Lithuania Church Records: Difference between revisions

''For information about records for non-Christian religions in Lithuania, go to the [[Lithuania Religious Records|Religious Records]] page.''

For help reading records, see [[Lithuanian Genealogical Word List|'''Lithuanian Genealogical Word List'''.]]

===Ancestry.com===

*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1484&cj=1&netid=cj&o_xid=0001029688&o_lid=0001029688&o_sch=Affiliate+External Lithuania: Marriage and Divorce Records from Various Towns], 1855-1940 (not all years). Index. Incomplete.($)

===ePaveldas: Online Catholic Church Records===

*[http://www.epaveldas.lt/patikslintoji-paieska '''ePaveldas Lithuanian Cultural Heritage Collection'''] is a digital repository and collection of items of Lithuanian heritage and culture, includes almost 4,000 Roman Catholic Church register books. Images, no index. Incomplete.  

===Map of Links to Church Records===

This map shows which churches have online records.

*Click on  [https://gengen.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=feb35d29fa9f4582a71d728c77ef286e '''Skaitmeninis bažnyčių žemėlapis (Digital map of churches)''']

*On the map, places with the red church symbol have known sources online. Places with the gray church symbols do not have records online.

*Click on the red church icon for a town, and it will link to a list of available online records and where they are found. The list can be two pages with the first page quite blank, and the info you need on the second page. An arrow ">" on the far right takes you to the second page.

*On the second page is a list of '''"Related records"'''. To the far right, the arrow '''">"''' leads to a description page of the record.

*On the description page '''"More info"''' takes you to images of the actual records.

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===Other Online Church Records===

*[http://www.genmetrika.eu/metrikai.html#met '''GenMetrika'''], Catholic Church birth and baptism register books.

<br>

***[http://kresy.genealodzy.pl/gub_wil_87/ap_lit '''Cz. VII''']

**A list of records and links to descriptions and images will appear. Example:<br>

::::KOMAJE<br>

::::first book of deaths from 1894 to 1895 year. Description | see

::::third book of births of the 20th century. And half Description | See

::::the 4th book of births from 1860 to 1866 year. Description | See

::::5. book of births from 1866 to 1873 year. Description | See

<br>

*[http://www.pasvalia.lt/dokumentai/ '''Pasvalia'''] Includes Roman Catholic Church records for various years and places.

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*[https://www.szukajwarchiwach.gov.pl '''Polish Archival resources online'''].  

===FindMyPast.com===

*[http://search.findmypast.com/search-world-records/british-armed-forces-and-overseas-births-and-baptisms British Armed Forces and Overseas Births and Baptisms], index and images, ($)

*[http://search.findmypast.com/search-world-records/british-armed-forces-and-overseas-banns-and-marriages British Armed Forces and Overseas Banns and Marriages,], index and images, ($)

*[http://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/british-armed-forces-and-overseas-deaths-and-burials British Armed Forces and Overseas Deaths and Burials], index and images, ($)

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{|

|-

*baptism date

*the infant's name

*parents' names

*father's occupation

*status of legitimacy

*occasionally, names of grandparents

*names of witnesses or godparents, who may be relatives

*birth date and place

*the family's place of residence

{|

|-

*the names of the bride and groom

*their ages

*birth dates and places for the bride and groom

*their residences

*their occupations

*birthplaces of the bride and groom

*parents' names (after 1800)

{|

|-

*the date and place of death or burial

*the deceased's age

*place of residence

*the names of survivors, especially a widow or widower

*parents' names, or at least the father's name

|}

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==How to Find Records==

Start with [[Lithuania Church Records#Online Resources and Websites|'''Online Resources and Websites above''']].

Watch for digitized copies of church records to be added to the collection of the FamilySearch Library. Some records might have viewing restrictions, and can only be viewed at a [https://www.familysearch.org/help/fhcenters/locations/ '''Family History Center'''] near you, and/or by members of supporting organizations.  To find records:  

:::a. Click on the [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/results?count=20&placeId=118&query=%2Bplace%3ALithuania '''records of Lithuania'''].

:::b. Click on '''Places within Lithuania''' and a list of towns will appear.

:::d. Click on the '''"Church records"''' topic. Click on the blue links to specific record titles.

:::e. Some combination of these icons will appear at the far right of the listing for the record. [[File:FHL icons.png|75px]].  The magnifying glass indicates that the record is indexed. Clicking on the magnifying glass will take you to the index. Clicking on the camera will take you to an online digital copy of the records.

