Ceikiniai Church of the Holy Virgin Mary is a wonderful example of wooden architecture located in the village of Ceikiniai, Ignalina District. This church is distinguished by its ancient history and important place in the life of the local community.
The first Catholic church in Ceikiniai was built by 1675. It was a rather modest building, but already at that time it had become an important spiritual center. Later, in 1773, Mikalojus Šmigelskis decided to renovate the church and built a new wooden sanctuary. His work was not left without a continuation - in 1799, Kajetonas Šmigelskis built another church on a solid stone foundation.
Although the church burned down several times during various wars, it was always rebuilt. It was particularly badly affected by World War I, after which the church burned down completely. However, the local community was not disturbed - after the war the church was rebuilt again, and in 1921 a parish was established.
Ignotas Šopara, a pastor at the beginning of the 20th century, actively encouraged young people to study and fostered national consciousness, despite the fact that he was complained to the authorities and even tried in 1911 for his activities. During the Polish occupation, various societies operated here, fighting for Lithuanian cultural identity.
There are many memorable figures in the history of the church, one of them being priest Bronius Laurinavičius, who enlarged the church in 1947. Another notable clergyman was Karolis Garuckas, who was one of the members of the Lithuanian Helsinki Group and actively defended the rights of believers. He was buried in the churchyard, where his memory is preserved to this day.
Although the church was severely damaged by fire in 2016, the local community came together again and restored this important spiritual space. The church housed a valuable cultural monument – the crucifix sculpture „The Crucified“, created in the first half of the 20th century by the hands of a folk craftsman.
Architecturally, the Ceikiniai Church is unique in its folk style. It has a rectangular plan, a turret, and five altars inside. The churchyard is surrounded by a stone wall, and it has an impressive three-story wooden bell tower.
Ceikiniai Church of the Name of the Holy Virgin Mary not only looks beautiful, but is also a living witness to numerous historical events and a symbol of the determination of local people to maintain their spiritual and cultural identity.
Built in 1773. Construction material – wood
Holy Mass time VII 10:30 a.m.
Information updated 2025-12-12
Po gaisro labai grazi atstatyta Ceikiniu baznycia . Patiko.