About the Church
The Church of Our Lady of the Angels in Kaltanėnai is an extraordinary shrine, rich in history and architecture, situated in the quiet small town of Kaltanėnai, on the bank of the Žeimena river. This remarkable church in the Gothic Revival style, built of brick masonry, was completed in 1909 and has since become an important centre for the local community.
The church's history reaches back to the 17th century, when in 1633 Jonas Narbutas assigned land to the Franciscans of Kaltanėnai. In the same year the first church and monastery were built here. Later, in 1740, a new wooden church with an octagonal bell tower was built, and in 1772 a two-storey monastery.
For a long time the monastery was an important centre of education: in 1796 a Franciscan school was established here, which later developed into a parish school. Unfortunately, in 1832 the Russian authorities closed the monastery, but this did not halt religious activity: in 1902 the architect Antonas Filipovičius-Dubovnikas drew up a design to convert the monastery into a church. Later, in 1903–1909, the present masonry church was built.
The church is renowned for its interior and architecture. It is a single-towered shrine with three aisles, its interior marked by elegant lines and details. The church's churchyard is enclosed with a metal fence on masonry pillars, adding further beauty and solidity to the whole ensemble.
An important figure in the history of the Kaltanėnai church is parish priest Mykolas Meštikas, who in 1898 began holding services in Lithuanian, which was especially significant after a break of almost thirty years. On his initiative, a branch of the Lithuanian Catholic Temperance Society was founded in 1910 and a tearoom established, and in 1912 the first public Lithuanian-language play was staged.
In the early 20th century and during the interwar period the church also became a cultural centre. A branch of the St Casimir Society operated here, and the "Rytas" organisation had its own reading room. During and after the Second World War, the priest serving in Kaltanėnai was Professor Norbertas Skurkis, a doctor of theology, who was also a Siberian deportee and is buried in the churchyard.
A visit to the Church of Our Lady of the Angels in Kaltanėnai is a journey through history and spirit, in which the religious, cultural and social aspects of Lithuania's past converge.
The church's history reaches back to the 17th century, when in 1633 Jonas Narbutas assigned land to the Franciscans of Kaltanėnai. In the same year the first church and monastery were built here. Later, in 1740, a new wooden church with an octagonal bell tower was built, and in 1772 a two-storey monastery.
For a long time the monastery was an important centre of education: in 1796 a Franciscan school was established here, which later developed into a parish school. Unfortunately, in 1832 the Russian authorities closed the monastery, but this did not halt religious activity: in 1902 the architect Antonas Filipovičius-Dubovnikas drew up a design to convert the monastery into a church. Later, in 1903–1909, the present masonry church was built.
The church is renowned for its interior and architecture. It is a single-towered shrine with three aisles, its interior marked by elegant lines and details. The church's churchyard is enclosed with a metal fence on masonry pillars, adding further beauty and solidity to the whole ensemble.
An important figure in the history of the Kaltanėnai church is parish priest Mykolas Meštikas, who in 1898 began holding services in Lithuanian, which was especially significant after a break of almost thirty years. On his initiative, a branch of the Lithuanian Catholic Temperance Society was founded in 1910 and a tearoom established, and in 1912 the first public Lithuanian-language play was staged.
In the early 20th century and during the interwar period the church also became a cultural centre. A branch of the St Casimir Society operated here, and the "Rytas" organisation had its own reading room. During and after the Second World War, the priest serving in Kaltanėnai was Professor Norbertas Skurkis, a doctor of theology, who was also a Siberian deportee and is buried in the churchyard.
A visit to the Church of Our Lady of the Angels in Kaltanėnai is a journey through history and spirit, in which the religious, cultural and social aspects of Lithuania's past converge.
Gallery and Resources
Archive captions are shown in Lithuanian.
Kaltanėnų (Ignalinos r.) Švč. Mergelės Marijos Angeliškosios bažnyčia. 2000 m.