About the Church
The Roman Catholic Church of the Holy Archangel Michael in Rušona stands in the village of Rušona, in the Preiļi region, in Latgale. The church, together with the former monastery and the neighbouring buildings, is a state-protected architectural monument, and its origins go back to one of the earliest periods of Christianity in Latgale.
The first wooden church in Rušona was built in the 16th century and was regarded as the oldest church in Latgale; it was destroyed during the Polish–Swedish War. From 1618 the Jesuits took charge of Rušona as a mission, and in 1677, with the support of the landowner Sokolovski-Korab, they built another wooden church. In 1766 the Dominicans arrived: the Dominican monastery of Aglona established a vicariate here and built a monastery (closed in 1832).
The present masonry church was built in 1816 with funds from the landowner Ieva Selecka. It is a rectangular church in the Classicism style, of plastered masonry, with one tower and vaulted stone ceilings. Inside are four altars with images of Sts Michael, Ursula, Anthony and George, and monks are buried in a crypt beneath the church.
The church grounds are enclosed by a stone wall with iron gates, and an old cemetery lies beside it. The church is adorned with chandeliers donated by General Jāzeps Baško. The church of Rušona remains an important witness to the history of Catholicism in Latgale.
The first wooden church in Rušona was built in the 16th century and was regarded as the oldest church in Latgale; it was destroyed during the Polish–Swedish War. From 1618 the Jesuits took charge of Rušona as a mission, and in 1677, with the support of the landowner Sokolovski-Korab, they built another wooden church. In 1766 the Dominicans arrived: the Dominican monastery of Aglona established a vicariate here and built a monastery (closed in 1832).
The present masonry church was built in 1816 with funds from the landowner Ieva Selecka. It is a rectangular church in the Classicism style, of plastered masonry, with one tower and vaulted stone ceilings. Inside are four altars with images of Sts Michael, Ursula, Anthony and George, and monks are buried in a crypt beneath the church.
The church grounds are enclosed by a stone wall with iron gates, and an old cemetery lies beside it. The church is adorned with chandeliers donated by General Jāzeps Baško. The church of Rušona remains an important witness to the history of Catholicism in Latgale.