The Upyna Church of the Holy Name of the Virgin Mary

In written sources, the name Upyna is found in 1562. In 1633, Maižiešius Blinstrubas, the governor  of Upyna, managed to get the privilege of a weekly market and two annual trade fairs.

The trade privilege is one of the attributes of a town, therefore, already in 1639, it is recorded the Upyna chapel belonging to the Kaltinėnai filija. It could be built by the governor of Upyna after receiving the consent of the king or his trustee. In historical sources, the Upyna church is mentioned for the first time in 1688, but it was assigned to Šilalė filija.

The wars, the plague and other disasters at the beginning of the 18th century erased the previous memory of the Upyna town church. Motiejus Valančius indicates that Upyna church was established in 1706. This date of the foundation of the church was indicated throughout the 19th century in all visitations and priests’ calendars. It is assumed that the previous church was burned by the Swedes. The surviving historical sources show that a priest resided in Upyna since 1716.

The church burned down  during a fire in Upyna in 1834. With the help of the tenant of the estate, in 1835 a new church was built on the same site and is still standing there.  Over time, it was repaired several times and a sacristy was built.  Almost every parish priest, who resided here for a longer time decorated and maintained the sanctuary.

The Upyna Church of the Holy Name of the Virgin Mary is famous for St. Anthony, The Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel (the Scapular) and the Name of the St. Virgin Mary feasts.

This church is an architectural monument of the Republic of Lithuania and is protected by the state.