About the Church
The Roman Catholic Church of the Holy Archangel Michael in Viļāni stands in the town of Viļāni, in the Rēzekne municipality, in Latgale. The Baroque church belongs to the Diocese of Rēzekne–Aglona and is dedicated to the holy Archangel Michael; it is part of a former Bernardine monastery ensemble.
The history of the monastery and church began in 1752, when the nobleman Mykolas Riksas invited Bernardine friars to Viļāni and commissioned them to build a monastery with a church. The masonry church was completed in 1772, and in 1777 it was consecrated by Stanisław Bohusz-Siestrzeńcewicz, the first Archbishop of Mogilev.
The church is about 32 metres long and 14 metres wide. Its high altar is adorned with eight Corinthian columns bearing the inscription "Quis ut Deus" ("Who is like God"); the church holds a wooden crucifix of the 18th century regarded as miraculous, as well as several chapels — of the Passion of Christ, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, St Teresa and others.
The tsarist authorities had closed the monastery, but it was revived again in 1924. During the Second World War the towers were damaged and the monastery wing was bombed; all of this was later rebuilt. The Viļāni church remains an important centre of spiritual life and pilgrimage for Catholics in Latgale.
The history of the monastery and church began in 1752, when the nobleman Mykolas Riksas invited Bernardine friars to Viļāni and commissioned them to build a monastery with a church. The masonry church was completed in 1772, and in 1777 it was consecrated by Stanisław Bohusz-Siestrzeńcewicz, the first Archbishop of Mogilev.
The church is about 32 metres long and 14 metres wide. Its high altar is adorned with eight Corinthian columns bearing the inscription "Quis ut Deus" ("Who is like God"); the church holds a wooden crucifix of the 18th century regarded as miraculous, as well as several chapels — of the Passion of Christ, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, St Teresa and others.
The tsarist authorities had closed the monastery, but it was revived again in 1924. During the Second World War the towers were damaged and the monastery wing was bombed; all of this was later rebuilt. The Viļāni church remains an important centre of spiritual life and pilgrimage for Catholics in Latgale.