St.Anton Roman Catholic Church in Pilcene

One of the oldest wooden churches in Latgale, built in 1670 and unique with its half-columns, hexagonal tower, semicircular windows, and onion-shaped dome with a cross.

Some sources indicate that the church was built in 1772, but according to information provided by citizen V.Lōčis – in 1670. It is one of the oldest (possibly the oldest in Latgale) wooden churches in Latgale and the oldest in the Rēzekne district.

The wooden log building of the church was built by local craftsmen with an axe, without the help of a saw. It was originally built as a chapel for the Pilcene cemetery. Local craftsmen fastened the walls of the logs with iron nails forged by local blacksmiths, and centuries have been grinding their teeth along them in vain. In ancient writings, the Pilcene Catholic Church is noted as the Dricāni branch church. The church is consecrated in the name of St. Anthony, and one of the altars is dedicated to this saint. The large altarpiece depicts the Savior on the cross. The church houses an altarpiece from the 18th century, which is a cultural monument of national importance.
In the 1970s, there was an attempt to demolish this church, but it failed because the exiled book publisher and cultural worker Vladislavs Lōcis intervened. The church is special with its half-columns, hexagonal tower, semicircular windows, and onion-shaped dome with a cross. The church is sheathed with wooden planks, and the roof is made of tin. There are two sacristies. On the roof above the presbytery and above the tower is an iron cross. In the tower is a ten-pound bell (Svilāns, 1995).