Description
The history of the Baltriškiai Church can be linked to the family of Pranciškus Zavadskis, who moved from Druja to Steponiškis in 1847 and owned 276 hectares of land there. One of his sons, Adomas Zavadskis (also spelled Zavadskas), and his wife Elena donated a valak of land for the establishment of the Baltriškiai Church. In 1920, thanks to the efforts of Father Justinas Ribokas and with funds from parishioners and the Zavadskis family, the current church was built of logs and consecrated by Antanas Kryžanauskas, the pastor of Salakas. In 2001, the Tiberiada community—members of a Catholic monastic brotherhood from Belgium—settled in Baltriškės. The Tiberiada community consists of about 20 monks, seven of whom live in Baltriškės, while the rest live in Belgium; several of them serve on missions in the Congo and the Philippines. Members of this brotherhood are characterized by their focus on fraternal life, trust, and the promotion of the Franciscan way of life. According to Brother Mark, for the friars living in Baltriškės, this is a life of complete seclusion—but one rooted in the Gospel. The most important aspects of their lives are sharing joy and prayer, and being filled with grace, peace, tranquility, and a willingness to welcome people—especially young people and families. Visits must be arranged in advance.
