Kirdeikiai Wooden Church of St John the Baptist

Kirdeikiai Wooden Church of St John the Baptist

Kirdeikiai wooden church of St John the Baptist is located on the south-western shore of Lake Pakasas, 30 km from Švenčionys and 14 km from Ignalina in Utena district. Kirdeikiai (29 homesteads) was mentioned in the inventory of Linkmenai manor, dating back to 1554. In 1732 the number of homesteads was 10, while in 1866 — 34 with 241 residents. Linkmenai town was also divided by a dividing line with Poland. In 1920 a part of Linkmenai parish with the entire church remained on the territory, occupied by Poland. In 1925 the occupant authorities brought Juozas Breiva, the pastor or Linkmenai, to court for Lithuanian cultural activity. He escaped to Kirdeikiai ant started making arrangements for the construction of the church. In 1925 Linkmenai priest Juozas Breiva brought the register of births, marriages and deaths, as well as liturgical books and began the constructions of the church and founded a new parish.

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