About the Church
The chapel of St John the Baptist at Slabadai stands in the cemetery of Slabadai village, in Vilkaviškis district, and belongs to the parish of the Finding of the Holy Cross at Kudirkos Naumiestis, in the Šakiai Deanery. It is a modest wooden church in the vernacular architectural style.
The chapel had long belonged to the parish of Kudirkos Naumiestis and, before the Second World War, attracted a good many pilgrims. At first there were no regular services here – Mass was celebrated by priests from Kudirkos Naumiestis, and in 1929 a permanent priest settled near the chapel. Nevertheless, an independent parish at Slabadai was never established.
During the Soviet era the life of the faithful was restricted: in 1976 the authorities forbade the celebration of Mass even at funerals. The local faithful formed a parish committee, and after disputes with the authorities permission to pray was granted on 23 November 1976. Every year on 24 June the feast of St John the Baptist is celebrated in the chapel.
The chapel had long belonged to the parish of Kudirkos Naumiestis and, before the Second World War, attracted a good many pilgrims. At first there were no regular services here – Mass was celebrated by priests from Kudirkos Naumiestis, and in 1929 a permanent priest settled near the chapel. Nevertheless, an independent parish at Slabadai was never established.
During the Soviet era the life of the faithful was restricted: in 1976 the authorities forbade the celebration of Mass even at funerals. The local faithful formed a parish committee, and after disputes with the authorities permission to pray was granted on 23 November 1976. Every year on 24 June the feast of St John the Baptist is celebrated in the chapel.