About the Church
The Roman Catholic Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Varakļāni is an impressive Classicist-style church in the town of Varakļāni, in the Madona municipality, in western Latgale. The church belongs to the Diocese of Rēzekne–Aglona, is dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and is regarded as one of the town's most important architectural monuments.
The present masonry church was built in 1851–1854 and solemnly consecrated in 1857. The Classicist-form church is adorned with two massive towers and several entrances with granite steps; its interior is distinguished by marble altar decoration and large religious paintings.
The painting on the high altar is a copy of "The Immaculate Conception" by the Spanish painter Bartolomé Esteban Murillo. The right-hand altar depicts a Calvary scene, and the left-hand one the Archangel Michael after a painting by Raphael.
The Varakļāni church, standing near the historic ensemble of Varakļāni Manor, remains the town's main Catholic house of prayer and centre of spiritual life, as well as a striking example of Classicist architecture in Latgale.
The present masonry church was built in 1851–1854 and solemnly consecrated in 1857. The Classicist-form church is adorned with two massive towers and several entrances with granite steps; its interior is distinguished by marble altar decoration and large religious paintings.
The painting on the high altar is a copy of "The Immaculate Conception" by the Spanish painter Bartolomé Esteban Murillo. The right-hand altar depicts a Calvary scene, and the left-hand one the Archangel Michael after a painting by Raphael.
The Varakļāni church, standing near the historic ensemble of Varakļāni Manor, remains the town's main Catholic house of prayer and centre of spiritual life, as well as a striking example of Classicist architecture in Latgale.