Senųjų Trakų Viešpaties Apreiškimo Švč. Mergelei Marijai ir Šv. Benedikto bažnyčia

The church of the Annunciation of the Lord and St Benedict in Senieji Trakai is an impressive and historically significant place of worship, standing in the village of Senieji Trakai, just a few kilometres from the famous town of Trakai.

The history of this church begins as far back as the 15th century, when in 1405 the Grand Duke of Lithuania Vytautas the Great built the first church here and founded a Benedictine monastery. This was a significant step not only in the religious but also in the cultural and political history of the region. Around 1410 a parish was established, which over the centuries became an important centre for the local community.

The church and monastery complex was continually renovated and expanded. In 1577 a new monastery was built here, and later, in 1597, the church was reconstructed. In the mid-17th century considerable tracts of land were donated to the monastery, which testifies to its economic prosperity.

Over the centuries the church went through many trials: in 1757 it burned down, but the parish community did not give up and in 1780 built a temporary wooden church in the cemetery. At the end of the 19th century work began on a new masonry church, which was completed in 1899. The church standing today is a fine example of the Gothic Revival style, with four towers, a three-nave interior structure and nine altars.

During the First World War the church was damaged, but after the war it was successfully repaired. Under Soviet rule the parish faced hardships, but the devotion of the local people helped preserve this place of worship. After the Second World War the longest-serving parish priest here was Mykolas Tarvydis, whose work contributed significantly to the parish's spiritual and cultural life.

The church's architecture is striking for its regular Gothic Revival lines and details. The churchyard wall is also of masonry, which gives the whole complex an added sense of monumentality. Inside, visitors can admire the vaulted interior and the numerous chapels, which give these spaces a special spiritual atmosphere.

The church of the Annunciation of the Lord and St Benedict in Senieji Trakai is undoubtedly one of the most important historical and religious places of worship in Lithuania, one that continues to bring the community together and recalls the rich past of our nation.