Kaunas Church of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
(Survived
)
<p style="text-align: justify;">Church of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in Šančiai is a characteristic example of modern sacred architecture. Modernist churches were not a very common phenomenon in the First Republic which is why the church in Šančiai is an interesting and valuable object for Lithuanian sacred heritage.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">During the interwar period Šančiai was a densely populated town in the suburbs of the temporary capital (according to the numbers provided in the press of that time, in 1931 Šančiai had a population of 25,000 which was then equal to that of Šiauliai), yet requests for a Catholic house of worship bothered it ever since the beginning of the XX century. It is known that Šančiai priest would say Mass in a small chapel at parish’s cemetery which was not suited to fit in all visitors. Attempts to improve the situation included setting up the house of worship in a rearranged military storehouse at Kaunas fortress following WWI.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Construction of the new house of prayer was initiated by then pastor of Šančiai parish Mamertas Lumbė. Design works took around four years to complete. In 1935 a draft was submitted for approval, prepared by architect Algirdas Šalkauskas. Although he did not finish the works and the design of the building was passed over to architect Adolfas Netyksa who provided a slightly adjusted draft for the church in 1936. The construction of the church was completed and the object was consecrated in 1938.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The building has a rectangular layout and two low towers which emphasise the central facade. Two identical sacristies on both sides highlight the massive size and minimalistic exterior decorations of the building. Facades of the church are characterised by a composition of regular geometric shapes: square front doors clash with narrow, rectangular windows set out in a vertical fashion. The interior is spiced up by a fresco “Angels” by painter Liudas Truikis on the presbytery arch, as well as stained glass windows by Stasys Ušinskis installed during the interwar period.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The exterior of the building and its size seamlessly blended in with the urban landscape of Šančiai town, which was the hub of industrial objects, technology infrastructure, and military barracks. Modern architectural forms and techniques emphasised building’s aesthetics by accentuating its materiality: the construction of the church used a modern technology for designing reinforced concrete structures. The roof of the church was one of the first examples of thin-walled reinforced concrete shell structures in interwar Lithuania. Estimates and maintenance of works was provided by engineer Pranas Markūnas – one of the pioneers of technology in Lithuania.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><em>Kristina Endriukaitytė</em><em></em></p>
Adresas: Kauno m. sav., Kauno m., A. Juozapavičiaus pr. 60
Architektūros tipas: Professional
Architektai: Algirdas Šalkauskis, Adolfas Netyksa, Pranas Markūnas
Metai: 1935
Laikotarpis: Interwar
Architektūros šakos: Architecture, Separate building, Religious buildings, Church
Medžiagos: Masonry (brick), Ferroconcrete
Nuotraukos: 12
Susiję objektai
Telšiai Žemaitė (Former M. Valančius) Gymnasium
Telšiai Žemaitė (Former M. Valančius) Gymnasium
1935 - 1936
Kaunas central post office
Kaunas central post office
1930 - 1932
Dormitory for the victims of war
Dormitory for the victims of war
1934 - 1935
Jonas Vileišis House in Kaunas
Jonas Vileišis House in Kaunas
1930
M. Bruskienė Residential House in Kaunas
M. Bruskienė Residential House in Kaunas
1932 - 1933
Kaunas County Municipality Palace
Kaunas County Municipality Palace
1932 - 1934
Borisas Goldbergas Residential House in Kaunas
Borisas Goldbergas Residential House in Kaunas
1937
Vatican Diplomatic Mission (Nunciature) in Kaunas
Vatican Diplomatic Mission (Nunciature) in Kaunas
1930 - 1931
Residential House of Artist A. Žmuidzinavičius
Residential House of Artist A. Žmuidzinavičius
1928
Apartment House of Company “Butas” in Kaunas
Apartment House of Company “Butas” in Kaunas
1931 - 1932
Antanas Gylys Hospital Building
Antanas Gylys Hospital Building
1932 - 1934
J. Papečkys Residential House in Kaunas
J. Papečkys Residential House in Kaunas
1937
Petras Mačiulis Residential House in Kaunas
Petras Mačiulis Residential House in Kaunas
1935 - 1936
Christ's Resurrection Church in Kaunas
Christ's Resurrection Church in Kaunas
1933 - 1940
Cinema theater "Romuva"
Cinema theater "Romuva"
1938 - 1940
Elementary School for Jewish Children in Kaunas
Elementary School for Jewish Children in Kaunas
1930 - 1931
Sports Hall in Kaunas
Sports Hall in Kaunas
1938 - 1939
Č. Pacevičius Villa
Č. Pacevičius Villa
1935
Residential House of Architect Stasys Kudokas
Residential House of Architect Stasys Kudokas
1937
Agriculture Bank in Kaunas (now KTU Central Administration Building)
Agriculture Bank in Kaunas (now KTU Central Administration Building)
