About the Church
Our Lady of Grūžiai Church is an impressive place, reflecting both deep religious tradition and a dramatic history. The church stands in the village of Grūžiai, near Joniškėlis, and belongs to the Pasvalys Deanery of the Diocese of Panevėžys.
We first hear of services at Grūžiai through the priest Antanas Gelžinis, who as early as 1913 set up an altar in his own house and began holding services. This was only a modest beginning, but during the First World War the priest Mikalojus Šeižys-Dagilėlis, who came to Grūžiai, allowed the place to become a more significant religious community. On his initiative the former manor granary was repaired, and services were also held there.
Major changes began at the start of the 20th century, when, on the initiative of the priest Juozapas Mazūras, the present wooden church was built in 1921–1924 to a design by the architect Juozas Skripkus. This church had Neo-Gothic features, a rectangular plan and a single tower. It had three altars, and a small tower on the ridge. The churchyard fence was of metal, standing on masonry foundations.
The church's interior also matched its architectural beauty. Between 1928 and 1932 new altars were installed, and in 1937, through the efforts of the parish administrator, the priest Vincentas Švagždys, a high altar was created (by the craftsman Vladas Čižauskas). Later, in 1938, a new organ was installed, played by the organist Jonas Juška until the middle of 1944. Two bells were also hung.
Unfortunately, after the Second World War, during the Soviet occupation, the church went through difficult trials. The parish priest Alfonsas Kadžius was arrested in 1949 and imprisoned in Vorkuta, from which he did not return until 1957.
The most tragic event in the history of Our Lady of Grūžiai Church took place on 25 August 1996, when the church was burned down. But the community's perseverance and faith did not allow the building to remain in the shadows of the past. A new church was set up in the unfinished house of culture of the local collective farm, together with a metal tower 30 metres high. The architect Algirdas Mikėnas created the design for this new church, and the cross-shaped stained-glass windows in the high altar were created by the artist Artūras Rimkevičius.
On 12 August 2001 the new church was consecrated by the Bishop of Panevėžys, Juozapas Preikšas, and since then it has become an inseparable part of the village of Grūžiai, symbolising faith, community and resilience in the face of adversity.
We first hear of services at Grūžiai through the priest Antanas Gelžinis, who as early as 1913 set up an altar in his own house and began holding services. This was only a modest beginning, but during the First World War the priest Mikalojus Šeižys-Dagilėlis, who came to Grūžiai, allowed the place to become a more significant religious community. On his initiative the former manor granary was repaired, and services were also held there.
Major changes began at the start of the 20th century, when, on the initiative of the priest Juozapas Mazūras, the present wooden church was built in 1921–1924 to a design by the architect Juozas Skripkus. This church had Neo-Gothic features, a rectangular plan and a single tower. It had three altars, and a small tower on the ridge. The churchyard fence was of metal, standing on masonry foundations.
The church's interior also matched its architectural beauty. Between 1928 and 1932 new altars were installed, and in 1937, through the efforts of the parish administrator, the priest Vincentas Švagždys, a high altar was created (by the craftsman Vladas Čižauskas). Later, in 1938, a new organ was installed, played by the organist Jonas Juška until the middle of 1944. Two bells were also hung.
Unfortunately, after the Second World War, during the Soviet occupation, the church went through difficult trials. The parish priest Alfonsas Kadžius was arrested in 1949 and imprisoned in Vorkuta, from which he did not return until 1957.
The most tragic event in the history of Our Lady of Grūžiai Church took place on 25 August 1996, when the church was burned down. But the community's perseverance and faith did not allow the building to remain in the shadows of the past. A new church was set up in the unfinished house of culture of the local collective farm, together with a metal tower 30 metres high. The architect Algirdas Mikėnas created the design for this new church, and the cross-shaped stained-glass windows in the high altar were created by the artist Artūras Rimkevičius.
On 12 August 2001 the new church was consecrated by the Bishop of Panevėžys, Juozapas Preikšas, and since then it has become an inseparable part of the village of Grūžiai, symbolising faith, community and resilience in the face of adversity.