LT EN PL
Naujoji Vilnia Deanery

Rudaminos Švč. Mergelės Marijos, Gerosios Patarėjos, bažnyčia

Built 1909 Age 117 yr Coord. 54.5904, 25.3471
360° View Wikipedia

About the Church

The Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Good Counsel in Rudamina is a splendid example of wooden architecture, standing a mere 12 kilometres south of Vilnius. Built in 1909, the church is striking for its Historicist style and its Gothic Revival and Neoclassical features. Its churchyard fence, built of stone masonry, further reinforces the authenticity of the building.

The church's front, with two towers of unequal height, dominates the area, and the interior is divided into three aisles, separated by columns. Here there are as many as three altars, which create a special atmosphere at every service. Services are held in both Polish and Lithuanian, allowing a broad community of the faithful to be served.

Interestingly, the parish of Rudamina was founded even before 1500. The first church here appeared in 1525, when its rector was Jonas Domanovskis, who later became Bishop of Samogitia. In 1730, on the initiative of the parish priest Juozapas Marševskis, a new church was built, which was renovated in 1832 by Mykolas Tiškevičius. In the 19th century Orthodox families also settled in the vicinity of Rudamina, as a result of which in 1866 the Catholics were registered as Orthodox and the church was converted into an Orthodox church. However, at the start of the 20th century, in 1907–1909, the present wooden church was built, which fate decreed would become the centre of the parish in 1921.

Besides the church, other places of worship also operate within the parish – the Church of Blessed Michael Sopoćko in Juodšiliai and the Chapel of St Faustina, Apostle of Divine Mercy, in Skaidiškės. These buildings testify to the deep religious traditions and living faith of this area.

The Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Good Counsel in Rudamina is not only a house of prayer but also a living historical monument, telling of centuries-old struggles, faith and cultural heritage. It is a place where past and present merge, where everyone can find spiritual peace and a deeper acquaintance with history.

Gallery and Resources

Archive captions are shown in Lithuanian.