Balbieriškio Švč. Mergelės Marijos Rožančinės bažnyčia

LTBalbieriškio miestelis įsikūręs prie kelio Kaunas–Prienai–Alytus, 13 kilometrų nuo Prienų. Miestelis, galima sakyti, glaudžiasi prie kairiojo didžiosios Balbieriškio Nemuno kilpos kranto. Ties miesteliu į Nemuną įteka Peršėkės upė. Prie Nemuno kilpos atsiveria Balbieriškio atodanga (40 m aukščio). Geriausia ją stebėti iš dešiniojo upės kranto, o kairiajame, ties Balbieriškiu, įrengta Nemuno kilpos stebėjimo aikštelė, nuo kurios atsiveria nuostabūs, nepakartojami vaizdai. Balbieriškio parapija, kaip ir pats miestelis, gyvuoja jau daugiau nei 500 metų. Per tą laikotarpį parapija priklausė Vilniaus, Vygrių, Seinų, Vilkaviškio vyskupijoms bei Simno, Prienų, Marijampolės, Zapyškio, Alytaus ir vėl Prienų dekanatams. Netrumpas ir čia klebonavusių kunigų, jiems talkinusių vikarų ir vargonininkų sąrašas [p. 190].

ENThe first church in Balbieriškis was built around 1520. It was the first royal foundation St. Peter’s Catholic Church. Its first pastor was Priest Martynas Abramavičius. Duke Jaroslav Holovchinsky, who owned the estate at the time, handed over the church to the Evangelical Reformats in the early 17th century. The second church, built by Holovchinsky in 1614, was also left to the Evangelical Reformats. Disputes arose with Catholics. Led by the pastor of Merkinė, Priest Petras Rasmusavičius, after 20 years (on February 10, 1632), the Catholics forcibly took back the church and rectory of Balbieriškis, and in 1644, after 12 years of trials, became its real owners. The third church in Balbieriškis was built around 1678. It was later equipped with 5 late Baroque altars. In 1802 the baroque interior ensemble of the church was complemented by a majestic organ. In the second half of the 19th century (around 1870) Priest Baltramiejus Žukauskas surrounded the churchyard with a strong stone fence with three gates. This fence has survived to this day. On July 12, 1888 the church was consecrated and titled in the name of the St. Virgin Mary Rosary - the fourth new church in Balbieriškis. The celebrations of the consecration of the church were led by Juozapas Oleka, the Bishop of the Seinai Diocese.On the night of August 8, 2013, the fourth wooden two-tower Balbieriškis Church burned down. The construction of the new Balbieriškis church started on June 1. The fifth church in Balbieriškis is one tower smaller than the former fourth. The church itself is stronger, the walls are of three-layer brick masonry. The roofs of the church and the tower are covered with ceramic tiles. The total area of the church is 341.93 sq., and the height is 27.40 m. The consecration of the new Balbieriškis church took place on March 3, 2018. The Church was given the St. Virgin Mary Rosary, the same as it was given for the church that burned down in 2013. The fifth Balbieriškis church was built on the donated money of the faithful and the donation of 1 million euros by Arvydas Paukštys, the owner of the company Teltonika. Arvydas Paukštys was later awarded the title of national patron. In July 2020, the 500th anniversary of Balbieriškis Church was commemorated in Balbieriškis parish.