Photographs show the magic of churches plucked from darkness

The idea of ​​amateur photographer Egidijus Lisova to photograph churches lit up at night in all regions is an exceptional attempt. After he started going to night photo sessions last fall, he captured about 280 churches, and there are still more than a thousand. “I aim to artistically reflect them at night,” revealed the photographer.
It was inspired by the house of prayer in Kretingale
It is not surprising that Lithuanian churches have found themselves in the eyes of artists – they are trying to reveal them from various angles. Photographers, not only professionals, photograph the facade, the interior. However, amateur photographer E. Lisovoj is convinced that no one has captured illuminated churches at night in photographs. “Perhaps this is my first attempt to photograph sacred buildings torn from the embrace of darkness,” the photographer smiled. – During the day, everyone sees what they look like, but at night they take on a different form, emit a different emotion. I really like taking pictures at night when the moon shines through the cross. Just kidding, if Dracula were to fly by… Not boring!”
For Egidi, it is important to capture the magic that photography creates. Until now, he photographed everything – from nature to events, he didn’t have his own direction. But one late November evening, when he left the Kretingale cultural center, where he works as a sound and light operator, his eye was caught by the illuminated, interesting-looking church of the town. He was the first to photograph it. After that, while driving through Jokūbav and noticing a church emerging from the darkness – brick, tall, he also took a photo. “I saw that they look beautiful in the dark, and the idea came to me to photograph all Lithuanian churches illuminated at night”, – E. Lisovoj revealed the origin of the unusual project.
Night photo sessions
Last autumn evening, Egidijus got ready for the first photo session with his assistant Martyna Rudelyte, his future wife. After driving around 200 km at night in Šilutė district, he found only five churches lit. They understood that they needed to bring their own floodlights, but it turned out that one, no matter how powerful, will not illuminate the sacred building properly – don’t expect good photography. We had to buy a few more special lamps to illuminate the churches, even where the lighting is installed. E. Lisovoj noticed that only about 30% of the area is illuminated. churches. “There are some that are neglected – burnt out bulbs, they are hanging on a broken wire,” lamented the photographer. – You find a lit up church, but before midnight the lights are turned off. Out of thrift, but this is probably the result of business fraud: at the request of the administrator, the company installs lighting with expensive lamps that consume a lot of electricity. It is possible to find more rational solutions – to install cheaper, more economical lighting, so that the only highlight of the town or village – the church, the center of attraction – is illuminated all night.”
In the Klaipėda region, some churches were photographed several times. At night, churches were immortalized not only in Klaipėda, but also in Tauragė, Telšiai, Šiauliai counties – 280 in total, but there are still more than a thousand. E. Lisovoj photographs churches of traditional religious communities – Catholic and Lutheran – operating in dioceses, but not chapels. Photos are posted on the Facebook platform. “Someone didn’t like the way I took pictures, so he wrote: ‘What do you want – after all, I’m Russian.'” No, I’m not Russian – my roots are Ukrainian: my grandfather, a real Ukrainian, came to Lithuania after World War II and married a Lithuanian woman. My father was born in Lithuania, and so am I. So my last name is just that – I have Ukrainian genes in me. I am principled: until the Russians trample the land of my great-grandparents with their military boots, I will not photograph Orthodox churches,” E. Lisovoj taught.

Capture architectural beauty
“I am not a religious person: for me, the church is an architecturally interesting building. These are objects of cultural heritage, one of the few in Lithuania that can be admired. You wonder how people back then, without technology, could build them, how much effort, energy, and funds were invested in them. No interesting buildings are being built now. The architectural solutions of the new churches were disappointing. Driving in the Klaipėda area past new residential blocks, I am afraid of warehouse-like buildings. It’s understandable – they wanted to build it cheaper, but what authentic will we leave for future generations?” – regretted Egidijus. But he noticed that in the Klaipėda region there are many interesting red brick, interestingly bricked, Lutheran prayer houses of exceptional architecture, and wooden ones in Žemaitija. The photographer was surprised that some were built without nails. His attention was especially drawn to the old Platelia church.
The photographer admitted that it is not easy to take a beautiful picture of the church at night – he looks for various angles to capture the architectural beauty, but he usually photographs the parade side, trying to illuminate the cross as much as possible, which only looks beautiful in the blue sky. “I rarely photograph the church from the side or the back, maybe only the only church in Tytuvėnai, because we found the gate locked and we couldn’t enter the cemetery,” revealed the interviewer.
E. Lisovoj noticed that out of the almost 300 churches photographed, they are not the same. They found buildings of a similar style, but not identical: different windows, domes, different crosses – distinguished by some detail. “It would be interesting to photograph two identical churches,” smiled the photographer.
An escape from everyday life
E. Lisovoj admitted that the further you go, the more interesting the night photo sessions are – old, beautiful prayer houses are discovered. “Both Martyna and I are passionate about what we do,” he revealed. – We are both active: photography is our hobby, an escape from our main activities. Martyna is a great helper who not only searches the Internet for information about the churches operating in the dioceses, but also carries a searchlight and regulates the lighting.”
This season, before the trees are green, they are planning a night photo session in Marijampole county. “Almost all the churches we photographed are covered with trees – it’s a pity that attachment to old trees does not allow cutting them down, even though they hide architecturally interesting buildings,” said E. Lisovoj.
The idea of ​​photographing the country’s churches lit up at night is realized at their own expense. However, after photographing the churches of the Klaipėda region, a person appeared who realized that it costs not only time, but also fuel, photographer’s equipment, even special clothes are needed, and he offered support. The executors of the exclusive project were delighted. They were satisfied when they went to a night photo session in Tauragė county – in Jurbarka, the businessmen provided them with overnight accommodation. Anyone who wants to can contribute to this project – it may take some time.
E. Lisovoj, who posted photos of churches in Klaipėda county on the Facebook platform, offered to choose the most beautiful one. “The majority voted for the Kretinga Lutheran Church, and I liked Vanagai the most – I went to photograph it twice,” revealed the interviewer. – I try to artistically reflect the church at night. After the completion of the project, we may publish a photo album of Lithuanian churches with descriptions and history of the churches. After all, this is the first night photo session of churches.”
Virginia LAPIENĖ
Personal archive photo.