Wooden Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Star of the Sea

In 1929, Prelate Dr. Jurgis Galdikas, who was an inspector and teacher at the Telšiai Seminary, built a wooden chapel on the banks of the Šventoji River, a mile away from the emerging fishing port, on the farmstead of his sister Monika Kaunienė. He built a wooden church on the farmstead of his sister Monika Kaunienė, covered it with boards on the outside and inside, and covered the roof with galvanized sheet metal. The builder himself drew up the plans for the church. He named the church “Stella Maris” – Mary, Star of the Sea. The title is expressed in an artistic painting above the altar. It is said that there was a great storm at sea that year, which caught the fishermen at sea, several of whom drowned, while some were saved. The surviving fishermen, wanting to thank Mary for saving them, brought materials for the church, prepared in the carpentry workshops of Klaipėda, to Šventoji by barge. The materials were transported from Šventoji to the construction site and assembled there. Since Palanga and Šventoji are 12 km apart, the builder entrusted his private church to the bishop of Telšiai and allowed him to hold services for the residents of the newly established town and its surroundings. This later became the center of the Šventoji parish. The church has two art monuments of local significance: a painting of St. Casimir (late 19th century, oil on canvas, artist unknown) and a bell (brass) with the inscription “Mark Ulman, Karaliaučius.” Casimir (late 19th century, oil on canvas, author unknown) and a bell (brass) with the inscription “Mark Ulman, Karaliaučius 1608 m.” This bell is one of the oldest in our country, older than all the bells in Palanga.

Cultural heritage objects

In the wooden Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Star of the Sea: Painting “St. Casimir”

• Bell
• Cultural heritage objects