About the Church
The Church of St Hyacinth (Jackus) in Antašava is a centre not only of spiritual but also of cultural life in the town of Antašava. This wooden church, built in 1862, stands on the road connecting Kupiškis with Vabalninkas and Biržai, and catches the eye with its distinctive architectural forms.
The church's history begins as early as the late 18th century, when the owner of the Antašava manor, Jackus Antašauskis, built the first wooden church on the cemetery grounds in 1793. His initiative also led to the building of a masonry presbytery, designed by the architect Mykolas Šulcas. Plans for building a new church were disrupted in 1812 by the war between Russia and France, so it was only in 1862, through the efforts of the parish priest Albinas Rubavičius, that the present wooden church was erected, which was at first a filial church of Vabalninkas.
The architecture of this church stands out for its unconventional forms: the rectangular-plan building is adorned with two massive towers at the corners of the roof. This structure gives the church a distinctive and memorable appearance. In the churchyard stand a masonry bell tower and an old cemetery, which touch upon the twists of the locality's history.
In 1905 the church was enlarged — a sacristy was added — and the parish was established the following year. Between the wars, from 1928 to 1940, the parish priest Juozapas Čepėnas renovated and repainted the church's interior, enriching it with new colours and life. In 1927 the church received 8 hectares of land from the Salamiestis manor estate, but the land was later exchanged for a plot right next to Antašava, which further strengthened the community's centre.
The organ in the Antašava church was probably built around the same time as the church itself. This organ is a fine example of the Classicist style, with a three-tower facade whose central section is the lowest. Similar organs can also be found in other Lithuanian churches, such as those of Švėkšna, Pajūris and Surviliškis. The craftsman Antanas Šauklys carried out a repair of this organ in 1989, preserving its authenticity.
The Church of St Hyacinth (Jackus) in Antašava is not only a house of prayer but also a cultural heritage object entered in the Register of Cultural Property. Its history and architecture testify to the varied and rich past of the Antašava area, and today it remains an important spiritual centre for the local community.
The church's history begins as early as the late 18th century, when the owner of the Antašava manor, Jackus Antašauskis, built the first wooden church on the cemetery grounds in 1793. His initiative also led to the building of a masonry presbytery, designed by the architect Mykolas Šulcas. Plans for building a new church were disrupted in 1812 by the war between Russia and France, so it was only in 1862, through the efforts of the parish priest Albinas Rubavičius, that the present wooden church was erected, which was at first a filial church of Vabalninkas.
The architecture of this church stands out for its unconventional forms: the rectangular-plan building is adorned with two massive towers at the corners of the roof. This structure gives the church a distinctive and memorable appearance. In the churchyard stand a masonry bell tower and an old cemetery, which touch upon the twists of the locality's history.
In 1905 the church was enlarged — a sacristy was added — and the parish was established the following year. Between the wars, from 1928 to 1940, the parish priest Juozapas Čepėnas renovated and repainted the church's interior, enriching it with new colours and life. In 1927 the church received 8 hectares of land from the Salamiestis manor estate, but the land was later exchanged for a plot right next to Antašava, which further strengthened the community's centre.
The organ in the Antašava church was probably built around the same time as the church itself. This organ is a fine example of the Classicist style, with a three-tower facade whose central section is the lowest. Similar organs can also be found in other Lithuanian churches, such as those of Švėkšna, Pajūris and Surviliškis. The craftsman Antanas Šauklys carried out a repair of this organ in 1989, preserving its authenticity.
The Church of St Hyacinth (Jackus) in Antašava is not only a house of prayer but also a cultural heritage object entered in the Register of Cultural Property. Its history and architecture testify to the varied and rich past of the Antašava area, and today it remains an important spiritual centre for the local community.
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