About the Church
The Church of St Nicholas in Betygala, situated in the small town of Betygala, is one of the most impressive examples of Neo-Baroque architecture in Lithuania, with Neoclassical features as well. The church's history begins as early as the 15th century.
The first wooden church here was built in 1416. Later, in 1504, Mita Višginaitė founded an altaria and provided it with the necessary funds. The church's importance is also attested by the fact that as early as 1505 the town of Betygala was granted to the presbytery. In 1516 Sigismund the Old allowed the parish priest to build taverns and profit from them, and in 1524 another altaria was founded, reflecting the growing role of the religious community.
Unfortunately, around 1567 the church was left without a priest and fell into neglect. Soon afterwards, however, a parish school is mentioned in written sources in 1579, and in 1639 the presbytery's estates were transferred to a newly established deans' prelature.
By 1841 the church was already well provided for: it owned 49 valakai and 3 margai of land and 34 serfs. This reflects the parish's strong economic position. In 1851 the parish priest Anupras Šrėderis and his parishioners built a new wooden church. Šrėderis was an active public figure; during the uprising of 1863 he read out the insurgents' manifesto in the church, for which he was exiled to Nerchinsk in Russia.
In the early 20th century the parish's life was likewise busy. A masonry almshouse was built in 1903, and in 1908–1914 a branch of the Lithuanian Catholic Temperance Society operated here. Unfortunately, the church burned down in 1915, but the community of the time found temporary shelter in the former building of the loan and savings fund.
The present masonry church was built in 1925–1930 to a design by the renowned architect Vladimiras Dubeneckis. It was consecrated in 1932 by Archbishop Juozapas Skvireckas. The church has a basilica plan with three aisles separated by piers, and a tall plinth. Beside the church stands a tall bell tower, linked to the church by an open, single-arch gallery with a balustrade.
Buried in the churchyard is the long-serving parish priest of Betygala, Juozas Varvuolis, who served here from 1978 to 1989. Inside the church one can admire sculptures by Bronius Pundzius and the Baroque high altar he created.
Betygala is a place of cultural as well as religious significance, where alongside the main church there are several other religious buildings, such as the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Ugioniai and a few chapels.
Today the Church of St Nicholas in Betygala remains important not only as a centre of religious life but also as a historical monument, bearing witness to centuries of faith and community life.
The first wooden church here was built in 1416. Later, in 1504, Mita Višginaitė founded an altaria and provided it with the necessary funds. The church's importance is also attested by the fact that as early as 1505 the town of Betygala was granted to the presbytery. In 1516 Sigismund the Old allowed the parish priest to build taverns and profit from them, and in 1524 another altaria was founded, reflecting the growing role of the religious community.
Unfortunately, around 1567 the church was left without a priest and fell into neglect. Soon afterwards, however, a parish school is mentioned in written sources in 1579, and in 1639 the presbytery's estates were transferred to a newly established deans' prelature.
By 1841 the church was already well provided for: it owned 49 valakai and 3 margai of land and 34 serfs. This reflects the parish's strong economic position. In 1851 the parish priest Anupras Šrėderis and his parishioners built a new wooden church. Šrėderis was an active public figure; during the uprising of 1863 he read out the insurgents' manifesto in the church, for which he was exiled to Nerchinsk in Russia.
In the early 20th century the parish's life was likewise busy. A masonry almshouse was built in 1903, and in 1908–1914 a branch of the Lithuanian Catholic Temperance Society operated here. Unfortunately, the church burned down in 1915, but the community of the time found temporary shelter in the former building of the loan and savings fund.
The present masonry church was built in 1925–1930 to a design by the renowned architect Vladimiras Dubeneckis. It was consecrated in 1932 by Archbishop Juozapas Skvireckas. The church has a basilica plan with three aisles separated by piers, and a tall plinth. Beside the church stands a tall bell tower, linked to the church by an open, single-arch gallery with a balustrade.
Buried in the churchyard is the long-serving parish priest of Betygala, Juozas Varvuolis, who served here from 1978 to 1989. Inside the church one can admire sculptures by Bronius Pundzius and the Baroque high altar he created.
Betygala is a place of cultural as well as religious significance, where alongside the main church there are several other religious buildings, such as the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Ugioniai and a few chapels.
Today the Church of St Nicholas in Betygala remains important not only as a centre of religious life but also as a historical monument, bearing witness to centuries of faith and community life.
Gallery and Resources
Archive captions are shown in Lithuanian.
Kryžiaus, stovinčio aikštelėje priešais Betygalos Šv. Mikalojaus bažnyčią (Sporto g. 2A), bendras vaizdas. Fotografas Kastytis Laužadis.
