Jieznas Church of St Michael the Archangel and St John the Baptist

This Baroque church has been declared a cultural heritage object of national significance. Travellers seeing it for the first time are amazed at the grandeur and ornate interior of a church built so far from the big cities. In 2011, in a photography competition held in Vilnius for the most beautiful Lithuanian church at night, it took second place. The church's history recalls the nobles of the powerful Pac family, who funded many Baroque buildings in Lithuania and hired Italian architects. Krzysztof Pac began building the first brick church in Jieznas in 1655. The work dragged on because of battles with the Russians. Finally, in 1670, Bishop Kazimierz Pac consecrated the church in the name of St Michael the Archangel. Until then a Calvinist church had operated nearby, in Musninkai, since in the 16th century the Pacs had leaned towards Calvinism. Legend has it that Stefan Pac, while visiting Kraków, met the papal nuncio Ippolito Aldobrandini. The nuncio suggested that Pac convert to Catholicism, but the nobleman declared that he would become a Catholic when the nuncio was elected pope. In 1592 the nuncio became Pope Clement VIII, and the Pac dynasty became Catholics. Some locals believe that the pope even gave a wooden cross to mark the church's consecration, and it can still be seen today. However, it has been established that the work is considerably "younger". In the church basement is a crypt unique in Lithuania, with symmetrical stairs, an altar and side niches. Until the end of the 18th century the remains of Antoni and Teresa Pac and their four children rested here in sarcophagi. The interior is decorated with twelve altars, four paintings by the well-known artist and academician Nikodem Silvanavičius, abundant ceiling and wall paintings, and a valuable organ.