About the Church
The Roman Catholic Church of St Anne in Vanagi stands in the village of Vanagi, in the Upmala civil parish, the Preiļi municipality, in southern Latgale. The church belongs to the Diocese of Rēzekne–Aglona and is dedicated to St Anne, mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Catholic community of Vanagi was officially founded in 1918. The present masonry church was built in 1934–1935, enclosing an older church of 1882, and on 11 October 1936 it was consecrated by Bishop Jāzeps Rancāns. It is a single-nave building with a tall, 36-metre tower; inside are three altars, made after the example of the church at Subate.
A dramatic page of history is linked to the Vanagi church: during the Second World War, the parish priest Antonijs Juhņevičs hid local men from forced conscription, for which he was arrested in 1946 and shot in 1947. The church remains an important place of prayer and remembrance for local Catholics.
The Catholic community of Vanagi was officially founded in 1918. The present masonry church was built in 1934–1935, enclosing an older church of 1882, and on 11 October 1936 it was consecrated by Bishop Jāzeps Rancāns. It is a single-nave building with a tall, 36-metre tower; inside are three altars, made after the example of the church at Subate.
A dramatic page of history is linked to the Vanagi church: during the Second World War, the parish priest Antonijs Juhņevičs hid local men from forced conscription, for which he was arrested in 1946 and shot in 1947. The church remains an important place of prayer and remembrance for local Catholics.