The Plateliai Church

Coordinates: 56.040889 21.816121

Object address: Didžioji street 15, Plateliai, Plunge district, Lithuania

Municipality: Plungė district

The first church in Plateliai was built in the beginning of the 16th century. In 1523, Jonavičius (Kęsgaila), the son of the elder of Samogitia, donated a portion of his riches to the church. Jokūbas Laskauskis built a wooden church in Plateliai, which was confirmed by Zigmantas Augustas in 1564.

During the Reformation, following 1567, the Plateliai Church was closed and abandoned, like most at that time. Between 1598 and 1608, a new, third church was constructed in Plateliai, this time funded by Jeronimas Valavičius.

The Holy Church of Apostles Peter and Paul is the fourth and the only remaining church in Plateliai. The church was built in 1744 by a group of parishioners and priest Juozapas Vaitkevičius. A parsonage and a servant house were built next to the church. Another building was built in the parsonage in 1746. In 1777, under the care of the same priest, the Plateliai Church was rebuilt.

Priest Vaitkevičius nearly spent his entire life serving in Plateliai and he was buried in in the crypt of the church, under the side altar of St. Joseph. For his service to the Catholic Church, the Pope granted J. Vaitkevičius the titles of Protonotarii titulares seu honorarii, Escort-Count of Palais des Papes and honorary member of the council of Palais des Papes.

The church building is in the shape of the cross. A tall roof covers the building, on the corners and the middle of which stand small towers with crosses on them. The external forms are modest: small walls with planks placed vertically and large rectangular windows. Baroque-style main and four side altars, all decorated with columns, carvings and artistic paintings, encased in silver, can be found inside the church. All of the altars were painted white and coated in gold in the 18th century.

The pulpit, which was decorated with Rococo ornaments and openwork canopy and a crown, was also repainted. An excellent Rococo-style baptistery and cover still stand in the left chapel. Holy water and sacramental oils are kept in there. A painting of St. John the Baptist hangs above the baptistery.

The end of the nave is the place of the organ, adorned with an elegant arcade and an archaic lodge for the singers. A 10-tone organ, a large drum and an assembly of bells were placed here in the 18th century. The church organ, repaired by Jonas Garalevičius, was set up in the Plateliai Church in 1909.

The churchyard has a brick fence with three sets of gates. The belfry stands next to it. The churchyard is the burial grounds of the children of the Plateliai Manor: Countess Maria Choiseul and her brother Gabriel.

Prepared by Aušra Vilienė, Head Librarian

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