About the Church
The church of St Stephen, Deacon, at Kretkampis stands in Kretkampis village, on the left bank of the Nemunas, about 5 km north-east of Lekėčiai, in the Šakiai Deanery. The modest rectangular wooden building, with a small tower, a porch and a masonry apse, blends beautifully into the riverside landscape.
The origin of the church is unusual: in 1866 the owner of the Kretkampis manor, Steponas Vaizbūnas, built a masonry chapel for the burial of his family members. In 1908 the priest Romanas Zaremba renovated it and added a wooden sacristy, and somewhat later the priest Sabas built a larger wooden chapel for services. In this way the present combination of wood and masonry gradually took shape.
In 1932 a home for elderly priests and the aged was established at Kretkampis – in 1940–1941 Archbishop Pranciškus Karevičius lived here, and later prelate Jonas Naujokas. After the Second World War the chapel began to be used as a church. Old cemeteries still surround the churchyard.
The origin of the church is unusual: in 1866 the owner of the Kretkampis manor, Steponas Vaizbūnas, built a masonry chapel for the burial of his family members. In 1908 the priest Romanas Zaremba renovated it and added a wooden sacristy, and somewhat later the priest Sabas built a larger wooden chapel for services. In this way the present combination of wood and masonry gradually took shape.
In 1932 a home for elderly priests and the aged was established at Kretkampis – in 1940–1941 Archbishop Pranciškus Karevičius lived here, and later prelate Jonas Naujokas. After the Second World War the chapel began to be used as a church. Old cemeteries still surround the churchyard.