The Church of St. Francis Xavier (Lithuanian: Šv. Pranciškaus Ksavero bažnyčia) is located in the Old Town of Kaunas, Lithuania. The church, dedicated to St. Francis Xavier, was built in the Town Hall Square in the Old Town of Kaunas by Jesuits. The Jesuits opened their first residence in Kaunas in 1642 and established a chapel in the House of Perkūnas in 1643. Later they also founded a first four-form school in the city in 1649. The construction of the church started in 1666 and was completed in 1720, the church was consecrated in 1722.[1][2][3][4][5]
| St. Francis Xavier Church Šv. Pranciškaus Ksavero (Jėzuitų) bažnyčia | |
|---|---|
 Kaunas Church of St. Francis Xavier | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| District | Old Town, Kaunas |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Active |
| Leadership | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kaunas |
| Year consecrated | 1720 |
| Location | |
| Location | Kaunas, Lithuania |
| Geographic coordinates | 54°53′45.5″N 23°53′10″E / 54.895972°N 23.88611°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Church |
| Style | Baroque |
| Completed | 1720 |
| Direction of façade | North |
The Tsarist Russian government gave the church to the Orthodox church for their use in 1824. The church was again assigned to the Jesuits only in 1924. After Lithuania was occupied by Soviet Union the St. Francis Xavier church was turned into a technical school, the interior of the church was used as a sports hall. The church was returned again to the Jesuits in 1989,[6] and renovation of the church took place in 1992.
Gallery
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Painting of the Kaunas Old Town, 1875 -
Central altar -
Organ -
One of the altars -
Further view with monastery buildings -
Church of St. Francis Xavier and Kaunas Town Hall -
Christmas tree near the Church of St. Francis Xavier
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See also
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References
edit- ^ "St. Francis Xavier Church and the Jesuit Monastery". Visit.Kaunas.lt. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
- ^ Kaunas: Dates and Facts. Kaunas from its Origins to the Fall of Grand Duchy of Lithuania
- ^ "Apie mus". Kaunas Jesuit Gymnasium (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 14 January 2023.
- ^ "Kauno gimnazistų laimė – dienos kultūros vertybių apsuptyje". SA.lt (in Lithuanian). 27 June 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
- ^ "KAUNO JĖZUITŲ GIMNAZIJAI — 350 METŲ". Laiskailietuviams.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 14 January 2023.
- ^ The Jesuit Church and College, Kaunas
External links
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