About the Church
Rokiškis St Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist Church is an imposing Gothic Revival building standing in Rokiškis, in the Diocese of Panevėžys. The church's history goes back to the 16th century, when the first wooden church was built and the parish founded around 1500. Over the centuries the building changed more than once, being rebuilt and renovated.
The wooden church built in 1590 held a considerable amount of land — as much as 18 valakai belonged to it. In 1664 the Krošinskis family, owners of the Rokiškis manor, built a chapel next to the church, and two years later a presbytery and bell tower are recorded. From 1700 a parish school operated next to the church, instilling Christian values in local children.
In 1713 Princess Elena Krošinskienė-Tyzenhauzienė arranged for a new wooden church to be built after the earlier one burned down. In time, however, the building began to warp and collapse. In 1864 fire again destroyed the church, so services were held for a time in the cemetery chapel.
A new masonry church, designed by the architect Friedrich Gustav von Schacht, was built in 1868–1877. Its construction was overseen by the parish priests Lionginas Rekstis and Stanislovas Šimkevičius. The church's benefactor was the famous Count Reinholdas Tyzenhauzas. The church's architect, Georg Werner, came from Tyrol, and his work is a true architectural masterpiece.
In 1882 the high altar and pulpit were installed to Werner's design, and in 1883 three bells were raised into the church tower. In the same year an impressive 24-stop organ was installed. The Czech organist Rudolf Lyman was engaged for the post, and until 1903 he also directed the music school that operated at the Tyzenhauzas manor.
The church is renowned for its architecture and cultural value. It is a rectangular-plan, hall-type, three-aisled masonry church with a square bell tower reaching 56.5 metres in height. Its interior is adorned with crystal vaults, and around the church stands a stone-masonry churchyard wall with openwork red-brick grilles.
Inside one can see unique woodwork from Belgium, stained-glass windows and bronze sculptures from Austria, and a gilded bronze altar from France. Beneath the chancel is the benefactors' crypt, where the Krošinskis, Tyzenhauzas and Pšezdeckis families rest.
On 27 April 2022 new bells, cast in the Italian town of Agnone, were raised into the church tower. The smaller bell was given the name of St Matthew, and the larger one that of St Francis.
Rokiškis St Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist Church is not only a religious but also a cultural centre of the town, drawing visitors with its history, architecture and works of art.
The wooden church built in 1590 held a considerable amount of land — as much as 18 valakai belonged to it. In 1664 the Krošinskis family, owners of the Rokiškis manor, built a chapel next to the church, and two years later a presbytery and bell tower are recorded. From 1700 a parish school operated next to the church, instilling Christian values in local children.
In 1713 Princess Elena Krošinskienė-Tyzenhauzienė arranged for a new wooden church to be built after the earlier one burned down. In time, however, the building began to warp and collapse. In 1864 fire again destroyed the church, so services were held for a time in the cemetery chapel.
A new masonry church, designed by the architect Friedrich Gustav von Schacht, was built in 1868–1877. Its construction was overseen by the parish priests Lionginas Rekstis and Stanislovas Šimkevičius. The church's benefactor was the famous Count Reinholdas Tyzenhauzas. The church's architect, Georg Werner, came from Tyrol, and his work is a true architectural masterpiece.
In 1882 the high altar and pulpit were installed to Werner's design, and in 1883 three bells were raised into the church tower. In the same year an impressive 24-stop organ was installed. The Czech organist Rudolf Lyman was engaged for the post, and until 1903 he also directed the music school that operated at the Tyzenhauzas manor.
The church is renowned for its architecture and cultural value. It is a rectangular-plan, hall-type, three-aisled masonry church with a square bell tower reaching 56.5 metres in height. Its interior is adorned with crystal vaults, and around the church stands a stone-masonry churchyard wall with openwork red-brick grilles.
Inside one can see unique woodwork from Belgium, stained-glass windows and bronze sculptures from Austria, and a gilded bronze altar from France. Beneath the chancel is the benefactors' crypt, where the Krošinskis, Tyzenhauzas and Pšezdeckis families rest.
On 27 April 2022 new bells, cast in the Italian town of Agnone, were raised into the church tower. The smaller bell was given the name of St Matthew, and the larger one that of St Francis.
Rokiškis St Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist Church is not only a religious but also a cultural centre of the town, drawing visitors with its history, architecture and works of art.
Gallery and Resources
Archive captions are shown in Lithuanian.
Rokiškio Šv. apaštalo evangelisto Mato bažnyčia, statyta 1868–1877 m.
Bažnyčia neogotikinio stiliaus su pristatytu 56,5 m aukščio kvadratiniu varpinės bokštu. Bažnyčią juosia akmenų mūro šventoriaus tvora, viršuje – ažūrinės raudonų plytų grotos.
