AB Archaeologia Baltica 1392-5520 1392-5520 KU 10_200-206_LAUZIKAS Article Some cosmological aspects of Catholic churches in Lithuania Laužikas Rimvydas rimvydas.lauzikas@kf.vu.lt ∗ Vilnius University Corresponding author. 10 200 206 20 12 2008 20 12 2008 01 11 2007 05 03 2008 2008 Klaipėda University

This paper presents a preliminary study of the orientation of Lithuanian Catholic churches and interactions between Christian and pagan cosmologies in Lithuanian church architecture. We can state that the Christianization of Lithuania involved an interaction of these two systems. It is already known that models of time and space in Christian Europe were reflected in the architecture of Lithuanian Catholic churches. But pagan cosmology also influenced Lithuanian Christian architecture.

 church orientations Christian cosmology canonical orientation non-canonical orientation orientation upon sacred places Vilnius Tauragnai Sodeliai Skudutiškis