Šventežeris
Encyclopedia
Šventežeris is a small town in Alytus County
in southern Lithuania
. As of 2001 it had a population of 274. It is situated some 8 kilometres (5 mi) east of Lazdijai
on the banks of Lake Šventežeris.
The town traces its history to Jerzy Radziwiłł, castellan
of Trakai
, who distributed land to his serfs. His heirs built a Calvinist church in 1598 and turned the town into a parish seat. Samuelis Boguslavas Chilinskis, son of a Protestant priest and first translator of the Bible into the Lithuanian language
whose translation was put to print, was born in the town in 1630s. According to inventory of 1650, Šventežeris had a market square and 78 resident families.
However, it suffered during the Second Northern War
(1655–1661) and the population dropped to 47 families in 1663. Šventežeris never recovered and became a village. In 1663, the Protestant church was taken over by the Catholics. In 1746, a new church was built, but it burned down in 1863. The new church, built in 1882, survives to this day. It boasts Neoclassical
exterior and Baroque
altars. The Radziwiłł family lost possession of the town in 1783. The population grew somewhat in 1920s when the former estate was divided and sold out to the peasants in 1920s. The town had 325 residents in 1886, 417 in 1923, 547 in 1959, and 478 in 1978.
Alytus County
Alytus County is one of ten counties in Lithuania. It is the southernmost county, and its capital is the city of Alytus. Its territory lies within the ethnographic region of Dzūkija...
in southern Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
. As of 2001 it had a population of 274. It is situated some 8 kilometres (5 mi) east of Lazdijai
Lazdijai
Lazdijai is a city in Lithuania located about east of the border with Poland. In 1990 Lithuania declared independence from the Soviet Union, and new check points between the borders Poland and Lithuania were established and Lazdijai became the center that oversees and continues to regulate these...
on the banks of Lake Šventežeris.
The town traces its history to Jerzy Radziwiłł, castellan
Castellan
A castellan was the governor or captain of a castle. The word stems from the Latin Castellanus, derived from castellum "castle". Also known as a constable.-Duties:...
of Trakai
Trakai
Trakai is a historic city and lake resort in Lithuania. It lies 28 km west of Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. Because of its proximity to Vilnius, Trakai is a popular tourist destination. Trakai is the administrative centre of Trakai district municipality. The town covers 11.52 km2 of...
, who distributed land to his serfs. His heirs built a Calvinist church in 1598 and turned the town into a parish seat. Samuelis Boguslavas Chilinskis, son of a Protestant priest and first translator of the Bible into the Lithuanian language
Lithuanian language
Lithuanian is the official state language of Lithuania and is recognized as one of the official languages of the European Union. There are about 2.96 million native Lithuanian speakers in Lithuania and about 170,000 abroad. Lithuanian is a Baltic language, closely related to Latvian, although they...
whose translation was put to print, was born in the town in 1630s. According to inventory of 1650, Šventežeris had a market square and 78 resident families.
However, it suffered during the Second Northern War
Second Northern War
The Second Northern War was fought between Sweden and its adversaries the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth , Russia , Brandenburg-Prussia , the Habsburg Monarchy and Denmark–Norway...
(1655–1661) and the population dropped to 47 families in 1663. Šventežeris never recovered and became a village. In 1663, the Protestant church was taken over by the Catholics. In 1746, a new church was built, but it burned down in 1863. The new church, built in 1882, survives to this day. It boasts Neoclassical
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
exterior and Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
altars. The Radziwiłł family lost possession of the town in 1783. The population grew somewhat in 1920s when the former estate was divided and sold out to the peasants in 1920s. The town had 325 residents in 1886, 417 in 1923, 547 in 1959, and 478 in 1978.