About the Church
The church of St Roch at Žalioji is a church of the Vilkaviškis Deanery, built in the church village of Žalioji. It was set up in 1945 and renovated in 1991. The church's history began with a chapel dedicated to St Roch, assembled from the timber of a demolished wooden synagogue of the Prienai Jews. The chapel was served for a time by priests from Alvitas. The parish of Žalioji was established in 1924; the church is named after parish priest Martynas Krūvelis. The church burned down in 1944, when the parish priest Andrius Senkus withdrew to the West. During the Soviet era the church was closed, and the buildings became storehouses. For many years the faithful appealed to the authorities for the church to be returned. In the years of freedom the church was rebuilt, in 1991. The church belongs to the parish of Žalioji, which has about 930 inhabitants. Now the church is led by parish priest Vitas Eidukaitis. The church has a rectangular plan, with a three-naved interior and three altars.