Obelių Šv. Onos bažnyčia

Obeliai St Anne Church is a distinctive architectural and historical monument, located in the small town of Obeliai, in the Rokiškis Deanery of the Diocese of Panevėžys. This masonry church was built in 1868 on the initiative of Canon Steponavičius and is known for its Gothic Revival features.

The church's history begins in the early 17th century, when in 1629 the village of Pakriauniai was donated to the Catholic church. Later, around 1738, a new wooden church was built, which served the local community for more than a century. The present masonry church was built in 1859–1868, but it was damaged in the fire of 1899, which also destroyed the parish buildings. Fortunately, the church was quickly rebuilt — in 1900, through the efforts of the parish priest Vincentas Birutavičius, side chapels were also added.

Vincentas Birutavičius was the church's builder and its long-serving parish priest, who worked in Obeliai until his death in 1936. After his death, the parish priest became Fr Leonas Virkutis, who repaired the church, repainted its interior, whitewashed the exterior and put the farm buildings in order. He also built the parish hall, where various events were held.

Obeliai St Anne Church also had a famous organist, Mikas Petrauskas, who directed the church choir and set up an orchestra, enriching the church services with music. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the famous composer Joseph Haydn's oratorio "The Creation" was sung in Lithuanian for the first time in the Obeliai church.

Sadly, during the Second World War the church suffered severe damage: the roof was damaged, the walls were harmed and the stained-glass window of the high altar was destroyed. After the war, however, thanks to the parish priest Jonas Nagulevičius, the church was repaired. Although he himself had been exiled to Siberia, on his return he continued his work and saw to the church's restoration.

Architecturally, Obeliai St Anne Church is a cruciform-plan, two-towered, three-aisled building with three altars. In the churchyard beside the church stands a chapel, built as early as 1825, and the churchyard wall is of stone masonry.

Today Obeliai St Anne Church is not only a site of religious significance but also an important part of local culture, representing the region's rich history and architectural heritage.