis. 1771 m. Prozoras ją atnaujino. 1830 m. per gaisrą išdegė didelė miestelio dalis, sudegė ir bažnyčia.“