Basilica of the Assumption (Krekenava)
The Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin ( Lithuanian Krekenavos Švč. Mergelės Marijos Ėmimo į dangų bazilika ) is a Roman Catholic church in the small town of Krekenava in central Lithuania . The church in the Panevėžys diocese with the patronage of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary is consecrated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and has the title of a minor basilica .
history
The first chapel was built in Krekenava in 1419. It is believed that the construction goes back to the Grand Duke Vytautas . The first wooden church was built in 1484 and was completed in 1527. After a fire, a new church building was completed in 1736.
In 1886, pastor Pranciškus Žukauskas initiated the construction of a larger church. Although the authorities of the province of Kovno initially only wanted to allow a wooden church, the construction of a brick church could begin in 1896. In 1902, today's neo-Gothic church building was completed. In 1907 the Bishop of Samogitia, Gaspare Feliciano Cyrtowt, blessed the church.
Pope Benedict XVI raised the church to the rank of a minor basilica in 2011 , and the solemn proclamation took place on the patronage festival on August 15th.
Church building
The church was designed based on the neo-Gothic style by the Belarusian architect Ustin Golinevič. The three-aisled church has a nave with a rectangular floor plan and a choir . The two church towers rise 56 meters above the entrance area, and the roof is adorned with a further 13 towers. The Warsaw sculptor Piechock worked on the facade sculptures. The present organ was made in Cannes in 1911. In the church, an image of Mary with baby Jesus from the 15th century is venerated.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Švč. Mergelės Marijos Ėmimo į dangų bazilika on gcatholic.org
- ^ Celebration of the elevation to the basilica. lrytas.lt, August 15, 2011, accessed May 3, 2018 (Lithuanian).
Web links
Coordinates: 55 ° 32 '44.7 " N , 24 ° 5' 52.2" E