The church was commissioned by Count Reinhold Tyzenhauz, one of the most influential figures in the 19th-century Rokiškis region.
The interior contains an ornate wooden altar and pulpit complex that was largely crafted by local craftsmen under the guidance of foreign masters.
The church was built on the site of previous wooden churches that had served the Rokiškis parish since the 16th century.
The building was designed in the Neo-Gothic style, a deliberate stylistic choice to differentiate it from the earlier Baroque churches common in Lithuania.
It retains a collection of rare 19th-century liturgical items that were spared during the Soviet era.
The church towers are visible from several kilometers away, serving as a primary navigational landmark for the city of Rokiškis.
St. Matthew the Apostle Church in Rokiškis is a prominent neo-Gothic landmark constructed between 1868 and 1877 under the patronage of the Tyzenhauz family. The church features two distinct towers and a preserved interior design that incorporates wood carvings from the mid-19th century. Its construction was supervised by the architect Georgas Verneris, who integrated local building techniques with contemporary Western European ecclesiastical styles. The site serves as a vital historical centerpiece for the Rokiškis region and remains an active parish church. The church houses the historic Rokiškis Manor bell collection and complex decorative stained-glass windows. Visitors can observe the specific cruciform floor plan, which highlights the structural shift toward verticality characteristic of the period's religious architecture in Lithuania.
The center of Nepriklausomybės Square provides the best vantage point to capture the symmetry of the twin towers.
Take time to examine the intricate wood carvings in the sanctuary, which are considered some of the best preserved in the region.
Visit the surrounding church square to view the exterior proportions against the backdrop of the Rokiškis Manor park nearby.
Respect the ongoing parish activities and avoid entering during private prayer sessions or mass.
Avoid taking photographs with flash during religious services, as this is considered disruptive.
Maintain silence, remove hats, and ensure attire covers shoulders and knees.
