About the Church
The Church of the Crucified Jesus at Gaidė is a wonderful monument of culture and history, hidden away in the pretty village of Gaidė, close to the border between Lithuania and Belarus. The church, built of wood in 1938, is regarded as one of the most important churches in Ignalina district.
History.
The religious history of the village of Gaidė began as early as 1514, when the area was assigned to the presbytery of Drūkšiai. In 1726 the first wooden chapel was built here, but it was badly damaged during the uprising of 1794. Canon Teofilis Gruževskis undertook to restore the chapel in 1812, and in 1849 Gaidė was assigned to the Diocese of Samogitia.
In 1883, at the initiative of the priest Hieronimas Beržanskis, a new wooden church was built. During this period the priest Juozapas Žiogas (1868–1935) held services in Lithuanian every other Sunday from 1905 onward, encouraging parishioners to learn Lithuanian hymns. After he was transferred, services in Lithuanian were discontinued, but a parish was established in 1925 and was active and grew.
In 1938 the priest Marcelis Slupinskis undertook to rebuild the church, enlarging it and adding a bell tower. This architectural project not only enhanced the church's beauty but also increased its importance to the community.
Architecture.
The church at Gaidė is a single-tower structure on a rectangular plan, with an ornate small turret. It is a classic example of the wooden village churches of the period, blending subtly into its natural surroundings. In the churchyard there is a cemetery where the priests Ignacy Matutowicz, Hieronimas Beržanskis, Felicjan Michailowski and Danielius Buivys, and the seminarian Labuckis, are buried. These graves bear witness to the long-standing contribution of the clergy to the life and religion of the local community.
Gallery.
The churchyard gate and old photographs, such as views of the church at Gaidė from 1916 and 2020, let us feel the passage of time and admire the evolution of the architecture and the preservation of the building over the years.
The church, set in such a quiet and beautiful corner, is a true witness to culture and spirituality. It not only serves as a house of prayer but also symbolises the strength and unity of the local people over the years. From its founding to the present day, this church remains an important place for both Lithuanians and Poles, who gather here to pray and to celebrate life together.
History.
The religious history of the village of Gaidė began as early as 1514, when the area was assigned to the presbytery of Drūkšiai. In 1726 the first wooden chapel was built here, but it was badly damaged during the uprising of 1794. Canon Teofilis Gruževskis undertook to restore the chapel in 1812, and in 1849 Gaidė was assigned to the Diocese of Samogitia.
In 1883, at the initiative of the priest Hieronimas Beržanskis, a new wooden church was built. During this period the priest Juozapas Žiogas (1868–1935) held services in Lithuanian every other Sunday from 1905 onward, encouraging parishioners to learn Lithuanian hymns. After he was transferred, services in Lithuanian were discontinued, but a parish was established in 1925 and was active and grew.
In 1938 the priest Marcelis Slupinskis undertook to rebuild the church, enlarging it and adding a bell tower. This architectural project not only enhanced the church's beauty but also increased its importance to the community.
Architecture.
The church at Gaidė is a single-tower structure on a rectangular plan, with an ornate small turret. It is a classic example of the wooden village churches of the period, blending subtly into its natural surroundings. In the churchyard there is a cemetery where the priests Ignacy Matutowicz, Hieronimas Beržanskis, Felicjan Michailowski and Danielius Buivys, and the seminarian Labuckis, are buried. These graves bear witness to the long-standing contribution of the clergy to the life and religion of the local community.
Gallery.
The churchyard gate and old photographs, such as views of the church at Gaidė from 1916 and 2020, let us feel the passage of time and admire the evolution of the architecture and the preservation of the building over the years.
The church, set in such a quiet and beautiful corner, is a true witness to culture and spirituality. It not only serves as a house of prayer but also symbolises the strength and unity of the local people over the years. From its founding to the present day, this church remains an important place for both Lithuanians and Poles, who gather here to pray and to celebrate life together.
Gallery and Resources
Archive captions are shown in Lithuanian.
Gaidės Nukryžiuotojo Jėzaus bažnyčia. 1900–1908 m. klebonavęs Juozapas Žiogas (1868–1935 m.), kuris ir užfiksavo šį bažnyčios vaizdą, nuo 1905 m. kas antrą sekmadienį pamaldas laikė lietuviškai, parapijiečiai pramoko lietuviškų giesmių. Iškėlus J. Žiogą, lietuviškos pamaldos panaikintos.
Gaidės Nukryžiuotojo Jėzaus bažnyčia.1900–1908 m. klebonavęs Juozapas Žiogas (1868–1935 m.), kuris ir užfiksavo šį bažnyčios vaizdą, nuo 1905 m. kas antrą sekmadienį pamaldas laikė lietuviškai, parapijiečiai pramoko lietuviškų giesmių. Iškėlus J. Žiogą, lietuviškos pamaldos panaikintos.