About the Church
The Church of the Ascension of the Lord in Kupiškis is an exceptional gem of Gothic Revival architecture, standing in Kupiškis. Its history is rich and colourful, reflecting not only the religious but also the cultural life of Lithuania.
The first church in Kupiškis was built as early as 1616 at the instance of Sigismund III Vasa, King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania. It was a wooden church, to which the village of Pyragiai was donated. Some decades later more property was allotted for the church's upkeep, but in 1781 a fire in the town destroyed this old church along with part of the town.
Nevertheless, the parishioners refused to remain without a house of prayer. In that same year a new wooden church, named after the Guardian Angels, was built. This three-aisled church had three altars, two sacristies, and even a bell tower with three bells which, unfortunately, were taken to Russia during the First World War, and their fate remains unknown to this day.
In 1900–1914, on the initiative of the parish priest Stanislovas Janulevičius and to a design by the architect Konstantinas Rončevskis, the present masonry Gothic Revival church was built around the old church. The church now standing on the site of the old one was consecrated in 1921 by Bishop Pranciškus Karevičius, and has since been known as the Church of the Ascension of the Lord in Kupiškis.
The church is distinguished by its impressive architecture — it is a hall-type, two-towered church with three aisles and three altars. Its towers have three tiers, crowned with finely divided parapets and rows of pinnacles that give them particular elegance. Inside, numerous religious works of art can be found, among them a wooden sculpture of the "Crucified Jesus", made in 1884, and other valuable 19th-century sculptures.
In 1931 three new steel bells were purchased with parishioners' funds, made by the German company "Vereinigte Stahlwerke - Bochmuener Verein". These bells — "St Anne", "Guardian Angel" and "St John" — became an important symbol of the church.
In addition, quite a few well-known figures served as priests at this church, including the poet Antanas Strazdas, who served here at various times in the 18th and 19th centuries.
The Church of the Ascension of the Lord in Kupiškis is not only a place of worship but also part of Lithuania's cultural heritage, testifying to the local community's spirituality, historical trials and triumph. A visit to this church allows one to better understand the religious and cultural history not only of Kupiškis but of the whole of Lithuania.
The first church in Kupiškis was built as early as 1616 at the instance of Sigismund III Vasa, King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania. It was a wooden church, to which the village of Pyragiai was donated. Some decades later more property was allotted for the church's upkeep, but in 1781 a fire in the town destroyed this old church along with part of the town.
Nevertheless, the parishioners refused to remain without a house of prayer. In that same year a new wooden church, named after the Guardian Angels, was built. This three-aisled church had three altars, two sacristies, and even a bell tower with three bells which, unfortunately, were taken to Russia during the First World War, and their fate remains unknown to this day.
In 1900–1914, on the initiative of the parish priest Stanislovas Janulevičius and to a design by the architect Konstantinas Rončevskis, the present masonry Gothic Revival church was built around the old church. The church now standing on the site of the old one was consecrated in 1921 by Bishop Pranciškus Karevičius, and has since been known as the Church of the Ascension of the Lord in Kupiškis.
The church is distinguished by its impressive architecture — it is a hall-type, two-towered church with three aisles and three altars. Its towers have three tiers, crowned with finely divided parapets and rows of pinnacles that give them particular elegance. Inside, numerous religious works of art can be found, among them a wooden sculpture of the "Crucified Jesus", made in 1884, and other valuable 19th-century sculptures.
In 1931 three new steel bells were purchased with parishioners' funds, made by the German company "Vereinigte Stahlwerke - Bochmuener Verein". These bells — "St Anne", "Guardian Angel" and "St John" — became an important symbol of the church.
In addition, quite a few well-known figures served as priests at this church, including the poet Antanas Strazdas, who served here at various times in the 18th and 19th centuries.
The Church of the Ascension of the Lord in Kupiškis is not only a place of worship but also part of Lithuania's cultural heritage, testifying to the local community's spirituality, historical trials and triumph. A visit to this church allows one to better understand the religious and cultural history not only of Kupiškis but of the whole of Lithuania.
Gallery and Resources
Archive captions are shown in Lithuanian.
Fotonegatyve įamžinta Kupiškio Kristaus Žengimo į dangų bažnyčia.
Fotonegatyve įamžinta Kupiškio Kristaus Žengimo į dangų bažnyčia.