About the Church
The Church of St Anthony of Padua in Bagotoji stands in the village of Bagotoji, about 9 kilometres north-east of Pilviškiai, in Kazlų Rūda district municipality. It is a cosy wooden church combining several architectural styles.
Already before 1871 a wooden chapel stood in the village cemetery. A parish was established in 1911, and in 1912 the present wooden church was built through the efforts of the first parish priest, Simonas Garmus; its construction cost 6,500 gold roubles. In 1913 a 164-kilogram bell was hung. In 1914 lightning started a fire, but the church was rebuilt.
Several styles intertwine in the church's architecture: the composition of the plan and facade shows pronounced Baroque features, the windows are Classicist in form, and the towers have Gothic elements. The building is on a Latin-cross plan, with two towers and an apse; inside there are three aisles and three altars. The high altar was created in 1928 by the Šiauliai master craftsman Vladas Čižauskas.
Already before 1871 a wooden chapel stood in the village cemetery. A parish was established in 1911, and in 1912 the present wooden church was built through the efforts of the first parish priest, Simonas Garmus; its construction cost 6,500 gold roubles. In 1913 a 164-kilogram bell was hung. In 1914 lightning started a fire, but the church was rebuilt.
Several styles intertwine in the church's architecture: the composition of the plan and facade shows pronounced Baroque features, the windows are Classicist in form, and the towers have Gothic elements. The building is on a Latin-cross plan, with two towers and an apse; inside there are three aisles and three altars. The high altar was created in 1928 by the Šiauliai master craftsman Vladas Čižauskas.