About the Church
The Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Seirijai stands in the small town of Seirijai on the Alytus–Leipalingis road, Lazdijai district. Its walls recall one of the oldest histories of faith in this region.
The first wooden church here was built in 1537. Around 1564, after the landowner Mikalojus Radvila Rudasis converted to the Reformed faith, a masonry Reformed church was built in 1584 — this is considered the beginning of the present church. In 1654–1664 the building passed to the Catholics. In 1822 the badly damaged church was closed, and in 1824–1825 it was renovated and reconsecrated by Father Polikarpas Augustinas Marcejevskis. In the 19th century local clergy supported the insurrection of 1863.
From 1930 to 1952 the prelate Juozas Laukaitis served here; he was arrested in 1947 and died in 1952 in the Vladimir prison. The plastered masonry church has Renaissance forms: a rectangular plan, with one tower, a semicircular apse, and a three-aisled interior divided by piers.
The first wooden church here was built in 1537. Around 1564, after the landowner Mikalojus Radvila Rudasis converted to the Reformed faith, a masonry Reformed church was built in 1584 — this is considered the beginning of the present church. In 1654–1664 the building passed to the Catholics. In 1822 the badly damaged church was closed, and in 1824–1825 it was renovated and reconsecrated by Father Polikarpas Augustinas Marcejevskis. In the 19th century local clergy supported the insurrection of 1863.
From 1930 to 1952 the prelate Juozas Laukaitis served here; he was arrested in 1947 and died in 1952 in the Vladimir prison. The plastered masonry church has Renaissance forms: a rectangular plan, with one tower, a semicircular apse, and a three-aisled interior divided by piers.
Gallery and Resources
Archive captions are shown in Lithuanian.
Seirijų Švč. Mergelės Marijos Škaplierinės bažnyčia. 1928 m.
Seirijų Švč. Mergelės Marijos Škaplierinės bažnyčia žiemą.