1933 - 1935
Palace for Firefighters in Kaunas
Palace for Firefighters in Kaunas
1929 - 1930
Grigorijus Gumeniukas Residential House (Adapted to Kaunas 3rd Gymnasium)
Grigorijus Gumeniukas Residential House (Adapted to Kaunas 3rd Gymnasium)
1934 - 1935
Evangelical and Reformed Church in Kaunas
Evangelical and Reformed Church in Kaunas
1937 - 1947
Health Insurance Fund
Health Insurance Fund
1933 - 1935
The Palace of the Common Labourers in Kaunas
The Palace of the Common Labourers in Kaunas
1938 - 1939
Palace of Physical Education
Palace of Physical Education
1932 - 1934
Palace of Klaipeda Pedagogic Institute’s Sports and Gymnastics
Palace of Klaipeda Pedagogic Institute’s Sports and Gymnastics
1937 - 1938
Funicular of Žaliakalnis
Funicular of Žaliakalnis
1931
Elementary School (now Jonas Jablonskis Gymnasium) in Kaunas
Elementary School (now Jonas Jablonskis Gymnasium) in Kaunas
1931
Jonas and Gediminas Lapėnai Apartment House
Jonas and Gediminas Lapėnai Apartment House
1932
The headquarter of milk processing company "Pienocentras"
The headquarter of milk processing company "Pienocentras"
1931 - 1934
Commerce, Industry and Crafts palace
Commerce, Industry and Crafts palace
1937 - 1939
A garage of Amerikos lietuvių prekybos akcinė bendrovė company
A garage of Amerikos lietuvių prekybos akcinė bendrovė company
1929 - 1932
Office of the Bank of Lithuania in Kėdaniai
Office of the Bank of Lithuania in Kėdaniai
1931 - 1932
Office of Former Insurance Company Lloyd
Office of Former Insurance Company Lloyd
1938
Simonas Volpertas Private Clinic in Šiauliai
Simonas Volpertas Private Clinic in Šiauliai
1930
Former Frida Arkusienė Residential House
Former Frida Arkusienė Residential House
1939
Gymnasium named after Petras Vileišis in Pasvalys (former School of Commerce)
Gymnasium named after Petras Vileišis in Pasvalys (former School of Commerce)
1933 - 1935
Residential Houses at 83 and 85 Laisvės Av. in Kaunas
Residential Houses at 83 and 85 Laisvės Av. in Kaunas
1931 - 1940
A project for Culture House in Kudirkos Naumiestis
A project for Culture House in Kudirkos Naumiestis
1939
Draft project for the Mother and Child Museum in Kaunas
Draft project for the Mother and Child Museum in Kaunas
1938
Draft project for the Adelė and Paulius Galauniai House
Draft project for the Adelė and Paulius Galauniai House
1930
Jewish Gymnasium in Kaunas
Jewish Gymnasium in Kaunas
1931
Telšiai St. Nicholas Orthodox Church
Telšiai St. Nicholas Orthodox Church
1935 - 1937
Raseiniai Old Post Office
Raseiniai Old Post Office
1933 - 1934
House of Vladas Stankūnas in Kaunas, Savanoriu av. 58
House of Vladas Stankūnas in Kaunas, Savanoriu av. 58
1934
Kaunas German Upper Exact Sciences Gymnasium (now A. Puškinas Gymnasium)
Kaunas German Upper Exact Sciences Gymnasium (now A. Puškinas Gymnasium)
1923 - 1930
Juozas Daugirdas Apartment House
Juozas Daugirdas Apartment House
1930
House in Kaunas at 4 L. Sapiegos St.
House in Kaunas at 4 L. Sapiegos St.
1935
P. J. Krasauskas Residential House
P. J. Krasauskas Residential House
1938
Museum of Samogitians "Alka"
Museum of Samogitians "Alka"
1936 - 1941
Gymnasium in Kėdainiai
Gymnasium in Kėdainiai
1935 - 1944
Villa "Šilelis"
Villa "Šilelis"
1938 - 1939
Villa in Naglis st. 8
Villa in Naglis st. 8
Residential house of Lidija Vaišvilienė and Olimpija Balsienė
Residential house of Lidija Vaišvilienė and Olimpija Balsienė
1939
Meilach Melamed house in kaunas
Meilach Melamed house in kaunas
1938 - 1939
House of Janina Rožanskienė
House of Janina Rožanskienė
1939
House of Dumbriai in Ukmergė
House of Dumbriai in Ukmergė
1933
Church in Biliakiemis
Church in Biliakiemis
1937 - 1940
Lithuanian Riflemen's Union house in Utena
Lithuanian Riflemen's Union house in Utena
1933
Mausha and Nathan Feinberg‘s house
Mausha and Nathan Feinberg‘s house
1929
House of Lionginas Junknevičius
House of Lionginas Junknevičius
1937
Meat Processing and Bacon Factory of “Maistas” company in Tauragė
Meat Processing and Bacon Factory of “Maistas” company in Tauragė
1931 - 1932
Former Petras Araminas primary school in Marijampolė
Former Petras Araminas primary school in Marijampolė
1934
Primary School in Alytus
Primary School in Alytus
1937
Branch of Lithuanian Bank in Biržai
Branch of Lithuanian Bank in Biržai
1934
Railway station in Plungė
Railway station in Plungė
1931 - 1932
Health Insurance Fund in Panevėžys
Health Insurance Fund in Panevėžys
1936 - 1937
Building of the Panevėžys District Municipality
Building of the Panevėžys District Municipality
1933
Former house of notary Jonas Dikinis in Raseiniai
Former house of notary Jonas Dikinis in Raseiniai
1933 - 1936
Former bus station in Raseiniai
Former bus station in Raseiniai
Raseiniai Primary School
Raseiniai Primary School
1933
House built by Teresė and Mykolas Narbutai
House built by Teresė and Mykolas Narbutai
1932
Kėdainiai County Municipal Hospital
Kėdainiai County Municipal Hospital
1935 - 1937
House built by Uršulė and Zigmas Starkai
House built by Uršulė and Zigmas Starkai
1933 - 1937
Primary school in Palemonas
Primary school in Palemonas
1935 - 1937
Former house of Zofija and Leonas Skukauskas
Former house of Zofija and Leonas Skukauskas
1931
1 77

