Marijampolė, Marijampolė Municipality
Suvalkija
minor basilica of St Michael the Archangel with relics of Blessed Jurgis Matulaitis
J. Bendoriaus g. 1, Marijampolė
54.55520, 23.34430
30-60 minutes; longer with the monastery museum
year-round; the Matulaitis pilgrimage feast is held in July
Marijampolė Minor Basilica of St Michael the Archangel, Marijampolė St Michael Church
Marijampolė Basilica and the Marian Fathers
The minor basilica of St Michael the Archangel is the main shrine of Marijampolė and stands in the city centre. Its history is inseparable from the Marian Fathers: they were invited here in the mid-eighteenth century, settled in the area, and the town that grew under their care took the name Marijampolė, the city of Mary.
In 1758, Countess Pranciška Butlerienė built a wooden Holy Cross church and monastery for the Marian Fathers and donated land that became the beginning of the town. The present masonry church stands on the site of that older shrine and continues its tradition.
From 1824 to the basilica title
After fires and storms destroyed the wooden churches, the Marian priest Mykolas Pietaris oversaw the construction of a masonry church in 1818-1824. The walls were raised and roofed in 1819, the work was completed in 1824, and on September 5 of that year the church was consecrated and dedicated to St Michael the Archangel, patron of the Marian order.
In 1882, the present two-tower facade was added, defining the church's silhouette; the architect was V. Rybarskis. The building combines Classicist and Neo-Baroque features. In 1989 it became a pro-cathedral, and in 1992, because of its historical importance, it received the title of minor basilica. The church has a three-nave Latin-cross plan and six altars.
Blessed Jurgis Matulaitis
The basilica's most important treasure is the relics of Blessed Archbishop Jurgis Matulaitis, also known as Matulewicz. The renewer of the Marian Fathers and bishop of Vilnius was buried in the church in 1934. In 1987, after his beatification, his remains were moved to a separate chapel altar for public veneration. His coat of arms with the motto Vince malum in bono can be seen by the altar.
Because of Matulaitis, the basilica became an important pilgrimage site and a stop on the John Paul II Pilgrim Route. Beside the basilica stands the Classicist Marian monastery of 1792, which houses the Blessed Jurgis Matulaitis Museum and is convenient to visit together with the church.
Visiting
The basilica is an active parish church, and entry is free. During research, the church was listed as open daily roughly from 7:00 to 19:00, while service times were published on diocesan and parish pages. Because arrangements change, check visiting and Mass times before travelling, especially during the Matulaitis pilgrimage feast in July.
For the church and the Matulaitis chapel, allow 30-60 minutes; add more time if you also visit the monastery museum. The basilica combines well with other Marijampolė sites and with the nearby Lūginė chapel at Matulaitis' birthplace.
