About the Church
Pašilė's Church of St Barbara is not only an architectural monument but also an important cultural and historical site in Ukmergė district. Standing in the Pašilė microdistrict, near the old Vilnius–Ukmergė road, the church was built in 1789 to the commission of Mykolas Kosakovskis, owner of the Vaitkuškis manor. The site is notable for its Classicist architecture and its interesting history.
The building of the church is linked to Mykolas Kosakovskis, who wanted a masonry church next to his manor. It was consecrated in 1791, and for the occasion his relative, the auxiliary bishop of Vilnius Jonas Nepomukas Kosakovskis, delivered a sermon that was later published as a separate booklet in Polish. At first the church served as the manor chapel, but over time it became a filial church of Pabaiskas parish and eventually the main religious centre of the Pašilė settlement.
Although the church was well maintained at first, by 1857 it was recorded as neglected, with a leaking roof. The situation improved only in 1926, when a new parish was established. Sadly, after the Second World War, during the Soviet era, the church was closed and nationalised – a dance hall was set up inside it, and later the „Raketa“ cinema operated there. Only in 1992 was the church returned to the faithful, and by 1994 it had been reconstructed so that it could once again serve as a house of prayer. The church was renovated again in 2012, and now it attracts visitors even more with its beauty and history.
The Poklevskiai-Kozelai chapel, located nearby within the territory of Pašilė parish, in the village of Antakalnis I, also deserves special attention. In addition, archaeological excavations carried out in the Pašilė cemetery in 2015 revealed an unexpected find – a 20-square-metre vault containing almost 12 coffins was discovered at the burial site of Count Stanislovas Kazimieras Kosakovskis. It is believed that some of these coffins with remains were moved from Pašilė's Church of St Barbara during the Soviet era.
The architecture of Pašilė's Church of St Barbara is also impressive. The building is Classicist in style, with a three-pitched roof and no towers (before the Second World War it had a small tower). The church's interior is subtle and elegant; the three naves are separated by Doric pilasters, and the high altar is adorned with the painting "The Crucifixion" by Stanislovas Feliksas Kosakovskis.
Today Pašilė's Church of St Barbara is not only a religious centre but also a valuable cultural heritage site, bearing witness to the region's history and to people's determination to preserve their traditions and faith.
The building of the church is linked to Mykolas Kosakovskis, who wanted a masonry church next to his manor. It was consecrated in 1791, and for the occasion his relative, the auxiliary bishop of Vilnius Jonas Nepomukas Kosakovskis, delivered a sermon that was later published as a separate booklet in Polish. At first the church served as the manor chapel, but over time it became a filial church of Pabaiskas parish and eventually the main religious centre of the Pašilė settlement.
Although the church was well maintained at first, by 1857 it was recorded as neglected, with a leaking roof. The situation improved only in 1926, when a new parish was established. Sadly, after the Second World War, during the Soviet era, the church was closed and nationalised – a dance hall was set up inside it, and later the „Raketa“ cinema operated there. Only in 1992 was the church returned to the faithful, and by 1994 it had been reconstructed so that it could once again serve as a house of prayer. The church was renovated again in 2012, and now it attracts visitors even more with its beauty and history.
The Poklevskiai-Kozelai chapel, located nearby within the territory of Pašilė parish, in the village of Antakalnis I, also deserves special attention. In addition, archaeological excavations carried out in the Pašilė cemetery in 2015 revealed an unexpected find – a 20-square-metre vault containing almost 12 coffins was discovered at the burial site of Count Stanislovas Kazimieras Kosakovskis. It is believed that some of these coffins with remains were moved from Pašilė's Church of St Barbara during the Soviet era.
The architecture of Pašilė's Church of St Barbara is also impressive. The building is Classicist in style, with a three-pitched roof and no towers (before the Second World War it had a small tower). The church's interior is subtle and elegant; the three naves are separated by Doric pilasters, and the high altar is adorned with the painting "The Crucifixion" by Stanislovas Feliksas Kosakovskis.
Today Pašilė's Church of St Barbara is not only a religious centre but also a valuable cultural heritage site, bearing witness to the region's history and to people's determination to preserve their traditions and faith.
Gallery and Resources
Archive captions are shown in Lithuanian.
Stiklo negatyve užfiksuota Vaitkuškio dvaro savininkų 1791 m. pastatyta Šv. Barboros bažnyčia. Klasicizmo stiliaus sakralinis pastatas užfiksuotas iš priekinio fasado pusės. Fasado plokštuma suskaidyta piliastrais, su nišomis apatinėje ir dešimties dalių langais viršutinėje fasado dalyje. Kiek aukščiau, frize, įrašas: „Dievo Apvaizdos“. Frontono centre saulės motyvas su Apvaizdos akimi viduryje.
Pašilės Šv. Barboros bažnyčia.