About the Church
The Girdiškė Church of Our Lady of the Snows, standing in Šilalė district, in the village of Girdiškė, is a striking and unique example of Lithuanian sacred architecture. It is the only church in Lithuania dedicated to Our Lady of the Snows, which gives it a special significance.
The church's history began in the 18th century. The first wooden church here was built in 1781 by the manor lord Jonas Adomavičius, but it functioned only as a chapel belonging to the Batakiai parish. Only in 1803 was an independent parish established here. In 1896 construction of a new masonry church began, to which the priest Juozapas Čerkeliauskas devoted much attention and effort. Through his care the walls were built up to the windows by 1907.
Disaster struck on 31 December 1909, when the old wooden church burned down. Services were temporarily moved to the bell tower. Despite all the difficulties, by 1912 the faithful were already able to pray in the new church, though it was still not fully finished.
The Girdiškė church is notable for its architecture. It has two towers and a cruciform plan, and the churchyard wall and gates are decorated with oak branches, lending it a distinctive aesthetic feel. Inside the church unique altars can be seen, installed in 1928. They were made from debarked oak trunks and branches, and their maker was Kazimieras Andriukaitis, who served here for as many as thirty years.
It is worth noting that the priest Andriukaitis was not only a talented clergyman but also a skilled builder and engineer. He calculated the quantity of bricks needed for the Telšiai priests' seminary so precisely that only two were left over! He also built various devices to help local people with their farm work.
All these facts show that the Girdiškė Church of Our Lady of the Snows is not only a religious but also a cultural treasure, with a deep and interesting history. Its architecture and unique altars attract both worshippers and tourists in search of special places in Lithuania.
The church's history began in the 18th century. The first wooden church here was built in 1781 by the manor lord Jonas Adomavičius, but it functioned only as a chapel belonging to the Batakiai parish. Only in 1803 was an independent parish established here. In 1896 construction of a new masonry church began, to which the priest Juozapas Čerkeliauskas devoted much attention and effort. Through his care the walls were built up to the windows by 1907.
Disaster struck on 31 December 1909, when the old wooden church burned down. Services were temporarily moved to the bell tower. Despite all the difficulties, by 1912 the faithful were already able to pray in the new church, though it was still not fully finished.
The Girdiškė church is notable for its architecture. It has two towers and a cruciform plan, and the churchyard wall and gates are decorated with oak branches, lending it a distinctive aesthetic feel. Inside the church unique altars can be seen, installed in 1928. They were made from debarked oak trunks and branches, and their maker was Kazimieras Andriukaitis, who served here for as many as thirty years.
It is worth noting that the priest Andriukaitis was not only a talented clergyman but also a skilled builder and engineer. He calculated the quantity of bricks needed for the Telšiai priests' seminary so precisely that only two were left over! He also built various devices to help local people with their farm work.
All these facts show that the Girdiškė Church of Our Lady of the Snows is not only a religious but also a cultural treasure, with a deep and interesting history. Its architecture and unique altars attract both worshippers and tourists in search of special places in Lithuania.
Gallery and Resources
Archive captions are shown in Lithuanian.
Nespalvota nuotrauka. Girdiškės Švč. Mergelės Marijos Snieginės bažnyčios vidus. Vaizduojamos laidotuvės. Prie altoriaus padėtas karstas. Viduryje gėlių vainikai. Suoluose sėdi laidotuvių dalyviai. Matosi pagrindinis šventorius ir šoninio altoriaus su ąžuolo šakomis kampas.
Girdiškės Švč. Mergelės Marijos Snieginės bažnyčia.
Signuotas akvarele averso apatinėje dalyje kairėje, pieštuku reverso viršutinėje dalyje kairėje.