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Kalvarija Deanery

Sudervės Švč. Trejybės bažnyčia

Built 1822 Age 204 yr Coord. 54.7802, 25.0848
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About the Church

The Church of the Holy Trinity in Sudervė is a masterpiece of Classicist architecture, standing in the small village of Sudervė, a mere 16 kilometres north-west of Vilnius. The church is unique in Lithuania, as it belongs to the rare group of churches built as a round rotunda.

The church's history goes back to the 16th century. Sudervė is first mentioned in 1594, when it was assigned to the Orthodox Confraternity of the Holy Trinity in Vilnius. Later, in 1669, the site was acquired by the Jesuit novitiate of Vilnius. Construction of the present masonry church began in 1803 to a design by the renowned Lithuanian architect Laurynas Gucevičius. The building work continued until 1822 and was supervised by Gucevičius's pupil Laurynas Bortkevičius. It is also worth noting that the four evangelist sculptures and the high altar were created by the sculptor Ignotas Gulmanas, while the church's interior decoration was carried out by the painter Napoleonas Ylakavičius.

The church's architecture is striking in its Classicist forms. It has a domed structure with a portico of six Doric columns. In the niches behind the columns stand sculptures of the apostles, created by Pulman. Above the dome rises a lantern topped with a cross. In the churchyard stands a Classicist masonry bell tower and a stone masonry fence.

Over time the church has been repaired more than once: in 1851–1852 (architect Tomas Tišeckis), and in 1876, 1883, 1903 and 1927. The last major repair was carried out in 2015, reviving its historic beauty and ensuring that this remarkable shrine remains alive for future generations.

The Church of the Holy Trinity in Sudervė is not only an architectural monument but also an important place of worship. Since 2005 services have been held here in both Lithuanian and Polish, testifying to the cultural and linguistic diversity of the church's community.

This church is an inspiring example of the merging of history, architecture and religious tradition, inviting every visitor to immerse themselves in the spiritual and artistic world of the past.

Gallery and Resources

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