About the Church
The Church of the Blessed Archbishop Jurgis Matulaitis in Kaunas, also known as the Eiguliai church, is one of the newest Catholic churches in Kaunas. It stands in the Eiguliai district, at the junction of P. Lukšio and S. Žukausko streets, near the western edge of Kalniečiai Park.
The church is named in honour of a figure of great importance to Lithuania – the Blessed Archbishop Jurgis Matulaitis (1871–1927). He was a remarkable figure in the history of the Lithuanian Catholic Church, known for his work in reviving religious life after difficult periods. The parish was established on 10 October 1996 by decree of the Archbishop of Kaunas, Sigitas Tamkevičius.
Construction of this church began in May 2001, when the foundations were blessed by Archbishop Sigitas Tamkevičius. The design was created by architect Rymantas Zimkus and structural engineer Algis Kazlauskas. The church's height ranges from 3.25 metres at the porch and service rooms to 15.25 metres at the highest point of the altar section.
The construction process was long and complicated, carried out in several stages. Work stopped several times owing to various circumstances, but the efforts of parishioners and parish priests helped the project to continue. Particularly significant was a volunteer working bee held in November 2013, during which the construction site was tidied up and overgrown bushes were cleared.
It is worth noting that the parish's first parish priest, Mons. Kazimieras Senkus, was buried in the church's churchyard in 2018. His contribution to the building of the parish community and of the church itself is invaluable.
The parish community celebrated its first Easter in the new church in 2014. Since then the interior and exterior of the church have been continually improved: geothermal heating, facade finishing and lighting installation works have been carried out.
Today this church is not only a place of prayer but also an important community centre, hosting various religious and cultural events. The faithful gather here not only for Sunday Mass but also for the parish feasts. The feast of Blessed George Matulaitis is celebrated on 27 January, on the nearest Sunday, the feast of Divine Mercy falls on the second Sunday of Easter, and on 15 August the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, known as Žolinė, is observed.
Although the bell tower has not yet been built, the Church of the Blessed Archbishop Jurgis Matulaitis in Kaunas is already a symbol of faith and community, reflecting a strong Lithuanian spirit and commitment to religious tradition.
The church is named in honour of a figure of great importance to Lithuania – the Blessed Archbishop Jurgis Matulaitis (1871–1927). He was a remarkable figure in the history of the Lithuanian Catholic Church, known for his work in reviving religious life after difficult periods. The parish was established on 10 October 1996 by decree of the Archbishop of Kaunas, Sigitas Tamkevičius.
Construction of this church began in May 2001, when the foundations were blessed by Archbishop Sigitas Tamkevičius. The design was created by architect Rymantas Zimkus and structural engineer Algis Kazlauskas. The church's height ranges from 3.25 metres at the porch and service rooms to 15.25 metres at the highest point of the altar section.
The construction process was long and complicated, carried out in several stages. Work stopped several times owing to various circumstances, but the efforts of parishioners and parish priests helped the project to continue. Particularly significant was a volunteer working bee held in November 2013, during which the construction site was tidied up and overgrown bushes were cleared.
It is worth noting that the parish's first parish priest, Mons. Kazimieras Senkus, was buried in the church's churchyard in 2018. His contribution to the building of the parish community and of the church itself is invaluable.
The parish community celebrated its first Easter in the new church in 2014. Since then the interior and exterior of the church have been continually improved: geothermal heating, facade finishing and lighting installation works have been carried out.
Today this church is not only a place of prayer but also an important community centre, hosting various religious and cultural events. The faithful gather here not only for Sunday Mass but also for the parish feasts. The feast of Blessed George Matulaitis is celebrated on 27 January, on the nearest Sunday, the feast of Divine Mercy falls on the second Sunday of Easter, and on 15 August the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, known as Žolinė, is observed.
Although the bell tower has not yet been built, the Church of the Blessed Archbishop Jurgis Matulaitis in Kaunas is already a symbol of faith and community, reflecting a strong Lithuanian spirit and commitment to religious tradition.