About the Church
The Church of St Stanislaus the Bishop at Kazitiškis is a true architectural gem, rising in the village of Kazitiškis, in Ignalina district. This Gothic Revival church, built of brick masonry in 1908, is known for its twin-towered structure and three-nave interior. The church stands by the important road linking Vilnius, Švenčionys and Zarasai, and its historical significance and unique beauty attract both local worshippers and tourists.
The origins of the church at Kazitiškis go back to the 18th century. In 1745 the owners of the Kazitiškis manor, the Belikavičius family, built a wooden church and invited Uniate monks to look after the parish. Unfortunately, in the middle of the 19th century, after the monastery and church were closed in 1834, an Orthodox church was set up here instead. Even so, the Bishop of Samogitia, Motiejus Valančius, urged that a Catholic chapel be rebuilt; it was built in 1860–1862, but was soon closed again by the Russian authorities in 1864.
New life came to the religious community of Kazitiškis at the start of the 20th century. In 1905 the priest Jonas Rimkūnas, appointed to Kazitiškis, built a presbytery from the remains of the old church. Setting up an altar at one end of it, he began holding services. The present masonry church was built between 1906 and 1908, and was consecrated in 1909 by the Bishop of Samogitia, Gasparas Cirtautas.
The church lived through difficult times – at the start of the 20th century it found itself in territory occupied by Poland, and Lithuanian activity was strictly controlled. A parish was established in 1925, but the occupying authorities forbade the Lithuanian choir to rehearse. For his active work on behalf of the Lithuanian cause, the parish priest of Kazitiškis, Vincas Bobinas, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment. In 1938 the church was repaired, and its interior and exterior features renewed.
Unfortunately, misfortune did not spare this church. On 5 April 2016 the church suffered a fire: the altar was burned and the walls blackened with smoke. This was the second time in a week that a church had burned in Ignalina district – the first was the wooden Church of the Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Ceikiniai.
Despite every trial, the Church of St Stanislaus the Bishop at Kazitiškis remains an important centre of culture and spirituality. Its Gothic Revival style and basilica structure with a lower apse lend it particular charm. The three-nave interior, with an organ loft and a metal churchyard fence, underlines the aesthetic and historical importance of this church.
The origins of the church at Kazitiškis go back to the 18th century. In 1745 the owners of the Kazitiškis manor, the Belikavičius family, built a wooden church and invited Uniate monks to look after the parish. Unfortunately, in the middle of the 19th century, after the monastery and church were closed in 1834, an Orthodox church was set up here instead. Even so, the Bishop of Samogitia, Motiejus Valančius, urged that a Catholic chapel be rebuilt; it was built in 1860–1862, but was soon closed again by the Russian authorities in 1864.
New life came to the religious community of Kazitiškis at the start of the 20th century. In 1905 the priest Jonas Rimkūnas, appointed to Kazitiškis, built a presbytery from the remains of the old church. Setting up an altar at one end of it, he began holding services. The present masonry church was built between 1906 and 1908, and was consecrated in 1909 by the Bishop of Samogitia, Gasparas Cirtautas.
The church lived through difficult times – at the start of the 20th century it found itself in territory occupied by Poland, and Lithuanian activity was strictly controlled. A parish was established in 1925, but the occupying authorities forbade the Lithuanian choir to rehearse. For his active work on behalf of the Lithuanian cause, the parish priest of Kazitiškis, Vincas Bobinas, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment. In 1938 the church was repaired, and its interior and exterior features renewed.
Unfortunately, misfortune did not spare this church. On 5 April 2016 the church suffered a fire: the altar was burned and the walls blackened with smoke. This was the second time in a week that a church had burned in Ignalina district – the first was the wooden Church of the Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Ceikiniai.
Despite every trial, the Church of St Stanislaus the Bishop at Kazitiškis remains an important centre of culture and spirituality. Its Gothic Revival style and basilica structure with a lower apse lend it particular charm. The three-nave interior, with an organ loft and a metal churchyard fence, underlines the aesthetic and historical importance of this church.
Gallery and Resources
Archive captions are shown in Lithuanian.
Krucifiksas (Nukryžiuotasis) Kazitiškio Šv. vyskupo Stanislovo bažnyčioje.