About the Church
The Church of Our Lady of Sorrows in Salakas is one of the most impressive monuments of Romanesque Revival architecture in Lithuania, in which features of Neo-Gothic can also be observed. Situated in the small town of Salakas, the church undoubtedly draws attention with its grandeur and history.
The church was built in 1911 to the design of the engineer Ignotas Morgulcas, approved in 1906. For the construction in dressed stone, local residents gathered stones from the surrounding fields. This was a communal effort, commemorated by a stone memorial plaque on the wall of the church, with an inscription praising those who contributed their labour and devotion to building and maintaining the church.
Construction of the church was overseen by the engineer Nikolai Andreyev, and great responsibility was taken on by the parish priest Antanas Kryžanauskas, who had served here since 1903. In 1911 bells were raised into the tower, but they were lost during the First World War, when they were taken away by the Germans. The organ, made in Königsberg, was installed in 1914.
Throughout its history the church often suffered from wars and fires. In 1905 a fire destroyed the wooden church and scorched the bell tower. During the Second World War, in 1944, the uppermost (wooden) part of the church tower was destroyed, the stone top was damaged and the roof was destroyed. After the war, parishioners, together with parish priest Jonas Morkvėnas, partly repaired it. The tower was not rebuilt until 1989, to the design of architect A. Panavas and engineer V. Bagočiūnas.
Architecturally, the church has a rectangular plan, with a semicircular apse and two side sacristies. Its single-tower structure and interior three aisles covered by cross vaults lend it particular elegance. The church grounds are enclosed by a stone masonry wall, within which the graves of former parish priests can still be found.
In the churchyard stands the unique Salakas millstone chapel, created by G. Laucius, for whose construction as many as 117 stone millstones, gathered from parishioners, were used.
The Church of Our Lady of Sorrows in Salakas is not only a place of religious significance, but also an important symbol of culture and community, testifying to the unity and strength of the local people through various periods.
The church was built in 1911 to the design of the engineer Ignotas Morgulcas, approved in 1906. For the construction in dressed stone, local residents gathered stones from the surrounding fields. This was a communal effort, commemorated by a stone memorial plaque on the wall of the church, with an inscription praising those who contributed their labour and devotion to building and maintaining the church.
Construction of the church was overseen by the engineer Nikolai Andreyev, and great responsibility was taken on by the parish priest Antanas Kryžanauskas, who had served here since 1903. In 1911 bells were raised into the tower, but they were lost during the First World War, when they were taken away by the Germans. The organ, made in Königsberg, was installed in 1914.
Throughout its history the church often suffered from wars and fires. In 1905 a fire destroyed the wooden church and scorched the bell tower. During the Second World War, in 1944, the uppermost (wooden) part of the church tower was destroyed, the stone top was damaged and the roof was destroyed. After the war, parishioners, together with parish priest Jonas Morkvėnas, partly repaired it. The tower was not rebuilt until 1989, to the design of architect A. Panavas and engineer V. Bagočiūnas.
Architecturally, the church has a rectangular plan, with a semicircular apse and two side sacristies. Its single-tower structure and interior three aisles covered by cross vaults lend it particular elegance. The church grounds are enclosed by a stone masonry wall, within which the graves of former parish priests can still be found.
In the churchyard stands the unique Salakas millstone chapel, created by G. Laucius, for whose construction as many as 117 stone millstones, gathered from parishioners, were used.
The Church of Our Lady of Sorrows in Salakas is not only a place of religious significance, but also an important symbol of culture and community, testifying to the unity and strength of the local people through various periods.
Gallery and Resources
Archive captions are shown in Lithuanian.
Bažnyčia, mūrinė, vienbokštė, nufotografuota iš apsidės pusės.
Bažnyčios, statytos 1911 m., bendras vaizdas iš toliau.