About the Church
The Church of St Nicholas in Žarėnai-Latveliai is an impressive religious building, standing in the village of Žarėnai, just 5 km west of Šakyna. Its construction began in 1786 and was completed in 1790, so this place of worship has already passed two centuries of existence.
The church stands out for its architecture – it is a masonry, plastered building that has become, over time, an inseparable part of the local landscape. The rectangular-plan church has a semicircular apse and a side sacristy. A massive tower rises at the front, giving the building an impression of grandeur and strength.
The churchyard is also worth noting – it is walled and contains a cemetery, which further emphasises the importance and longevity of the local history. This is not only a house of prayer but also a place where the living past meets the present.
It is interesting to note that in 1793 as many as 28 morgen of land were donated to the church. In 1806 the village of Vismaldai belonged to the church, which shows its influence and significance at the time. All these details help us understand how important this church was to the local community.
Although the church is not widely known beyond Šiauliai district, it is a fine example of 18th-century Lithuanian sacred architecture and, at the same time, a reminder of the deep roots of the Christian tradition in this region. Its history bears witness to the faith, industriousness and devotion of the local people to their community and to God.
The church stands out for its architecture – it is a masonry, plastered building that has become, over time, an inseparable part of the local landscape. The rectangular-plan church has a semicircular apse and a side sacristy. A massive tower rises at the front, giving the building an impression of grandeur and strength.
The churchyard is also worth noting – it is walled and contains a cemetery, which further emphasises the importance and longevity of the local history. This is not only a house of prayer but also a place where the living past meets the present.
It is interesting to note that in 1793 as many as 28 morgen of land were donated to the church. In 1806 the village of Vismaldai belonged to the church, which shows its influence and significance at the time. All these details help us understand how important this church was to the local community.
Although the church is not widely known beyond Šiauliai district, it is a fine example of 18th-century Lithuanian sacred architecture and, at the same time, a reminder of the deep roots of the Christian tradition in this region. Its history bears witness to the faith, industriousness and devotion of the local people to their community and to God.
Gallery and Resources
Archive captions are shown in Lithuanian.
Stiklo negatyve – mūrinė bažnyčia ir masyvus medinis kryžius, puoštas kiaurapjūviu. Sakralinis pastatas vienabokštis, su stačiakampe zakristija ir pusapskritime apside, užfiksuotas medžių ir krūmų lajų apsuptyje.
Kompozicijoje – Žarėnų Šv. Mikalojaus bažnyčia tarp aukštų medžių.
Signuotas akvarele averso apatinėje dalyje dešinėje ir pieštuku reverse.