Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul (Šiauliai)
The Cathedral of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Šiauliai , Lithuania, is the episcopal church of the Roman Catholic diocese of Šiauliai .
With the establishment of the Diocese of Šiauliai in 1997, the Peter and Paul Church was elevated to the rank of cathedral. Pope John Paul II was also present during the celebrations .
The cathedral was built in the 17th century and is an important example of the Renaissance and Mannerism . In 1880 lightning struck the tower. However, the damage was limited and could be repaired quickly. The damage during the Second World War was significantly more severe . In 1944 the church was in dire condition. However, the church was restored during the Soviet era.
The tower reaches a height of 70 meters. There is a sundial on the south side of the building. Some details like the bay windows are unique. The towers with fire holes at the gate of the cemetery give the complex the appearance of a defensive fortress. This type of construction was widespread in what is now Lithuania, but it has only survived in Šiauliai to this day. The defensive character is reinforced by the fact that the cemetery gate is directly in front of the main facade of the actual church. A wooden cross indicates that a small wooden church from 1445 already stood here at an earlier point. The only color accents of the white church are the red spiers.
Plain white also dominates the interior. Only the three golden chandeliers set artistic accents and the stations of the cross on the walls. The church received the neo-baroque main altar in 1975.
Web links
- Diocese of Siauliai (Lithuanian)
- piligrimukelias.lt (English)
- way2lithuania.com (English)
Coordinates: 55 ° 55 ′ 57.8 " N , 23 ° 19 ′ 11.7" E