Žemaičių Kalvarijos bažnyčios ir vienuolyno architektūrinio ansamblio raidos bruožai

ENIn the course of time in history there are known to have been built four churches in Žemaičių Kalvarija (a place of worship). It is considered that the first one was built earlier than the year 1593 in the place of the former castle. It was wooden. In 1649, there was another church erected under the supervision of Bishop Jurgis Tiškevičius. In 1642, the Dominican Monastery was founded. The third church was built on the right bank of the Varduva River under the superintendence of Bishop Antanas Tiškevičius. It was also wooden and, supposedly, of Baroque style. A new structure of monastery adjoining the church rose in 1766. In 1780, the Dominicans started the construction of the fourth church; at that time it was a brick one. But it took long years to finish it (in 1821). The author of the design of that church was a famous Classicism architect in Lithuania Augustinas Kosakauskis. The manifestation of Baroque style could be observed in the newest church and its towers. Under the design by the same architect A. Kosakauskis there was built a two-storeyed brick structure of monastery in 1842. In 1896, the Žemaičių Kalvarija Church was badly damaged by fire. After the reconstruction, several alterations were introduced in the church, including the barrel vault and raised towers. The church of St Virgin Mary Descending is a basilican building with three naves, 47 metres in length and 29 metres in width. The towers rise to a height of 56 metres. The church is of the superb beauty in Žemaitija.