About the Church
The Chapel of St Anthony of Padua at Degučiai stands in the small town of Degučiai in Zarasai district, on the Kaunas–Zarasai–Daugavpils highway. It belongs to the Zarasai parish of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The idea of establishing a parish centre at Degučiai arose as early as 1906, but the plans were held up by setbacks. In June 1925 the priest Jurgis Martinaitis consecrated a temporary chapel of St Anthony, and later the community of the faithful set up a house of prayer in the abandoned building of a former post station.
The Classicist masonry building in which the chapel operates was built in 1836 to a standard design for post stations. During the Soviet period the house of prayer was closed and turned into a culture house, and in 1989 Mass began to be celebrated here again; in 1992 the building was returned to the Catholic community. Three wooden altars have survived in the chapel – the main one dedicated to St Anthony of Padua.
The idea of establishing a parish centre at Degučiai arose as early as 1906, but the plans were held up by setbacks. In June 1925 the priest Jurgis Martinaitis consecrated a temporary chapel of St Anthony, and later the community of the faithful set up a house of prayer in the abandoned building of a former post station.
The Classicist masonry building in which the chapel operates was built in 1836 to a standard design for post stations. During the Soviet period the house of prayer was closed and turned into a culture house, and in 1989 Mass began to be celebrated here again; in 1992 the building was returned to the Catholic community. Three wooden altars have survived in the chapel – the main one dedicated to St Anthony of Padua.