In front of the church, thanks to the initiative of the parish priest, Pranciškus Čivilis, and the goodwill of local people, the sculpture “Angel” was erected in 2015. It was created by the sculptor Mantas Paulauskas.

A plaque bearing eloquent words from the Holy Scripture is fixed to the pedestal of the sculpture dedicated to the church’s patron, St Michael the Archangel: “Before the angels I sing to You, O Lord, a hymn; I bow before Your holy temple…”

These words also inspired the very idea of the artwork. During the blessing of the sculpture, Father Čivilis said that the idea arose from a psalm which speaks of God’s angels, sent to guard every person on the path of life: “God commanded His angels to watch over your every step in life… He will protect you on the way and lead you to the place I have prepared for you. Walk with him and listen to his voice.”

Here, the Angel becomes not only an aesthetic, but also a spiritual sign, reminding us of the importance of faith, hope, and love. It not only protects the parishioners, but also greets all who pass by. During the consecration of the sculpture, the Bishop Emeritus of Kaišiadorys, Juozapas Matulaitis, wished that every person might feel its protection, and that the sculpture might become a symbol of the fight against evil.

The sculpture was created on the basis of motifs from Čiurlionis’ works. In many of the artist’s paintings, angels can be seen, but the one standing by the church most closely resembles the angel depicted in M. K. Čiurlionis’ work “The Offering” (1909).

M. K. Čiurlionis “The Offering” (1909) © ciurlionis.eu

It is precisely in his depiction of angels that Čiurlionis’ free approach to iconography is most clearly revealed: for him, an angel is not a being defined by any particular religion, but a symbol rich in multiple meanings. It also alludes to the Biblical story of Cain and Abel—though not in a literal sense, but rather transformed into a universal symbol of offering.

The angel in “The Offering” appears as a mediator between heaven and earth, between God and humankind, making the decision—whether to accept the offering or not. Standing at the very top of the stairs, he may also symbolise the highest stage of human spiritual evolution.

Symbols and themes of spirituality often recur in Čiurlionis’ works. Therefore, our journey will be filled not only with the beauty of nature, fascinating stories from the life of Čiurlionis and his family, and traces of the oldest Lithuanian traditions still alive today, but also with reflections on eternal values.

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Prepared based on sources:

ciurlioniokelias.lt, ciurlionis.eu, bernardinai.lt

The sculpture “Angel”

The sculpture “Angel”

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