About the Church
The Church of the Crucified Jesus in Karsakiškis is one of those pearls of architecture and history hidden away in a remote corner of Panevėžys district. This small but distinctive church stands in the village of Karsakiškis, on the right bank of the Lėvuo. The area is rich not only in its landscape but also in an intriguing history.
The first church at Karsakiškis was built as early as 1803, on the initiative of the Ivaškevičius landowning family. It was a wooden church, but over time it burned down. A new wooden church was built in 1831 by the landowner Galiofas. But this church, too, was not long-lived – when the priest Leonas Skopas arrived in 1869, he found it abandoned, with a leaking roof.
In 1884 the church burned down again. The then parish priest, Skopas, having received help from Petkevičius, the owner of Sirapavas manor, began work on a new masonry church. Between 1887 and 1888 the present Romanesque Revival, Historicist church was built. Its fitting-out continued right up to 1905, when the priest Juozapas Remeikis saw to the decoration of the church interior and acquired bells and an 8-register organ. Sadly, in 1915 the bells were taken away to Russia.
Another important event was the plastering and painting of the church, carried out in 1908–1909 on the initiative of the priest Povilas Svilas, when the churchyard was also enclosed with a wall. Bishop Pranciškus Karevičius blessed the church in 1914. From 1924 to 1934 Vincentas Velžys served as parish priest, and he bought new bells, liturgical vestments and vessels, and fitted out pews.
The church has a cruciform plan (31.4 × 10.6 m) and is a single-tower structure with five altars. It is surrounded by an openwork brick-masonry wall, which lends a special atmosphere and underscores the sacredness of the site.
Interestingly, the owners of Karsakiškis manor, in supporting the building and upkeep of the church, contributed not only to parish life but also to the development of cultural activity. For example, the poet-priest Antanas Strazdas lived and wrote here in 1793–1795 and 1804–1806.
Today the Church of the Crucified Jesus in Karsakiškis is not only a place of worship but also a cultural monument, bearing witness to the challenges of the past and people's efforts to preserve their faith and values. Several chapels also serve the parish: the chapel at Naujikai, the Chapel of St Francis at Palaukiai, and the Chapel of St Mary Magdalene at Bygailiai, which complement the sacred life of this community.
A visit to this church can become a special journey into the past, allowing one to picture how people's lives and surroundings changed over the centuries, while faith and traditions were preserved.
The first church at Karsakiškis was built as early as 1803, on the initiative of the Ivaškevičius landowning family. It was a wooden church, but over time it burned down. A new wooden church was built in 1831 by the landowner Galiofas. But this church, too, was not long-lived – when the priest Leonas Skopas arrived in 1869, he found it abandoned, with a leaking roof.
In 1884 the church burned down again. The then parish priest, Skopas, having received help from Petkevičius, the owner of Sirapavas manor, began work on a new masonry church. Between 1887 and 1888 the present Romanesque Revival, Historicist church was built. Its fitting-out continued right up to 1905, when the priest Juozapas Remeikis saw to the decoration of the church interior and acquired bells and an 8-register organ. Sadly, in 1915 the bells were taken away to Russia.
Another important event was the plastering and painting of the church, carried out in 1908–1909 on the initiative of the priest Povilas Svilas, when the churchyard was also enclosed with a wall. Bishop Pranciškus Karevičius blessed the church in 1914. From 1924 to 1934 Vincentas Velžys served as parish priest, and he bought new bells, liturgical vestments and vessels, and fitted out pews.
The church has a cruciform plan (31.4 × 10.6 m) and is a single-tower structure with five altars. It is surrounded by an openwork brick-masonry wall, which lends a special atmosphere and underscores the sacredness of the site.
Interestingly, the owners of Karsakiškis manor, in supporting the building and upkeep of the church, contributed not only to parish life but also to the development of cultural activity. For example, the poet-priest Antanas Strazdas lived and wrote here in 1793–1795 and 1804–1806.
Today the Church of the Crucified Jesus in Karsakiškis is not only a place of worship but also a cultural monument, bearing witness to the challenges of the past and people's efforts to preserve their faith and values. Several chapels also serve the parish: the chapel at Naujikai, the Chapel of St Francis at Palaukiai, and the Chapel of St Mary Magdalene at Bygailiai, which complement the sacred life of this community.
A visit to this church can become a special journey into the past, allowing one to picture how people's lives and surroundings changed over the centuries, while faith and traditions were preserved.
Gallery and Resources
Archive captions are shown in Lithuanian.
Karsakiškio Nukryžiuotojo Jėzaus bažnyčia.
Signuotas akvarele averso apatinėje dalyje dešinėje, pieštuku reverso viršutinėje dalyje kairėje.