About the Church
The Church of St George in Šalčininkėliai is a wooden church with Classicist features, standing in the small village of Šalčininkėliai. This modest yet significant sacred building is a true part of Lithuania's cultural and historical heritage.
The first church on this site was built even before 1553, on the initiative of Joanas Hlebavičius. However, soon after, in 1568, it was taken over by the Reformed Evangelicals. Several decades later, in 1622, Teodoras Lackis rebuilt the church, but it too did not last long. In 1662 yet another church was built, and by 1820 this building was already in poor condition: the walls rotten, the windows boarded up, with no significant property or upkeep.
The shrine, mercilessly ravaged by fate and time, was rebuilt in 1834 by Mikalojus Manovskis. This wooden church still stands today, although over its long history it faced difficulties more than once. For example, from 1866 to 1878 the authorities did not allow a priest to be assigned to it. Only in 1910 was a parish established here, allowing the community to gather and pray together again.
Architecturally, the Church of St George in Šalčininkėliai is marked by classical elements. It is a rectangular-plan, towerless building with an impressive six-column portico. The churchyard wall is tall, built of stone, giving an added sense of solidity and security.
Services in this church are held in Polish, reflecting the strong ethnic and cultural traditions of the local Polish community. Besides the main church, the Sangėliškiai chapel also operates within the parish, enriching the spiritual life of local residents.
Throughout its existence, the Church of St George in Šalčininkėliai has witnessed the changes of various eras more than once. Its walls conceal countless stories of faith, survival and community spirit, which, despite everything, remains strong and vigorous.
The first church on this site was built even before 1553, on the initiative of Joanas Hlebavičius. However, soon after, in 1568, it was taken over by the Reformed Evangelicals. Several decades later, in 1622, Teodoras Lackis rebuilt the church, but it too did not last long. In 1662 yet another church was built, and by 1820 this building was already in poor condition: the walls rotten, the windows boarded up, with no significant property or upkeep.
The shrine, mercilessly ravaged by fate and time, was rebuilt in 1834 by Mikalojus Manovskis. This wooden church still stands today, although over its long history it faced difficulties more than once. For example, from 1866 to 1878 the authorities did not allow a priest to be assigned to it. Only in 1910 was a parish established here, allowing the community to gather and pray together again.
Architecturally, the Church of St George in Šalčininkėliai is marked by classical elements. It is a rectangular-plan, towerless building with an impressive six-column portico. The churchyard wall is tall, built of stone, giving an added sense of solidity and security.
Services in this church are held in Polish, reflecting the strong ethnic and cultural traditions of the local Polish community. Besides the main church, the Sangėliškiai chapel also operates within the parish, enriching the spiritual life of local residents.
Throughout its existence, the Church of St George in Šalčininkėliai has witnessed the changes of various eras more than once. Its walls conceal countless stories of faith, survival and community spirit, which, despite everything, remains strong and vigorous.
Gallery and Resources
Archive captions are shown in Lithuanian.
Šalčininkėlių Šv. Jurgio bažnyčia.
Signuotas akvarele averso apatinėje dalyje dešinėje autoriaus parašu ir data: „78“, pieštuku revrese: „ŠALČININKĖLIAI / 1978. X. 21“.