===Writing for Records===

<span style="color:darkviolet"> You will probably need to write to or email the diocese, or local parish priests to find more recent records not deposited in the National Archives. Use [[Letter Writing Guide for Genealogy|'''Letter Writing Guide for Genealogy''']] for help with composing letters. Then use [https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS809US810&sxsrf=ALeKk01gAK0zn36Yjz6kcclsC1A7GzhjvA%3A1587515742061&ei=XpGfXtqfA76F9PwP9r6G8AM&q=lithuania+translation+services&oq=lithuania+translation+services&gs_lcp=CgZwc3ktYWIQAzIGCAAQBxAeMgYIABAHEB4yBQgAEM0COgQIABBHOggIABAIEAcQHlCtjJcFWO-hlwVgtL-XBWgAcAF4AIABV4gBvQWSAQE5mAEAoAEBqgEHZ3dzLXdpeg&sclient=psy-ab&ved=0ahUKEwjaxoX_5ProAhW-Ap0JHXafAT4Q4dUDCAw&uact=5 '''a Lithuanian translation service.''']</span>

*[https://maps.me/catalog/attractions/amenity-place_of_worship-christian/country-lietuva/ '''Maps.me Church Listings for Lithuania''']

*[https://www.google.com/maps/search/+church+%22lithuania%22/@55.1560813,21.8655676,7z/data=!3m1!4b1 '''Google Maps search results for churches in Lithuania''']  Be sure to scroll through all the pages.  There will be several pages with 20 entries each.

===Writing to a Local Parish===

Earlier records can be held at the diocese, with more recent records still kept in the local parish.  To locate the mailing address or e-mail address for a diocese or local parish, consult:

*[https://www.catholicdirectory.com/search_results?q=&location_value=Lithuania&country_sn=LT&location_type=country&stateSearch=&swlat=53.8967949&nelat=56.45032089999999&swlng=20.931&nelng=26.835523&lat=55.169438&lng=23.881275&faddress=Lithuania&place_id=ChIJE74zDxSU3UYRubpdpdNUCvM#/ '''The Catholic Directory: Lithuania''']

*[https://www.google.com/maps/search/+catholic+church+%22lithuania%22/@55.1149027,21.8544369,7z/data=!3m1!4b1 '''Google Maps search results for Catholic churches in Lithuania''']  Be sure to scroll through all the pages.  There will be several pages with 20 entries each.

The Catholic Church in Lithuania is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome. Lithuania has the highest density of Catholics of all the Baltic states: there are two million Catholics, which is 79% of the total population (2002). The country is divided into eight dioceses including two archdioceses and a military ordinariate.  In 2007 there were 779 Catholic priests and 677 parishes.

=='''Lutheran Church Records'''==

===Writing for Records===  

===Historical Background===

Lutheranism in Lithuania dates back to the 16th century, when it came mainly from the neighboring German-controlled areas of Livonia and East Prussia. A Synod in Vilnius united the church in 1557. The parish network covered nearly all of the Grand Duchy, with district centers in Vilnius, Kedainai, Biržai, Slucke, Kojdanove and Zabludove later Izabeline.  

=='''Reformed/Calvinist Church Records'''==

===Writing for Records===  

===Historical Background===

The Lithuanian Evangelical Reformed Church is a historic denomination which was founded in 1557. In the second half of the 16th century, the Unitarians separated. The denomination has over 7,000 members in 14 congregations. The church is a member of the World Communion of Reformed Churches and the World Reformed Fellowship.<ref> Wikipedia contributors, "Religion in Lithuania", in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia,'' https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Lithuania, accessed 22 April 2020. </ref>

=='''Orthodox Church Records'''==

===Writing for Records===  

*[https://www.google.com/maps/place/St.+Vardan+Armenian+Apostolic+Church/@54.691523,25.2833631,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x46dd941b1a446cf9:0x6f9d98024f324b66!8m2!3d54.691523!4d25.2855571 '''St. Vardan Armenian Apostolic Church''']

===Historical Background===

'''Eastern Orthodoxy''' claims 4.1% of the population, mainly from the Russian minority. Orthodox Christianity is the first form of Christianity to arrive in Lithuania, with the marriage of Algirdas to Maria of Vitebsk and the martyrdom of Ss. Anthony, John, and Eustathius of Vilnius. The church founded by Maria of Vitebsk, St. Paraskevi Church, is the oldest continuously existing Christian congregation in the country and the only Orthodox church in Lithuania fully worshiping in the Lithuanian language.

Most of the Armenians in Lithuania, making up about 0.1% of population according to its own estimates, belong to the '''Armenian Apostolic Church''', which is often classified as an Oriental Orthodox Church, in distinction from Eastern Orthodox (to which the main Russian, Greek and Georgian Churches belong). An Armenian Apostolic Church St. Vardan was opened in Vilnius in 2006.<ref> Wikipedia contributors, "Religion in Lithuania", in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia,'' https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Lithuania, accessed 22 April 2020. </ref>

=='''Other Protestant Church Records'''==

*[https://www.google.com/maps/search/methodist+church+%22lithuania%22/@54.7965786,24.0174547,9z/data=!3m1!4b1 '''Google Maps search results for Methodist churches''']

*[https://www.google.com/maps/search/baptist+church+%22lithuania%22/@54.7939964,24.0146987,9z/data=!3m1!4b1 '''Google Maps search results for Baptist churches''']

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Lithuania]]