About the Church
Kriaunos Church of Divine Providence is one of those Lithuanian churches that serve not only as a house of prayer but also make a significant contribution to the local cultural and historical heritage. This striking stone-masonry building stands in the village of Kriaunos, near Lake Sartai, and is a fine example of vernacular Classicism.
The first chapel in Kriaunos is recorded as early as 1669. A few years later, in 1671, registers began to be kept, testifying to the vitality of the community and its traditions of religious observance. On the initiative of Fr Kazimieras Samulevičius, a wooden church was built between 1684 and 1688, its benefactor being Petras Rudamina-Dusetiškis, starosta of Starodub. The church was generously endowed with the Retovčizna farmstead and the village of Baršėnai, and the parish priest was assigned a fairly large tract of land — 20 valakai.
In time, however, this wooden church fell into disrepair, and in its place the present stone-masonry church was built in 1818–1829. The construction was overseen by the local landowners Mykolas Remeris and Kristupas Pliateris, together with the actively involved parish priests Ignotas Tarvydas and Juozapas Šileika. During the latter's tenure (from 1823) an altaria (a chantry benefice) was also founded.
The Kriaunos church also has its dramatic episodes. For example, the curate Jonas Daržinskas was exiled to Tomsk Governorate for taking part in a meeting of insurgents in Dusetos, while the elderly parish priest Juozapas Šileika was released from custody.
This church is important not only for its architecture and historical vicissitudes but also for its contribution to local culture. In 1911 a six-stop organ was installed here, and the parish priest Mykolas Slapšys, who served until his death in 1940, took particular care in renovating the altaria and acquiring land. The house of the Tertiary Sisters near the church, built in 1933, likewise attests to the community's activity.
It is especially worth noting that the famous poet-priest Antanas Strazdas was baptised in the Kriaunos church; in his memory a sculpture bearing the words of the hymn "Pulkim ant kelių" ("Let Us Fall to Our Knees") has been erected in the square next to the church.
Architecturally, Kriaunos Church of Divine Providence is a rectangular-plan building with an apse and two small towers. Inside are three naves, separated by piers, and three altars. The churchyard is enclosed by a stone-masonry wall, in which stands a masonry bell tower.
For travellers around Lithuania, Kriaunos Church of Divine Providence is an authentic place where one can sense its deep history and admire its unique vernacular Classicist architecture.
The first chapel in Kriaunos is recorded as early as 1669. A few years later, in 1671, registers began to be kept, testifying to the vitality of the community and its traditions of religious observance. On the initiative of Fr Kazimieras Samulevičius, a wooden church was built between 1684 and 1688, its benefactor being Petras Rudamina-Dusetiškis, starosta of Starodub. The church was generously endowed with the Retovčizna farmstead and the village of Baršėnai, and the parish priest was assigned a fairly large tract of land — 20 valakai.
In time, however, this wooden church fell into disrepair, and in its place the present stone-masonry church was built in 1818–1829. The construction was overseen by the local landowners Mykolas Remeris and Kristupas Pliateris, together with the actively involved parish priests Ignotas Tarvydas and Juozapas Šileika. During the latter's tenure (from 1823) an altaria (a chantry benefice) was also founded.
The Kriaunos church also has its dramatic episodes. For example, the curate Jonas Daržinskas was exiled to Tomsk Governorate for taking part in a meeting of insurgents in Dusetos, while the elderly parish priest Juozapas Šileika was released from custody.
This church is important not only for its architecture and historical vicissitudes but also for its contribution to local culture. In 1911 a six-stop organ was installed here, and the parish priest Mykolas Slapšys, who served until his death in 1940, took particular care in renovating the altaria and acquiring land. The house of the Tertiary Sisters near the church, built in 1933, likewise attests to the community's activity.
It is especially worth noting that the famous poet-priest Antanas Strazdas was baptised in the Kriaunos church; in his memory a sculpture bearing the words of the hymn "Pulkim ant kelių" ("Let Us Fall to Our Knees") has been erected in the square next to the church.
Architecturally, Kriaunos Church of Divine Providence is a rectangular-plan building with an apse and two small towers. Inside are three naves, separated by piers, and three altars. The churchyard is enclosed by a stone-masonry wall, in which stands a masonry bell tower.
For travellers around Lithuania, Kriaunos Church of Divine Providence is an authentic place where one can sense its deep history and admire its unique vernacular Classicist architecture.