About the Church
The Church of Our Lady, Queen of Families, in Pabradė is one of the newest sacred buildings in Lithuania, built in 2007. It arose in Pabradė, a beautiful small town in the Švenčionys district, near the main Vilnius street and the railway line. The church serves as an important spiritual centre for both Lithuanians and Poles, and services held here are conducted in both languages.
Before this modern shrine came into being, local Catholics prayed in the old church of St Josaphat, set up in a former Orthodox church as early as 1927. However, as the town's population grew, the need arose for a more spacious church in a more convenient location. So in 1990 a parish was established in Pabradė, and construction of the new church began a good decade or so later.
Construction of the new church began in the summer of 2006, and already on 15 October Cardinal Audrys Bačkis blessed its foundations. A year later, on 4 November 2007, he also blessed the whole newly built church, giving it the title of Our Lady, Queen of Families. That day, Holy Mass was concelebrated with the cardinal by many clergy from various parishes across Lithuania.
The church's architecture is very interesting and symbolic. It was built together with a parish house, which serves not only religious needs but also community gatherings, sacramental preparation and liturgical celebrations. The design work was entrusted to the architects Marius Šaliamoras, Juras Balkevičius and Artūras Burba. They created a building that is modern yet carries deep Christian symbolism.
The shrine stands on a hill resembling a ship, its prow crowned with a cross. This is no coincidence – the shape is linked to the biblical story of Noah's Ark, symbolising salvation and hope. In addition, the building can also be seen to evoke the symbol of the fish, which for the early Christians represented Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Saviour.
The architects also ensured that the church would be not only aesthetically appealing but also functional. Its height reaches 29 metres, and its area is 629 square metres. The adjoining parish house occupies a further 490 square metres.
This newly built church has become not only a spiritual centre but also a cultural attraction, strengthening the local community and revealing the ability of contemporary architecture to combine tradition with modernity.
Before this modern shrine came into being, local Catholics prayed in the old church of St Josaphat, set up in a former Orthodox church as early as 1927. However, as the town's population grew, the need arose for a more spacious church in a more convenient location. So in 1990 a parish was established in Pabradė, and construction of the new church began a good decade or so later.
Construction of the new church began in the summer of 2006, and already on 15 October Cardinal Audrys Bačkis blessed its foundations. A year later, on 4 November 2007, he also blessed the whole newly built church, giving it the title of Our Lady, Queen of Families. That day, Holy Mass was concelebrated with the cardinal by many clergy from various parishes across Lithuania.
The church's architecture is very interesting and symbolic. It was built together with a parish house, which serves not only religious needs but also community gatherings, sacramental preparation and liturgical celebrations. The design work was entrusted to the architects Marius Šaliamoras, Juras Balkevičius and Artūras Burba. They created a building that is modern yet carries deep Christian symbolism.
The shrine stands on a hill resembling a ship, its prow crowned with a cross. This is no coincidence – the shape is linked to the biblical story of Noah's Ark, symbolising salvation and hope. In addition, the building can also be seen to evoke the symbol of the fish, which for the early Christians represented Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Saviour.
The architects also ensured that the church would be not only aesthetically appealing but also functional. Its height reaches 29 metres, and its area is 629 square metres. The adjoining parish house occupies a further 490 square metres.
This newly built church has become not only a spiritual centre but also a cultural attraction, strengthening the local community and revealing the ability of contemporary architecture to combine tradition with modernity.