In the course of this project, the sacral architectural and artistic heritage of Šiauliai Deanery in Šiauliai Diocese was consistently researched and published. From 2016 to 2018, expeditions were organised, during which the surviving items of sacral architecture and art were investigated and photographed in the churches of Aukštelkė, Bazilionai, Gruzdžiai, Juozapava, Kuršėnai, Kurtuvėnai, Meškuičiai, Raudėnai, Šakyna and the chapels of Kybarčiai, the Hill of Crosses and other locations. Textual sources and iconographic information related to the history of parishes belonging to Šiauliai Deanery were also collected. Publications prepared on the basis of research material. Both books have a catalogue-like structure; they present visual sources—the cultural heritage items of Šiauliai Deanery in Šiauliai Diocese—that significantly contribute to the deeper understanding of Lithuanian art, history, and religious culture and also provide their scientific analysis and comprehensive historical research. The majority of historical data and art works included in the two books are published for the first time.
Results:
- Within the reference period, 2080 photographs of architecture and art works were added to the collection of digital documents capturing the heritage of Šiauliai Deanery in Šiauliai Diocese (that previously consisted of 2841 items). A significant photo archive of heritage objects is stored in the institute.
- In 2018, the book titled Lithuanian Religious Art, vol. II: Diocese of Šiauliai, Part 1: Deanery of Šiauliai, Book 1: Agailiai–Juozapava (edited by D. Vasiliūnienė and S. Žeimienė) was published.
https://www.lkti.lt/uploads/Leidiniai/2018Sakralinedailesummary.pdf
- The second book titled Lithuanian Religious Art, vol. II: Diocese of Šiauliai, Part 2: Deanery of Šiauliai, Book 2: Kairiai–Kurtuvėnai (edited by R. Stankevičienė and D. Vasiliūnienė) was in the final stages of editing.
https://www.lkti.lt/uploads/Leidiniai/2020/Lietuvos%20sakralin%C4%97%20dail%C4%97%20II%20(Summary).pdf
