About the Church
Jūžintai St Michael the Archangel Church is without doubt one of the most striking and distinctive churches in the Baltic States. Located in the small town of Jūžintai, this church stands beside the Rokiškis–Užpaliai road and is remarkable for its architecture and rich history.
The church was built in 1792 on the initiative of the manor owner Mykolas Veisenhofas. It is a fine example of late Classicism, although Renaissance features can also be seen in its design. The building stands out for its complex composition: a rectangular-plan basilica with a small tower on the ridge of the roof, reaching as much as 35 metres in height. The church's walls, in places as much as 1.5 metres thick, were built of clay brick, and the exterior is plastered and painted white.
It is worth noting that the church has two cellars, in which heat is collected and, in winter, fed into the church through special channels, thereby ensuring warmth during the cold season. Yet the church's true distinctiveness lies in the construction of its cells. It is the only church in the Baltic States to have eight cramped penitents' cells, set up under the roof of the tower.
The church's interior is also very impressive. Inside there are five altars, the largest of which is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, above which hangs a painting of St Michael the Archangel. The other altars are dedicated to St Anthony, St George, St Barbara and the Blessed Virgin Mary. These works are of great cultural as well as religious value, since they were created by the famous 19th-century Rokiškis-region folk artist Jonas Dagys.
The church can also boast an old 12-stop organ, which was repaired in both 1938 and 1947. A small museum has been set up in the monks' cells, in which various liturgical items, prayer books, the tops of metal crosses, and small sculptures saved from decay are kept.
Jūžintai St Michael the Archangel Church is not only a spiritual but also a cultural centre. During the period of the press ban, a secret school operated in the town, where Agota Raugytė and Uršulė Raugytė taught the Lithuanian language. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries Jūžintai became a centre for distributing banned Lithuanian-language publications.
During the Second World War the church was damaged, but it was repaired in 1958. Thanks to later parish priests, such as St. Žulys and Antanas Mitrikas, the church has been continuously maintained and renovated.
Today Jūžintai St Michael the Archangel Church stands as a monument to history and culture, bearing witness to Lithuania's religious and cultural change and to people's faith over many centuries.
The church was built in 1792 on the initiative of the manor owner Mykolas Veisenhofas. It is a fine example of late Classicism, although Renaissance features can also be seen in its design. The building stands out for its complex composition: a rectangular-plan basilica with a small tower on the ridge of the roof, reaching as much as 35 metres in height. The church's walls, in places as much as 1.5 metres thick, were built of clay brick, and the exterior is plastered and painted white.
It is worth noting that the church has two cellars, in which heat is collected and, in winter, fed into the church through special channels, thereby ensuring warmth during the cold season. Yet the church's true distinctiveness lies in the construction of its cells. It is the only church in the Baltic States to have eight cramped penitents' cells, set up under the roof of the tower.
The church's interior is also very impressive. Inside there are five altars, the largest of which is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, above which hangs a painting of St Michael the Archangel. The other altars are dedicated to St Anthony, St George, St Barbara and the Blessed Virgin Mary. These works are of great cultural as well as religious value, since they were created by the famous 19th-century Rokiškis-region folk artist Jonas Dagys.
The church can also boast an old 12-stop organ, which was repaired in both 1938 and 1947. A small museum has been set up in the monks' cells, in which various liturgical items, prayer books, the tops of metal crosses, and small sculptures saved from decay are kept.
Jūžintai St Michael the Archangel Church is not only a spiritual but also a cultural centre. During the period of the press ban, a secret school operated in the town, where Agota Raugytė and Uršulė Raugytė taught the Lithuanian language. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries Jūžintai became a centre for distributing banned Lithuanian-language publications.
During the Second World War the church was damaged, but it was repaired in 1958. Thanks to later parish priests, such as St. Žulys and Antanas Mitrikas, the church has been continuously maintained and renovated.
Today Jūžintai St Michael the Archangel Church stands as a monument to history and culture, bearing witness to Lithuania's religious and cultural change and to people's faith over many centuries.
Gallery and Resources
Archive captions are shown in Lithuanian.
Bažnyčios vidus išpuoštas, joje daug klūpančių žmonių, centre – didysis bažnyčios altorius. Fotografiją rėmina baltos spalvos rėmeliai, kraštai perforuoti. Nugarinėje pusėje yra įrašas pieštuku
Jūžintų Šv. Arkangelo Mykolo bažnyčia (Rokiškio r.). 2000 m.