About the Church
The Church of St George in Skaistgiris is one of the most striking monuments of sacred architecture in Lithuania, characterised by the Neo-Renaissance style. Situated in the small town of Skaistgiris, this church has a rich and interesting history.
The first chapel in Skaistgiris is thought to have been built in the 17th century. In 1725 a filial church under the title of St George is recorded, with a presbytery where visiting priests could stay. By the early 19th century the wooden church was already in poor condition, so it was demolished in 1826. In its place a new church, built of clay, with a sacristy, was erected in 1827.
Although some sources state that the present church was built in 1838, the inventory indicates that construction work began earlier. The building of the church was funded by the priest Juozapas Jucevičius, by Count Platon Zubov, the owner of the Žagarė manor, and by the parishioners. In 1838 the church was refurbished and consecrated on 6 November. All construction and finishing work was completed by 1842.
In 1865 the church tower was rebuilt, the churchyard wall was rebuilt in masonry, the Stations of the Cross were installed, and a new mortuary chapel was built. From 1924 the Skaistgiris parish became independent. Various religious feasts (atlaidai) are celebrated in the parish every year, such as those of St George, St Martin the Bishop, Pentecost and St Anthony of Padua.
The church in Skaistgiris was also significant during the Soviet period, when Bishop Julijonas Steponavičius secretly ordained priests. To commemorate this event, a memorial plaque was unveiled in the church in 2018. Father Leonardas Jagminas, who served as parish priest here from 1978 to 1989, erected wayside shrine-pillars (koplytstulpiai) in the churchyard to mark the Year of the Baptism of Lithuania and the Marian Year.
In its architectural features the Church of St George in Skaistgiris truly stands out. It has a rectangular plan, with a three-tiered tower at the front and a three-sided apse. Three wooden Baroque altars stand in the single-nave church. The high altar displays a painting of the church's patron, St George, while another shows St Martin. At the edge of the churchyard stand a memorial mortuary chapel, a masonry wall with pillared gates, and wooden Stations of the Cross shrines that are truly unique for their sculptural groups. The original polychrome figures, dating from the Classicist period, are kept in the Joniškis History and Culture Museum, and copies of them were made in 2013 by the artist Saulius Alejūnas.
The Church of St George in Skaistgiris is not only a spiritual centre but also an important object of cultural heritage, telling of the long history of Catholicism in Lithuania and the life of local communities.
The first chapel in Skaistgiris is thought to have been built in the 17th century. In 1725 a filial church under the title of St George is recorded, with a presbytery where visiting priests could stay. By the early 19th century the wooden church was already in poor condition, so it was demolished in 1826. In its place a new church, built of clay, with a sacristy, was erected in 1827.
Although some sources state that the present church was built in 1838, the inventory indicates that construction work began earlier. The building of the church was funded by the priest Juozapas Jucevičius, by Count Platon Zubov, the owner of the Žagarė manor, and by the parishioners. In 1838 the church was refurbished and consecrated on 6 November. All construction and finishing work was completed by 1842.
In 1865 the church tower was rebuilt, the churchyard wall was rebuilt in masonry, the Stations of the Cross were installed, and a new mortuary chapel was built. From 1924 the Skaistgiris parish became independent. Various religious feasts (atlaidai) are celebrated in the parish every year, such as those of St George, St Martin the Bishop, Pentecost and St Anthony of Padua.
The church in Skaistgiris was also significant during the Soviet period, when Bishop Julijonas Steponavičius secretly ordained priests. To commemorate this event, a memorial plaque was unveiled in the church in 2018. Father Leonardas Jagminas, who served as parish priest here from 1978 to 1989, erected wayside shrine-pillars (koplytstulpiai) in the churchyard to mark the Year of the Baptism of Lithuania and the Marian Year.
In its architectural features the Church of St George in Skaistgiris truly stands out. It has a rectangular plan, with a three-tiered tower at the front and a three-sided apse. Three wooden Baroque altars stand in the single-nave church. The high altar displays a painting of the church's patron, St George, while another shows St Martin. At the edge of the churchyard stand a memorial mortuary chapel, a masonry wall with pillared gates, and wooden Stations of the Cross shrines that are truly unique for their sculptural groups. The original polychrome figures, dating from the Classicist period, are kept in the Joniškis History and Culture Museum, and copies of them were made in 2013 by the artist Saulius Alejūnas.
The Church of St George in Skaistgiris is not only a spiritual centre but also an important object of cultural heritage, telling of the long history of Catholicism in Lithuania and the life of local communities.
Gallery and Resources
Archive captions are shown in Lithuanian.
Bažnyčia, mūrinė, vieno bokšto, dengta dvišlaičiu stogu, užfiksuota iš pagrindinio fasado pusės kartu su šventoriaus vartų stulpais.