About the Church
The Church of the Holy Name of Mary in Adomynė is a unique monument of wooden architecture, situated in the village of Adomynė, in the Kupiškis district. The church rises in a picturesque landscape beside the River Aluotis, and its history and surroundings invite travellers into stories of the past and an oasis of present-day tranquillity.
The history of this church began as early as 1826, when the owner of the Jonava manor, Žurauskas, built the first chapel. Although time did not preserve this chapel and the manor, their fate became a symbol of the Adomynė community's fortitude. During the First World War the priest Liudas Kaulakis renovated the chapel on the manor grounds, where services were held.
After the war, Adomas Vilėniškis and the priest Juozas Vilėniškis took the initiative to build a new church. To establish a parish, 30 hectares of land, farm buildings and half of the manor house were allotted. In 1921 the present wooden church with a small tower was erected. This church, whose dimensions are 24 by 12 metres, became a centre not only of religion but also of culture.
The church's interior is adorned with a five-stop organ and three altars, which lend the church a particular atmosphere. A parish was established here in 1928, and since then the church has become an important part of the local community. The imposing stone wall of the churchyard and the wooden bell tower standing beside it complete this church's ensemble. The church also displays wooden sculptures of Mary and St Joseph carved by Vladas Bieliauskas, testifying to the talent of folk-art masters.
After the Second World War the church faced difficult times. From 1944 to 1949 the parish priest here was Jonas Jatulis, who was arrested and deported in 1949, but returned to Lithuania in 1957. Another deportee, the priest Steponas Pelešynas, who spent the years 1950–1956 in Siberia, is buried in the churchyard.
Today the Church of the Holy Name of Mary in Adomynė seems to unite past and present, inviting visitors to reflect on history, get to know its culture and feel the tranquillity of the natural Lithuanian countryside.
The history of this church began as early as 1826, when the owner of the Jonava manor, Žurauskas, built the first chapel. Although time did not preserve this chapel and the manor, their fate became a symbol of the Adomynė community's fortitude. During the First World War the priest Liudas Kaulakis renovated the chapel on the manor grounds, where services were held.
After the war, Adomas Vilėniškis and the priest Juozas Vilėniškis took the initiative to build a new church. To establish a parish, 30 hectares of land, farm buildings and half of the manor house were allotted. In 1921 the present wooden church with a small tower was erected. This church, whose dimensions are 24 by 12 metres, became a centre not only of religion but also of culture.
The church's interior is adorned with a five-stop organ and three altars, which lend the church a particular atmosphere. A parish was established here in 1928, and since then the church has become an important part of the local community. The imposing stone wall of the churchyard and the wooden bell tower standing beside it complete this church's ensemble. The church also displays wooden sculptures of Mary and St Joseph carved by Vladas Bieliauskas, testifying to the talent of folk-art masters.
After the Second World War the church faced difficult times. From 1944 to 1949 the parish priest here was Jonas Jatulis, who was arrested and deported in 1949, but returned to Lithuania in 1957. Another deportee, the priest Steponas Pelešynas, who spent the years 1950–1956 in Siberia, is buried in the churchyard.
Today the Church of the Holy Name of Mary in Adomynė seems to unite past and present, inviting visitors to reflect on history, get to know its culture and feel the tranquillity of the natural Lithuanian countryside.