About the Church
The Church of St John the Baptist at Šakiai is the spiritual centre of the town of Šakiai and of the whole deanery. The beginning of Christian life here goes back to 1689, when Andrius Gelgaudas built a wooden chapel at Šakaičiai; in 1719 it was generously supported by Antonija Valdšteinaitė-Sapiega, and later Prince Mykolas Čartoriskis built a wooden church on the site of the chapel. The parish was founded in 1801, and a parish school the following year.
The present masonry church was built in 1934–1940 to a design by the architect Vytautas Landsbergis-Žemkalnis. In 1944 the old wooden church burned down, and the new church's tower was destroyed; in 1947 it was rebuilt considerably lower. The interior was finished being fitted out around 1973, when five altars were installed and the ceiling decorated.
The church is marked by modernised Renaissance features: it is of rectangular plan, with a single tower and three aisles, the middle one higher. A metal fence encloses the churchyard.
The present masonry church was built in 1934–1940 to a design by the architect Vytautas Landsbergis-Žemkalnis. In 1944 the old wooden church burned down, and the new church's tower was destroyed; in 1947 it was rebuilt considerably lower. The interior was finished being fitted out around 1973, when five altars were installed and the ceiling decorated.
The church is marked by modernised Renaissance features: it is of rectangular plan, with a single tower and three aisles, the middle one higher. A metal fence encloses the churchyard.