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Rūdninkai Church of the Holy Trinity

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The Rūdninkai Church of the Holy Trinity, built in 1790, is located in the Rūdninkai Forest near the Merkys River. The first chapel on this site was erected in 1470 by Prince Casimir but was destroyed by fire. To commemorate the prince's rescue from a bear, the church was adorned with the votive offering of a "Bear's Paw." In the 17th century, the remains of Queen Barbara Radziwiłł were temporarily housed in the church. The current wooden church features 17th-century paintings and a 19th-century altar decorated with wooden sculptures.

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Religious Heritage
Šalčininkai District Municipality Administration

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54.43204, 25.15066

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This church holds significant historical and cultural value. The Rūdninkai Forest, once a royal hunting reserve, was chosen by Prince Casimir in 1470 as the site for a chapel for local villagers. After the original chapel burned down, the community resolved to build their own church. According to legend, Prince Casimir was saved from a bear, an event symbolized by the church’s "Bear's Paw" votive offering, gifted by his son, Sigismund the Old. The church became an important cultural center. During the 16th century, the coffin of Queen Barbara Radziwiłł

was placed here during her funeral procession from Kraków to Vilnius. In the mid-17th century, the church was burned by Russian Cossacks but was later rebuilt. In the 19th century, an altar from the closed Bernardine Church in Trakai was transferred to Rūdninkai. Today, the church's interior features 17th-century paintings, including "Mary with the Child" and "The Holy Family," as well as the 18th-century artwork "The Lamentation of Christ." The 19th-century altar, adorned with intricate wooden sculptures, adds to the church's unique charm.

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2025-11-17

Rūdninkai Church of the Holy Trinity

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