A wooden heritage gem surrounded by pine forests and lakes – this church is the only one of its kind in Lithuania

Palūšė St. Joseph’s Church was built in 1747-1757. This was done thanks to the funds and funds of the priest Juozapas Bazilevskis.

In 1800, an octagonal bell tower was erected, reminiscent of the watchtowers of old wooden castles.

“She is the only one of her kind in Lithuania,” says Robert Baranovsky, a pastor who practices pastoral practice in the church.

The church is said to have been built with only an ax, and wooden pins were used instead of metal nails.

“The volume of the church is three-dimensional, the wide central nave is extended by a short presbytery with a three-walled abscia covered with a lower ceiling. According to Dr. Algė Jankevičiūtė, researcher of Lithuanian wooden churches and chapels, these lower ceilings of the chancel are very rare in Lithuanian wooden churches, ”says the clergyman.

It is a protected cultural heritage asset.

R. Baranovsky recalls that the reverse of the Palūšė church and the bell tower were represented on the reverse of a litas banknote that circulated after the restoration of Independence. On the other side is the writer Žemaitė.

“Look good”, “Improve”

The inscriptions on the door of the church say: “Enter the good one”, “Come out better”.

The sacristy of the church of Palūšė Paulius Urbonas says that one of the greatest assets of the sanctuary is the St. Fresco of Laurynas.

What makes it special? “Because he is the only one who is with us,” says the sacristy.

Another value of the church, according to P. Urbon, is also a wooden fresco that represents the conversion of Saul to Paul.

“We have old ceilings, they are painted, berods, with rococo ornaments, but they are covered. We come from the artistic heritage, we did such an expedition and we found a beautiful ceiling, but so far we cannot reveal it, because a lot of funding is needed, ”says the sacristy of the Palūšė church.

Also in the sanctuary hangs St. A copy of the painting of Mary at the Gates of Dawn.

The embroidered front of the church altar is also special.

“Values ​​have never been looted. It has always been protected. Here there have always been permanent pastors, that is why everything has been saved thanks to them,” says P. Urbonas.

In the unique bell tower from a few years ago, the bells were mechanical. Mr. Urbon recalls that to call, he still had to “catch” them with his hand.

“And already 14 years ago, the automation was built by the respected priest Albert Ulickas, who has been a parish priest here for many years,” says the sacristy.

Waiting for St. Laurynas Discounts

The Palūš iglesia church was closed for some time, it could only be seen from the outside.

Mr. Urbon said that the church has been restored for five years.

“It just came to our knowledge then. 25 years have passed, it had to be repeated: the roof was covered five years ago, four years ago we repainted the entire facade of the church. This year, the fences began to occupy the entire perimeter. The year past the bell tower was ordered ”, he says.

But now the church is already open. It is open from Wednesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00 and on Sundays from 10:00 to 15:00.

On August 10, Saint Paul’s Day is celebrated in the church of Palūšė. Laurynas discounts. In March – St. Joseph.

Touched by the bishop’s words

R. Baranovskij, who does pastoral practice at Palūšė church, is Vilnius St. Cleric’s fourth year of Joseph Priests Seminary.

“I don’t sacrifice any Mass, I just help the pastor as much as I can. Our rector distributes practice places for us clergy, and we just go, introduce ourselves, and cooperate, ”he says.

One month is allotted for clergy practice. During this time, the internship can be done immediately or distributed throughout the summer.

When we visited Palūšė, he had about 20 days left until the end of the internship.

Baranovsky had three years to complete his studies.

“And, God, God willing, maybe it will be celebrated,” he said.

And, give it to God, God willing, I could celebrate.

When asked what Palūšė, the community of believers, the church with such aura liked, the clergyman said that the people are open, sensitive. Also, surrounded by beautiful nature, many lakes.

Why did R. Baranovsky choose service to God? The clergyman argued that if his parents had not passed on the faith, he may not have chosen that path.

He agrees that the chosen path will be difficult, but the difficulty is mitigated, facilitated by the example of other priests, how to do it and how not to do it.

“It has to be, I think for an open person who comes to you, then that person will also be open and then it is possible to achieve some result. For a person, perhaps less faithful, to be attracted to the church, he will be able to feel that closeness to Christ God.

And anyway, my home parish, now the Rectorate, is the Karkažiškės Church (Švenčionys district, Pabradė old age). I’ve been walking there since I was a kid. We walked together with my parents and Bishop Juozas Tunaitis visited us only once.

I no longer remember what he said during the sermon, but those words somehow touched me a lot and I remember thinking that he wanted to be a priest. But then my adolescence began, somehow I didn’t think about that, ”the clergyman recalls.

However, according to Baranovsky, God somehow sent him people who, with deeds or words, showed him the path that he had previously wanted to be.