Švedriškė: Church and Lourdes Chapel Post

Švedriškė can be explored through two religious sites: the present-day Church of St. John the Baptist and the Lourdes Chapel Post. The church combines a datable construction history with a wood-carved interior and three Neo-Gothic wooden altars. The post offers a different focus: natural, knotty oak wood, a distinctive method of construction, and sculptures depicting the Baptism of Jesus. Together, these sites provide concrete examples for comparing architectural history, woodwork, and religious imagery in Švedriškė.

Church of St. John the Baptist

The present-day Church of St. John the Baptist in Švedriškė was built in 1933 at the initiative of priest Jonas Gurauskas and furnished in 1934. The design was created by engineer Stasys Taškūnas. The dates distinguish construction from furnishing; the two people also had different roles: Gurauskas initiated the construction, while Taškūnas designed the church. This makes it possible to distinguish both the sequence of events and the roles of those involved, rather than grouping all the information under a single construction date.

Inside the church are three Neo-Gothic wooden altars decorated with sculptures, which suit the wood-carved interior. Neo-Gothic generally refers to a later revival of Gothic design forms; here, the style designation applies to the altars. The wood connects the three pieces to the carved interior, while the sculptures characterize their decoration. Those interested in architecture and interior design can therefore distinguish two aspects: the building’s history and the design of the altar area.

Lourdes Chapel Post

A small fence surrounds the chapel post at Švedriškė Lourdes. It is made of natural, knotty oak wood; no nails, axe, or saw were used in its construction. Along with the type of tree, the natural knots are part of the post’s appearance. The fact that it was made without nails, an axe, or a saw adds a construction detail to the information about its material. For comparison with the altars, it is therefore interesting to consider not only the wood they share, but also the different roles it plays at the two sites.

The post is located in Švedriškė between Lakes Ažvinčis and Ažvintaitis. It was re-erected thanks to priest Alfredas Karišauskas. The post features sculptures of John the Baptist and Jesus depicting the Baptism of Jesus. Together, the figures form a single motif. The location between the two lakes places the site geographically; the restoration and imagery add historical and religious aspects to this sense of place.

Two forms of religious design

The two sites differ in what their design draws attention to. At the church, the year of construction, an engineer’s design, and the furnishings of three Neo-Gothic wooden altars can be considered together. At the chapel post, the focus is instead on the natural oak, the construction without nails, an axe, or a saw, and the Baptism of Jesus. Wood connects the two sites but plays different roles: as the material of the altars in the carved interior, and as a defining feature of the post with its imagery. If you want to understand Švedriškė’s cultural context, this comparison offers a clear thread linking architectural history, woodwork, and religious imagery.

Discover more destinations: Ginučiai, Mielagėnai, Palūšė, Nastazavas, Kazitiškis

For the main travel overview: Ignalina District Municipality.