Katalikų bažnyčios ir koplyčios Lietuvoje: statistinė analizė

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Bažnyčios; Koplyčios; Statistiniai duomenys; Religijų geografija; Katalikų Bažnyčia; Bažnyčių tinklas; 20 amžius; 21 amžius; Statistical data; Geography of religions; Church network; Churches; Chapels; 20th century; 21th century.

ENThe author analyses the main statistical data of the Catholic churches and chapels in Lithuania. The focus is paid to the analysis of the data of Lithuanian churches and chapels after 1990, that is, after the restoration of Lithuania‘s independence. The article is based on the data set of 1310 Lithuanian Catholic churches and chapels compiled by the author (compiled on January 1, 2021). The article presents statistical data related to the number and types of churches and chapels, their distribution in specific territorial units (dioceses, deaneries, municipalities), and the titles of churches and chapels. The author also presents systematic information about the age and year of the construction of churches and chapels and cases of destruction of churches since 1941. According to the data set compiled by the author, out of 693 parishes (excluding 15 army chaplains), 672 parishes have parish churches. There are 46 nonparish churches and rectories in Lithuania. Apart from the chapels of monasteries and monastic houses, 448 chapels were built in Lithuania or installed in other buildings for the needs of believers. The author divides Lithuanian chapels into different types. First of all, there are chapels built (there are 219 chapels in Lithuania, which are built and intended for religious rites) and chapels installed in buildings of various purposes (224 chapels). Apart from non-operative and abandoned chapels, 134 chapels are built in the cemeteries of settlements and rural areas, and there are 61 chapels in other urban and settlement areas. Lithuanian churches have 139 different titles, Lithuanian chapels – 89. The titles of Lithuanian churches and chapels were divided into four groups: related to Christ, related to the Blessed Virgin Mary, related to the Saints, and related to God, the Holy Trinity and St. Spirit). 73 new churches were built or installed after 1990 in Lithuania.39 were built (installed) in the geographical locations of churches destroyed after World War II, during the Soviet era or by fires (hurricanes). Thirty-one of churches were built (installed) in the new geographical locations, three more new churches were built to replace the old ones. The article also raises questions about a new use for disused (non-operative) churches. The use of churches and chapels in different places depends on demographic situation, economic opportunities, and social activity of priests and communities. There is a growing debate in Europe about churches as elements of cultural heritage or markers of social and local identity. Churches and chapels become not only the places of religious rites and spiritual gatherings, but also the places of remembrance of historical events, spaces of cultural values, and spots of the manifestation of communal or personal identity. [From the publication]

• Teologija / Theology
• Istorija / History