About the Church
The Barstyčiai Church of Sts Simon and Jude Thaddeus the Apostles is one of those special places that recall a great many historical events and figures. Standing in the small town of Barstyčiai in Skuodas district, this wooden church has a long and rich past that attracts not only the faithful but also history enthusiasts.
The church's history begins as early as the 17th century, when in 1649 Stanislovas Beinartas gave Barstyčiai to the Jesuit college of Pašiaušė. After the Jesuit order was dissolved in 1773, Barstyčiai passed to the noble Jagmin family. It was a member of that family, Tadas Jagminas, who built the first church in 1788, and the following year, 1789, granted it a plot of land and the necessary funds.
Over the course of its existence the church was renewed and rebuilt more than once. For instance, it was renovated in 1814, and rebuilt and enlarged in 1844. One of the more interesting episodes, however, took place in 1870, when the Governor-General of Vilnius fined the Samogitian bishop Motiejus Valančius for appointing a priest to Barstyčiai without official permission. Although the fine was later returned, the church still had no resident priest for several years.
The present wooden church was built in 1906. Its construction reflects traditional Lithuanian architecture, with a rectangular plan and a massive tower. A parish was established here in 1908; before that it had been a filial church of Žemaičių Kalvarija.
Architecturally the site is indeed striking. The church is enclosed by a stone masonry wall with pillared gates, and a wooden bell tower stands by the wall. Buried in the churchyard is the long-serving parish priest Anupras Žukas, who served at the Barstyčiai church from 1977 to 1988 and was imprisoned in Soviet camps.
A visit to the Barstyčiai Church of Sts Simon and Jude Thaddeus the Apostles undoubtedly offers a unique opportunity to feel the spirit of Lithuanian history and enjoy the peace and beauty preserved by this small but highly significant sacred site.
The church's history begins as early as the 17th century, when in 1649 Stanislovas Beinartas gave Barstyčiai to the Jesuit college of Pašiaušė. After the Jesuit order was dissolved in 1773, Barstyčiai passed to the noble Jagmin family. It was a member of that family, Tadas Jagminas, who built the first church in 1788, and the following year, 1789, granted it a plot of land and the necessary funds.
Over the course of its existence the church was renewed and rebuilt more than once. For instance, it was renovated in 1814, and rebuilt and enlarged in 1844. One of the more interesting episodes, however, took place in 1870, when the Governor-General of Vilnius fined the Samogitian bishop Motiejus Valančius for appointing a priest to Barstyčiai without official permission. Although the fine was later returned, the church still had no resident priest for several years.
The present wooden church was built in 1906. Its construction reflects traditional Lithuanian architecture, with a rectangular plan and a massive tower. A parish was established here in 1908; before that it had been a filial church of Žemaičių Kalvarija.
Architecturally the site is indeed striking. The church is enclosed by a stone masonry wall with pillared gates, and a wooden bell tower stands by the wall. Buried in the churchyard is the long-serving parish priest Anupras Žukas, who served at the Barstyčiai church from 1977 to 1988 and was imprisoned in Soviet camps.
A visit to the Barstyčiai Church of Sts Simon and Jude Thaddeus the Apostles undoubtedly offers a unique opportunity to feel the spirit of Lithuanian history and enjoy the peace and beauty preserved by this small but highly significant sacred site.
Gallery and Resources
Archive captions are shown in Lithuanian.
Kompozicijoje – Barstyčių Šv. apaštalų Simono ir Judo Tado bažnyčia.
Signuotas akvarele averso apatinėje dalyje kairėje.