About the Church
The First Church of Sts Peter and Paul the Apostles in Žagarė is a special place with a rich history, situated in Žagarė, a small but cosy town on the river Švėtė. This church is a significant object of religious and cultural heritage which has seen various changes over the centuries yet has preserved its beauty and spirituality.
The first church on this site was built as early as around 1523. It was a modest wooden shrine, generously supported by the Sirevičius family, members of a well-known lineage. As early as the beginning of the 17th century a parish school was established here, and in 1619 plots of land were assigned for the church, the presbytery and the cemetery. Soon afterwards, in 1633–1636, the church was rebuilt in masonry. Unfortunately, in 1804 the church was badly damaged by fire, but it was quickly repaired and renovated during 1805–1806.
The church is not merely an architectural monument; it has a long history as a centre of the community. In the 19th century the church served not only the town but also the surrounding villages of Daukšiai, Pabaliai and Stalmokai. At the beginning of the 20th century a branch of the Lithuanian Catholic Temperance Society operated here, and during the harsh Soviet years this place became a centre of resistance. From 1961 to 1988 the Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Vilnius, Julijonas Steponavičius, was exiled here, and from 1972 to 1989 the parish priest was Gustavas Gudanavičius, a member of the Helsinki Group, who was actively involved in the struggle for human rights.
Architecturally, the church is a fine combination of the Renaissance and Baroque styles. It has a rectangular plan, a single tower and a narrower three-sided apse. Inside there is a single nave, giving the church an atmosphere of intimacy and recollection. The churchyard wall, built of stone with metal gates, adds to the solemnity of the sacred space. Along the wall are arranged small chapels of the Stations of the Cross, one of which is raised on the porch of the churchyard chapel.
Today the First Church of Sts Peter and Paul the Apostles in Žagarė remains an important religious and cultural centre, where people can gather for prayer, reflection and community events. It is a place that has preserved its historical and spiritual value over the centuries, inviting ever new generations to discover it and to enrich their lives through faith and history.
The first church on this site was built as early as around 1523. It was a modest wooden shrine, generously supported by the Sirevičius family, members of a well-known lineage. As early as the beginning of the 17th century a parish school was established here, and in 1619 plots of land were assigned for the church, the presbytery and the cemetery. Soon afterwards, in 1633–1636, the church was rebuilt in masonry. Unfortunately, in 1804 the church was badly damaged by fire, but it was quickly repaired and renovated during 1805–1806.
The church is not merely an architectural monument; it has a long history as a centre of the community. In the 19th century the church served not only the town but also the surrounding villages of Daukšiai, Pabaliai and Stalmokai. At the beginning of the 20th century a branch of the Lithuanian Catholic Temperance Society operated here, and during the harsh Soviet years this place became a centre of resistance. From 1961 to 1988 the Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Vilnius, Julijonas Steponavičius, was exiled here, and from 1972 to 1989 the parish priest was Gustavas Gudanavičius, a member of the Helsinki Group, who was actively involved in the struggle for human rights.
Architecturally, the church is a fine combination of the Renaissance and Baroque styles. It has a rectangular plan, a single tower and a narrower three-sided apse. Inside there is a single nave, giving the church an atmosphere of intimacy and recollection. The churchyard wall, built of stone with metal gates, adds to the solemnity of the sacred space. Along the wall are arranged small chapels of the Stations of the Cross, one of which is raised on the porch of the churchyard chapel.
Today the First Church of Sts Peter and Paul the Apostles in Žagarė remains an important religious and cultural centre, where people can gather for prayer, reflection and community events. It is a place that has preserved its historical and spiritual value over the centuries, inviting ever new generations to discover it and to enrich their lives through faith and history.
Gallery and Resources
Archive captions are shown in Lithuanian.
Negatyve įamžintas Žagarės II-osios Šv. apaštalų Petro ir Povilo bažnyčios šoninis įėjimas.
Žagarės II-oji Šv. apaštalų Petro ir Povilo bažnyčia pastatyta ant Barboros kalnelio. Bažnyčia garsėja Barboros Umiastauskaitės (1628–1648) atminimu.
Žagarės II-oji Šv. apaštalų Petro ir Povilo bažnyčia.
Žagarės II-oji Šv. apaštalų Petro ir Povilo bažnyčia pastatyta ant Barboros kalnelio. Bažnyčia garsėja Barboros Umiastauskaitės (1628–1648) atminimu.