Šimonys Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is located in the southeast of Kupiškis district, in Šimonys town. The Šimonys chapel is mentioned in written sources in 1669. The bishop Mikalojus Steponas Pacas consecrated the church, donated the picture of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a cope and a silver chalice on August 15, 1671. Since then, worshipers began visiting Šimonys (special healings have been recorded). Metrical books started to be written since 1700. Šimonys belonged to Kupiškis parish in 1744. A new octagonal church was built on the site of the old church by priest K. Sveitkauskis from 1775 to 1779. Vladislovas Bareika, who served as a pastor in Šimonys for 30 years, enlarged the church, built a belfry and installed 4 bells in 1800. The poet Antanas Strazdas served as a priest in Šimonys in 1802. Accused of supporting the rebels Silvestras Kuprevičius was arrested in 1864. The priest Antanas Pauliukas established the branch of the Lithuanian Catholic Sobriety Society in 1910. The church and rectory burned down, the belfry exploded, 2 bells were taken to Russia, the other 2 melted down in 1915. Services were held in the school hall from 1915 to 1920. In the concern of the pastor J. Norvilas the present wooden church was built in 1920. The organ brought from Troškūnai was installed in 1921. In the concern of the pastor Jurgis Martinaitis the interior of the church was painted, 3 altars were installed, 2 bells were purchased, a belfry was built, the gypsum Stations of the Cross were installed from 1928 to 1932. He also built a parish hall, a statue of the Mother of God in the churchyard, bought 10 pipes for the orchestra, and built a house with his own funds in 1939 (he died there in 1946). The roof of the church was damaged and the windows were broken in 1944. The church was later repaired. The church has a rectangular plan and a tower. It also has a small turret and a three-walled apse. The interior is divided into 3 naves, there are 3 altars. The fence of the churchyard is made of stone.