Church of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in Šančiai is a characteristic example of modern sacred architecture. Modernist churches were not a very common phenomenon in the First Republic which is why the church in Šančiai is an interesting and valuable object for Lithuanian sacred heritage.


During the interwar period Šančiai was a densely populated town in the suburbs of the temporary capital (according to the numbers provided in the press of that time, in 1931 Šančiai had a population of 25,000 which was then equal to that of Šiauliai), yet requests for a Catholic house of worship bothered it ever since the beginning of the XX century. It is known that Šančiai priest would say Mass in a small chapel at parish’s cemetery which was not suited to fit in all visitors. Attempts to improve the situation included setting up the house of worship in a rearranged military storehouse at Kaunas fortress following WWI.


Construction of the new house of prayer was initiated by then pastor of Šančiai parish Mamertas Lumbė. Design works took around four years to complete. In 1935 a draft was submitted for approval, prepared by architect Algirdas Šalkauskas. Although he did not finish the works and the design of the building was passed over to architect Adolfas Netyksa who provided a slightly adjusted draft for the church in 1936. The construction of the church was completed and the object was consecrated in 1938.


The building has a rectangular layout and two low towers which emphasise the central facade. Two identical sacristies on both sides highlight the massive size and minimalistic exterior decorations of the building. Facades of the church are characterised by a composition of regular geometric shapes: square front doors clash with narrow, rectangular windows set out in a vertical fashion. The interior is spiced up by a fresco “Angels” by painter Liudas Truikis on the presbytery arch, as well as stained glass windows by Stasys Ušinskis installed during the interwar period.


The exterior of the building and its size seamlessly blended in with the urban landscape of Šančiai town, which was the hub of industrial objects, technology infrastructure, and military barracks. Modern architectural forms and techniques emphasised building’s aesthetics by accentuating its materiality: the construction of the church used a modern technology for designing reinforced concrete structures. The roof of the church was one of the first examples of thin-walled reinforced concrete shell structures in interwar Lithuania. Estimates and maintenance of works was provided by engineer Pranas Markūnas – one of the pioneers of technology in Lithuania.


Kristina Endriukaitytė


Church after the construction. I. Girčys photo, From Lithuanian Central State Archive's Photograph Document Department
Church after the construction. I. Girčys photo, From Lithuanian Central State Archive's Photograph Document Department
Draft project. Lithuanian Central State Archives
Draft project. Lithuanian Central State Archives
Draft project. Lithuanian Central State Archives
Draft project. Lithuanian Central State Archives
Draft project. Lithuanian Central State Archives
Draft project. Lithuanian Central State Archives
Project. From journal "Naujoji Romuva", 1935 m., nr. 7, p. 169
Project. From journal "Naujoji Romuva", 1935 m., nr. 7, p. 169
Project. Lithuanian Central State Archives
Project. Lithuanian Central State Archives
Project. Lithuanian Central State Archives
Project. Lithuanian Central State Archives
Project. Lithuanian Central State Archives
Project. Lithuanian Central State Archives
Project. Lithuanian Central State Archives
Project. Lithuanian Central State Archives
Project. Lithuanian Central State Archives
Project. Lithuanian Central State Archives
Project. Lithuanian Central State Archives
Project. Lithuanian Central State Archives
Church of Šančiai. 2000, V. Petrulis photo.
Church of Šančiai. 2000, V. Petrulis photo.