However, after the Uprising of 1863, the Tsarist authorities implemented Russification policies, including the Lithuanian press ban and suppression of the Catholic Church.

Until World War I, a rectory and a temporary chapel were completed while church's walls rose up to the windows.

[2] After the war the construction was abandoned until April 1926 when Pope Pius XI established the Roman Catholic Diocese of Panevėžys.

Architect Rytis Steikūnas and engineer Aleksandras Gordevičius redesigned and expanded the church as it now was to serve as a cathedral.

The unfinished cathedral was blessed by Jonas Mačiulis (better known as Maironis) on Saint Casimir's Day (March 4) in 1930.

Two 3-metre (9.8 ft) high sculptures of Pope Pius XI and Jurgis Matulevičius, founders of the diocese, stand on the corners of the roof.

[3] The pediment of the portico is decorated with cartouches: the top one features a royal crown while the lower has the coat of arms of the bishop.