Juozapavos Šv. apaštalų Simono ir Judo Tado bažnyčia

The Church of Sts Simon and Jude Thaddeus, Apostles, in Juozapava is one of those small Lithuanian churches whose history and architecture charm visitors, reflecting the spirituality of the people of the time and their efforts to create sacred spaces. Standing in the village of Juozapava, the church blends beautifully into the rural landscape, situated among several crossroads and close to the Upyna, a right tributary of the Žižma.

The church's origins go back to 1825, when Bishop Juozapas Arnulfas Giedraitis granted permission to Juozapas Nagurskis, standard-bearer of Beržėnai county, to build a masonry church at Dirvėnai manor. Although construction took four years, the church was completed in 1829 and named in honour of its founder – Juozapava.

Architecturally the church is distinctive for being built of fieldstone, with corners and window and door surrounds made of fired clay brick. The building's shape recalls a dwelling house, and its rectangular plan gives it a sense of warmth and cosiness. A small turret rises above the church, seeming to draw the eye upward, towards the sky. Inside are four altars, testifying to the skill and artistic vision of local craftsmen. Burial grounds were also laid out in the church's churchyard, which still speak of the piety of the people who once lived here and of the traces of history.

Although information about this church is not abundant, its simplicity and historical significance make it a valuable cultural heritage site. Churches like the one dedicated to Sts Simon and Jude Thaddeus in Juozapava are like small windows onto the past, through which we can glimpse the life, faith and daily routine of our ancestors. They blend into the Lithuanian rural landscape, remaining an integral part of their communities from ancient times to the present day.