About the Church
The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Raseiniai is a unique and important monument of Lithuanian sacred architecture, with an intriguing history well worth knowing.
The history of the church's construction begins as early as 1416–1421, when the first church was built in Raseiniai — one of the first in Samogitia. The Bishop of Samogitia, Jurgis Tiškevičius, invited Dominican friars, who in 1642 received about 300 valakai of land and in 1663 built a masonry church. The church and monastery suffered a major fire in 1729, but were rebuilt on the initiative of the Dominican superior Klemensas Šatranavičius.
The Baroque church, which also has Renaissance features, has a Latin-cross plan and a basilica-type structure. Its interior is bright, adorned with an ensemble of five altars created in the second half of the 19th century. An organ made by the Dominicans is likewise one of the church's ornaments.
Inside the church, particular attention is drawn to the high altar, with a tall first tier and angel sculptures above. On the left, the altar of Our Lady of the Rosary, with its miraculous image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and on the right, the altar of Jesus of Nazareth, with a mid-20th-century image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and a portrait of St Dominic, lend the church a particular spiritual beauty and calm.
Over the centuries the church suffered repeatedly from fires and wars, but was always rebuilt. It was badly damaged during the Second World War, but was restored afterwards through the efforts of the Salesian monk Boleslovas Lukošius and parish priest Rapolas Pūkys.
The Dominicans returned to Raseiniai in 1932, and Raseiniai soon became the centre of the Lithuanian Dominican province. The friars renovated the church and monastery, set up a soup kitchen for the poor, and built a Lourdes grotto chapel to a design by the engineer Antanas Adomėnas. After the war and throughout the Soviet period the church remained active, and its renovation continued until 1980.
The churchyard wall and the broad steps lend the site additional historical and architectural charm. It is not only a house of prayer but also an important part of the cultural and historical heritage, preserving the memory and traditions of many generations.
The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Raseiniai is a space of exceptional beauty and spirituality, well worth a visit for anyone wishing to gain a deeper knowledge of Lithuanian history and culture.
The history of the church's construction begins as early as 1416–1421, when the first church was built in Raseiniai — one of the first in Samogitia. The Bishop of Samogitia, Jurgis Tiškevičius, invited Dominican friars, who in 1642 received about 300 valakai of land and in 1663 built a masonry church. The church and monastery suffered a major fire in 1729, but were rebuilt on the initiative of the Dominican superior Klemensas Šatranavičius.
The Baroque church, which also has Renaissance features, has a Latin-cross plan and a basilica-type structure. Its interior is bright, adorned with an ensemble of five altars created in the second half of the 19th century. An organ made by the Dominicans is likewise one of the church's ornaments.
Inside the church, particular attention is drawn to the high altar, with a tall first tier and angel sculptures above. On the left, the altar of Our Lady of the Rosary, with its miraculous image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and on the right, the altar of Jesus of Nazareth, with a mid-20th-century image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and a portrait of St Dominic, lend the church a particular spiritual beauty and calm.
Over the centuries the church suffered repeatedly from fires and wars, but was always rebuilt. It was badly damaged during the Second World War, but was restored afterwards through the efforts of the Salesian monk Boleslovas Lukošius and parish priest Rapolas Pūkys.
The Dominicans returned to Raseiniai in 1932, and Raseiniai soon became the centre of the Lithuanian Dominican province. The friars renovated the church and monastery, set up a soup kitchen for the poor, and built a Lourdes grotto chapel to a design by the engineer Antanas Adomėnas. After the war and throughout the Soviet period the church remained active, and its renovation continued until 1980.
The churchyard wall and the broad steps lend the site additional historical and architectural charm. It is not only a house of prayer but also an important part of the cultural and historical heritage, preserving the memory and traditions of many generations.
The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Raseiniai is a space of exceptional beauty and spirituality, well worth a visit for anyone wishing to gain a deeper knowledge of Lithuanian history and culture.
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