Old Believers Church in Perelozai

The Old Believers Church in Perelozai is a wooden structure with plain exterior walls that reflect Orthodox tradition. Inside, numerous religious icons and carved wooden elements define the prayer space.

Old Believer communities settled in Lithuania in the late 17th century after facing persecution in Russia for their religious differences from the Orthodox mainstream. This church emerged from the need to create a place where their traditions could continue.

The community here maintains worship practices that differ from mainstream Orthodoxy, showing how a small group has preserved its own religious traditions across generations. You can observe this in the way people sing and pray during services, which stands out from what happens in other churches.

The church is closed outside service times and requires advance contact to arrange a visit. It is best to reach out to the local community ahead of time to gain entry.

This church is one of about 43 remaining Old Believer places of worship in Lithuania, concentrated in a region with a distinctive religious past. These sites show how religious minorities in Eastern Europe have maintained their identity over centuries.