Kaunas Small Church of the Resurrection: history and stained glass

Kaunas Small Church of the Resurrection: the smaller Žaliakalnis church of the Resurrection parish

Kaunas Small Church of the Resurrection is a separate small red-brick building in Žaliakalnis and should not be confused with the large Resurrection Basilica. The church consecrated in 1928 and later reconstructed retains a five-altar tradition and eleven stained-glass windows by Stasys Ušinskas, but it remains an active parish rather than a museum that is open continuously.

Kaunas Small Church of the Resurrection in Žaliakalnis with a red-brick facade and timber bell turret

Place: Kaunas City Municipality
Region: Kaunas
Type: historic Catholic church
Address: Aukštaičių g. 4, LT-44147 Kaunas
Coordinates: 54.90519, 23.92100
Visit duration: 30-60 minutes, depending on whether the church is open and services are taking place
Best time: outside services, after checking with the parish in advance

Names and variants

Small Church of the Resurrection

The small Žaliakalnis church, not the basilica

Kaunas Small Church of the Resurrection is a separate small building in Žaliakalnis at Aukštaičių g. 4. It belongs to the history of the same Resurrection parish, but it is not the large basilica at Žemaičių g. 31A: the buildings, addresses, scale and visiting experience are different.

Outside, it is recognisable by red brick, a steep grey roof, a square timber bell turret with a cross, a round window and two small entrances. A dark metal fence and modest green churchyard place the building within the residential fabric of Žaliakalnis.

From the first temporary church to the 1928 building

The Resurrection community began its first temporary wooden church at the start of 1923, and it was consecrated on 23 September that year. A second temporary structure, designed and overseen by engineer Z. Novenys, was consecrated on 23 December 1928.

Engineer K. Reisonas led restoration and reconstruction in 1933, when the building received brick cladding and five altars. The present red-brick appearance is therefore the result of both the early temporary church and a later transformation, not a single uncomplicated construction date.

Stained glass and a five-altar interior

The interior is distinguished by eleven stained-glass windows made by professor Stasys Ušinskas and dated 1945-1947. Three presbytery windows depict God the Father, the Immaculate Virgin Mary and Saint Casimir. These details can be appreciated inside only when the parish permits a calm visit.

The windows work with the scale of the small nave, wooden pews and altars. This is different from a monumental basilica: the point is not a vast panorama, but a surviving community space and the changing light through coloured glass.

The parish through the twentieth century

After the large Resurrection Basilica was confiscated, the small church supported the Resurrection community through the Soviet period. When the liturgical centre moved in 2004, its role changed, but the building remained part of a living parish.

Parish history also records major repairs in 2006 and work in the churchyard in 2010. Cultural Heritage Department documents identify the building as cultural property KVR 33558; its present form developed through several early twentieth-century construction and reconstruction stages.

Practical visiting information

This is an active church, so services and parish life take priority over a sightseeing schedule. There are no permanent museum hours or an admission fee here; check the parish information before travelling, behave quietly inside and do not photograph where it is not allowed.

Address information uses two variants: parish and heritage information use Aukštaičių g. 4, while an archdiocesan list also shows no. 6. The map point uses no. 4 for the building, but contact the parish if you need the entrance or parish office. Allow about 30-60 minutes for the exterior and churchyard.

Kaunas Small Church of the Resurrection: frequently asked questions

Where is Kaunas Small Church of the Resurrection?

It is in Kaunas's Žaliakalnis at Aukštaičių g. 4, LT-44147. This is a separate small building, not the large Resurrection Basilica at Žemaičių g. 31A.

Is the small church the same as the basilica?

No. The small church is a red-brick Žaliakalnis building, while the basilica is a much larger building on Žemaičių Street. Their parish histories are connected, but they are separate visitor sites.

Why are both no. 4 and no. 6 associated with Aukštaičių Street?

Address information uses Aukštaičių g. 4, while an archdiocesan list also contains no. 6. Confirm the entrance or office address with the parish before travelling.

When was the Small Church of the Resurrection built?

The present form developed in stages: the first temporary church began in 1923, the second structure was consecrated on 23 December 1928, and K. Reisonas led reconstruction and brick cladding in 1933.

Which stained-glass windows can visitors see?

The church has eleven stained-glass windows by professor Stasys Ušinskas, made in 1945-1947. Three presbytery windows show God the Father, the Immaculate Virgin Mary and Saint Casimir; interior access depends on the parish.

Is the church open to tourists?

It is an active parish rather than a museum that stays open for visitors. Observe services respectfully, and arrange a non-service visit and interior access with the parish.

Can visitors see the stained glass from inside?

Yes, when the parish allows visitors to enter. Go outside services where possible, and arrange interior viewing or photography with the parish in advance.

How long should I allow for the small church?

Allow 30-60 minutes for the exterior and churchyard. If the church is open and you want to view the stained glass quietly, fit the visit to the parish schedule rather than a fixed museum timetable.