Anykščiai Church

Anykščiai Church of St. Matthew
Location	Anykščiai
Country	Lithuania
History
Status	Functional
Founded	Original in 1514, Rebuilt in 1899-1909
Dedication	St Mathews
Consecrated	1909
Cult(s) present	Apostle Catholic Church
Architecture
Architectural type	Neo-Gothic
Specifications
Dome height (outer)	79 m

Anykščiai Church of St. Matthew (Template:Lang-lt) is a Neo-Gothic church in Anykščiai, Lithuania. The twin towers of the church, each of 79 m height make the church the tallest in Lithuania. It features some notable 19th century floral-motifs on the walls. Brightly-colored stained glass is fixed to the windows. The stained glass windows were the creation of Anorte Mackelaitė, the well known stain glass artist of Lithuania, between 1971 and 1986.

Geography

The Church is situated on the right bank of the Sventoji River in the Anykščiai town, a wooded countryside. It is 38 km to the west of Utena town. Moletai town is 44 km to the northeast.

History

The original church built in 1504 was a wooden structure that was destroyed in a fire in 1566. Even before the church was built there was a settlement called Anykščiai (known after a small river which joins the Sventoji River near the town). Following the establishment of the Apostle Catholic Church, the town was established with charter in 1516. However, the twon was burnt down and ren mained in ruins for long. The towers were damaged during World War I and was again rebuilt in 1928. However, following the construction of narrow gauge railway line between Panevezys and Švencioneliai in the 19th century, the parish got re-developed. With this development, the church was re-built over a ten year period between 1899 and 1909. Following the rebuilding of the church the charter for the town was also restored in 1938.

There is also a legend related to the Puntukas, a famous stone in Lithuania. According to this legend the devil wnated destroy to by dropping the heavy gigantic stone on it. However, early crowing of a rooster prevented this happening and stone fell away from the church in the twon. it is now a visitor attarction.

Architecture

The twin tower Anykščiai Church with monument of Bishop Antanas Baranauskas in the park

The present church building consists of twin towers, each of 79 m height. The building was built in red bricks in the Neo-Gothic architectural style. The church façade has stained glass windows which were installed between 1971-1986, credited to Marija Mackelaitė. Artistically decorated Altars and the pulpits are seen inside the church. A painted wooden cross carved by Rimas Idzelis, an amateur artist is installed in the church. A statue of St Matthew is installed behind the large cross in the main altar. Inside the church, apart many elegant altars there are also statues and paintings. The church also has a large organ which was bought in 1998 from Southampton city’s Baptist Church. The church yard (in the park) also has an important monument of the Lithuanian poet Bishop Antanas Baranauskas (1835–1902) who wrote the famous poem Anykščiu šilelis (The Grove of Anykščiai) and who trained for priest hood in the storehouse of the church. Another Lithuanian writer, Antanas Žukauskas-Vienuolis (1882–1957) who wrote patriotic poems and who resided in Anykščiai is buried in the precincts of the church.