Church of St. Michael the Archangel, Kaunas
| Church of Saint Michael the Archangel | ||
|---|---|---|
(Garrison Church) | ||
Year consecrated 1895 | | |
| Status | Operational | |
| Location | ||
| Municipality | Kaunas | |
| State | Lithuania | |
| Geographic coordinates | 54°53′49″N 23°55′16″E / 54.89694°N 23.92111°E | |
| Architecture | ||
| Architect(s) | K. H. Lymarenko | |
| Style | Roman-Byzantine | |
| Groundbreaking | 1891 | |
| Completed | 1895 | |
| Specifications | ||
| Capacity | 2,000 worshippers | |
| Height (max) | 50.0 m | |
| Dome(s) | Five | |
St. Michael the Archangel's Church or the Garrison Church (
History
The construction of "military" or "garrison" Orthodox churches by the Russian government in former Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth lands had started after the suppression of the November Uprising of 1830-31, and peaked during the reign of emperor Alexander III of Russia. Initially the site of this church had been intended to be used for a Catholic church, but these plans had been abandoned after the Uprising.[1]
The church was designed as an Orthodox cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in 1890 by K. H. Lymarenko; it was authorized for construction on November 10 that year. Official groundbreaking was celebrated on 29 June 1891.
As usual for military churches of the period, the construction of Kaunas cathedral was financed equally by the Military Ministry and by donations from army servicemen. Completion of the church finalized the administrative building complex of the Kaunas Fortress; it symbolized less the presence of Orthodox Christians than the imperial authority of the Russian government.[citation needed] It was also believed that the church would reduce interdenominational frictions.[1]
After the fall of the Kaunas Fortress during World War I the Germans cut down the church bells and transported them to Germany. The church stayed closed until 1919.[1]
In the interwar period the cathedral became a Roman Catholic church of the Lithuanian garrison of Kaunas. There were voices urging the demolition of the church as it was labeled as without architectural value.
During the rule of the Soviet Union, it was used as an art gallery.[
Architecture
Kaunas cathedral stood out among similar military churches by its size (it was designed to fit 2,000 worshipers) and its unusual architecture - employing triple Corinthian columns in an otherwise typical "neo-Byzantine" (Romanesque) five-dome design. In total the exterior has 266 large and small columns and pilasters. This eclectic spin-off of mainstream "Byzantine" architecture (the so-called Roman Byzantine style) was hailed by contemporary architectural journalists, but never gained popularity.[3]
As built, the cathedral reached 50 meters height; it was finished in three shades of
Gallery
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The dome from the inside and the Lithuanian flag split into three separate one-colour flags -
Theholy spiritdove and Jesus rays -
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Bas-relief on the façade
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Museum for the blind
The Kaunas Museum for the Blind is located underneath the church. It originated as a 2005 art installation - "21st century catacombs" – designed for the blind, the visually impaired, and the sighted.[4][5] The project was overseen by the Lithuanian sculptor, Robertas Antinis, and architect, Linas Tuleikis.
See also
- Saint Michael: Roman Catholic traditions and views
References
- ^ ISBN 978-9955-638-97-1.)
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link - ^ "St. Michael the Archangel Church (a.k.a. the Garrison Church)". Visit.Kaunas.lt. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
- ^ ISBN 5-87417-207-6, pp.109-110
- ^ Interviev with Robertas Antinis in Bernardinai.lt webportal.
- ISBN 978-0-312-37446-4. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
