About the Church
The Church of St Stanislaus, Bishop, in Riešė is one of the charming shrines of Vilnius district, whose history goes back several centuries. The church stands in the village of Didžioji Riešė, near the Vilnius–Molėtai road, so it is easy to reach for local residents and tourists alike.
This church is named in honour of St Stanislaus, Bishop of Kraków and martyr. It is not only a house of prayer but also a cultural meeting point for the Lithuanian and Polish communities, since services here are held in both languages.
The history of the Church of St Stanislaus, Bishop, in Riešė begins as early as the 16th century. The first, wooden chapel here was built by the priest Martynas of Dušnikai. However, this chapel did not last long – at the end of the 17th century it was replaced by a new chapel belonging to the Chapter of Vilnius. Unfortunately, this one too did not serve for long, since by the start of the 18th century it had already fallen into ruin or burned down.
In 1776 Kazimieras Pliateris, the owner of the Kalno Riešė manor, built another chapel, in which services were held by monks from Verkiai. During the tsarist Russian period, in 1878, the authorities allowed the vicar of Verkiai to hold daily services in this chapel. By the start of the 20th century the chapel had been repaired several times, but services were no longer held in it.
Major changes took place in 1925, when the parish was established, and in 1938–1939, thanks to the efforts of the parishioners, the present masonry church was built. At first it bore the title of the Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary, but was later dedicated to St Stanislaus.
Architecturally, this church stands out for its Historicist style. It is on a rectangular plan, with one main tower and a smaller turret on the apse. Inside, one can see a three-aisled basilica-form construction, which lends a sense of spaciousness and grandeur. The churchyard is enclosed by a masonry wall, which adds a further sense of security and intimacy.
The Church of St Stanislaus, Bishop, in Riešė is not only an architectural gem – it is also a living centre of the community, where people of various nationalities meet and interact, traditions continue and a culture of spirituality is nurtured.
This church is named in honour of St Stanislaus, Bishop of Kraków and martyr. It is not only a house of prayer but also a cultural meeting point for the Lithuanian and Polish communities, since services here are held in both languages.
The history of the Church of St Stanislaus, Bishop, in Riešė begins as early as the 16th century. The first, wooden chapel here was built by the priest Martynas of Dušnikai. However, this chapel did not last long – at the end of the 17th century it was replaced by a new chapel belonging to the Chapter of Vilnius. Unfortunately, this one too did not serve for long, since by the start of the 18th century it had already fallen into ruin or burned down.
In 1776 Kazimieras Pliateris, the owner of the Kalno Riešė manor, built another chapel, in which services were held by monks from Verkiai. During the tsarist Russian period, in 1878, the authorities allowed the vicar of Verkiai to hold daily services in this chapel. By the start of the 20th century the chapel had been repaired several times, but services were no longer held in it.
Major changes took place in 1925, when the parish was established, and in 1938–1939, thanks to the efforts of the parishioners, the present masonry church was built. At first it bore the title of the Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary, but was later dedicated to St Stanislaus.
Architecturally, this church stands out for its Historicist style. It is on a rectangular plan, with one main tower and a smaller turret on the apse. Inside, one can see a three-aisled basilica-form construction, which lends a sense of spaciousness and grandeur. The churchyard is enclosed by a masonry wall, which adds a further sense of security and intimacy.
The Church of St Stanislaus, Bishop, in Riešė is not only an architectural gem – it is also a living centre of the community, where people of various nationalities meet and interact, traditions continue and a culture of spirituality is nurtured.