About the Church
The Roman Catholic Church of St Lawrence in Stirniene stands in the village of Stirniene, in the Varakļāni civil parish, the Madona municipality, in western Latgale. The impressive two-towered church belongs to the Diocese of Rēzekne–Aglona and is dedicated to St Laurence.
The first wooden church at Stirniene was built in 1757–1767. By the early 20th century it had become too small for the growing parish, so in 1902, through the efforts of parish priest Paulas Virkietis, construction began on the present masonry church; a considerable sum — 7,100 gold roubles — was given towards the building by the priest Juozapas Visockis. The new church was built in 1902–1907, and the old wooden one was moved to Rudzāti in 1913. The church was solemnly consecrated on 28 June 1914.
The church is built of fieldstone and red brick, its facade adorned with two towers. It is a three-aisled building about 25.5 metres long and 15.3 metres wide, its vaults carried on masonry pilasters. The Second World War badly damaged the church — the towers, roof and organ were destroyed; the church was rebuilt and restored in 1961 and in 1966–1979, and in 2007 an organ brought from Göttingen in Germany was installed.
The interior of the church is adorned with three gilded altars; the high altar holds the painter Bitkovas's painting "Jesus in the Garden of Olives", and the side altar "St Anthony of Padua with the Christ Child". The Stirniene church is regarded as one of the most significant Catholic churches of the Madona region and is an important centre of local spiritual life.
The first wooden church at Stirniene was built in 1757–1767. By the early 20th century it had become too small for the growing parish, so in 1902, through the efforts of parish priest Paulas Virkietis, construction began on the present masonry church; a considerable sum — 7,100 gold roubles — was given towards the building by the priest Juozapas Visockis. The new church was built in 1902–1907, and the old wooden one was moved to Rudzāti in 1913. The church was solemnly consecrated on 28 June 1914.
The church is built of fieldstone and red brick, its facade adorned with two towers. It is a three-aisled building about 25.5 metres long and 15.3 metres wide, its vaults carried on masonry pilasters. The Second World War badly damaged the church — the towers, roof and organ were destroyed; the church was rebuilt and restored in 1961 and in 1966–1979, and in 2007 an organ brought from Göttingen in Germany was installed.
The interior of the church is adorned with three gilded altars; the high altar holds the painter Bitkovas's painting "Jesus in the Garden of Olives", and the side altar "St Anthony of Padua with the Christ Child". The Stirniene church is regarded as one of the most significant Catholic churches of the Madona region and is an important centre of local spiritual life.