Katedros aikste
Tel. (5) 261 0731
Open: 7am- 7pm daily
Service: 8am, 5:30pm, 6:30pm daily
9am, 10am, 11:15am, 12:30pm Sun
Vilnius
St. Bishop Stanislaus and St. Vladislaus Archcathedral Basilica
(or simply Vilnius Cathedral) is the most important Catholic
church in Lithuania and the most significant example of
classicism architecture in the country. A place of Catholic
pilgrimage in Vilnius Archdiocese.
It is located in the
old town of Vilnius, Cathedral Square, in the territory of the
castles. The lower part of the castle. Archdiocese and Deanery
Center. The church has St. Kazimierz and 10 other side chapels.
There is a bell tower (57 m high) near the cathedral.
Some sources mention that in the past, a holy fire burned on the
site of the cathedral, a pagan altar stood (Janas Dlugošas), or
there was even a pagan temple to the thunder god Thunder
(Motiejs Strijkovskis).
The first cathedral was built in
the 13th century. in the middle When in 1251 King Mindaugas
accepted baptism, Pope Innocent IV issued a bull obliging the
King of Lithuania to allocate a plot of land for the
construction of the cathedral. It was of transitional Romanesque
to Gothic style, square plan, covered with a simple gable roof.
The facade was decorated with a Gothic portal, above which there
were three pointed windows. The pediment of the cathedral had a
window in the shape of a Greek cross. The cathedral had a long
presbytery. The remains of the foundation of the square building
are preserved in the basements of the cathedral. The floor was
covered with dark green ceramic glazed tiles. After the death of
Mindaugas (1263), the cathedral could have been turned into a
pagan temple.
1387 With the care of Jogaila, a new church
with 5 chapels was built on the site of the former pagan temple,
and a presbytery was introduced. Her in 1388 consecrated by
Archbishop Bodzantas of Gniezno. The cathedral was assigned to
St. Trinity, St. Mary, St. Stanislaus and St. In honor of
Vladislav. At the cathedral in 1387 there was a school (probably
the first in Lithuania; also mentioned in 1452). The remains of
this Jogaila Cathedral are preserved in the basements. 1419 the
cathedral burned down. In its place, right after the fire, Duke
Vytautas of the LDK built a new, larger Gothic cathedral with
three naves, much higher than today's. The four-cornered pillars
of that cathedral, part of the walls, and the walls of some
chapels have survived to this day. Flemish traveler Gilbert de
Lanua in the 15th century. had indicated that this Vytautas
Cathedral was built according to the Frombork Gothic Cathedral.
The facades had buttresses, some chapel roofs were gilded.
Chapels were built: in 1423 - Mantvyda (now Loyola), 1436 -
Goštauţu, St. Trejybės (current southern porch), Kęsgailų, 1474.
– Royal (current Valavičius), 1495 – Bishops' (currently St.
Mary's) and sacristy. Crypts were built under the chapels. The
roofs of the chapels were covered with tiles, in places - lead
coating, some were gilded.
in 1522 a three-grade school
operated near the cathedral. Rhetoric, music, dialectic, and
Latin were taught there. in 1522 the cathedral was repaired
(Italian architect Anus), a bell tower was installed in the
nearby defense tower. After 1530 after the fire, the cathedral
was rebuilt with the efforts of the Italian architect Bernardino
Gianotti and his assistants Giovanni Chini and Bartolomeo
Fiesole. Queen Bona commissioned the carving of a marble
tombstone monument of Grand Duke Vytautas the Great in Krakow.
in 1529 Grand Duke Žygimantas Augustas of LDK was
ceremonially crowned in the cathedral. 1534-1557 chapels were
introduced in the cathedral, crypts were installed. The
cathedral acquired Renaissance features. She was trident, had
side chapels. The facade of the cathedral was decorated with a
pediment and a portal, the interior was decorated with frescoes,
altars, and tombstones.
16th century and then preach the
sermon in Lithuanian. 1530 the cathedral was burning. in 1534 a
new Royal Chapel was built. in 1534 the reconstruction works of
the cathedral were led by the Roman architect Bernardins
Dzhanotis. After his death, the cathedral was restored by
Giovanni Činis. The cathedral burned again, its repair was
completed only in 1557. Some chapels were rebuilt, vaults were
built, and new crypts were installed. From the Renaissance
cathedral, the walls of the Valavičiai chapel, the lower parts
of the walls of the Bishops' chapel, the Renaissance tombstones
of Albert Goštauts, the Chancellor of the LDK, and Bishop
Povilas Alšėniškis have survived to this day.
1610 the
cathedral was burning again. Its renovation was led by the
architect Vilhelmas Polis. 1623-1636 On the initiative of
Zygmantas Vaza, St. Casimir's Chapel (architects Konstantinas
Tenkala and others). Konstantinas Tenkala also created a baroque
altar. During the war in 1655 the cathedral was badly damaged
and looted; the vaults of the building collapsed in places.
Russian soldiers tore off and took away the copper roof of the
cathedral. It is believed that the tomb of Vytautas the Great
was looted and probably destroyed at that time.
in 1636
to the cathedral of St. Kazimierz's chapel was ceremoniously
moved to St. Casimir's remains. A huge catafalque was installed
in the central nave of the cathedral. in 1648 after St. Two
containers with the entrails and heart of King Vladislaus Vaza,
who died in Merkina, were placed on the altar of the Kazimierz
chapel.
in 1666 the Austrian architect Johann Vincent
Salvador began to repair the cathedral. St. was decorated.
Kazimierz chapel (painter Pjetras Pertis). The visiting Italian
artist Michelangelo Palonis painted the frescoes "The Miraculous
Resurrection of Ursula at St. Kazimierz's coffin" and "Unveiling
of St. Casimir's coffin". 1730 the cathedral has been repaired
again, with a marble slab floor.
1748-1754 the cathedral
was restored by the architect Jonas Kristupas Glaubicas. On the
western facade, two towers were built above the corner chapels
and a pediment was installed between them. in 1769 November 2
the storm demolished the southwest tower, which split the vaults
and killed six St. People who were in the chapel of the Virgin
Mary, i.e. i.e. one priest and five clerics.
in 1771
after the architect Martyn Knakfus drew up a defective plan, the
chapter of the Vilnius Cathedral moved services and other
functions of the cathedral to St. John's Church.
in 1783
Under the instructions of the Bishop of Vilnius, Ignotas Jokūbas
Masalskis, the reconstruction of the cathedral began according
to Laurynas Gucevičius' 1781 plan. prepared project. For the
construction and reconstruction works, Gucevičius invited the
Italian architect Pietra de Rossi. in 1785 St. was walled up
during the construction works. The portal of the Kazimierz
chapel, so that construction dust does not contaminate the
inside of the chapel. Laurynas Gucevičius, who demolished the
vicarage house, expanded and lengthened the cathedral building,
but left its authentic height and hall structure. He designed
two chapels in the front part of the building, and presented a
sacristy with a dome in the north. The chapels were unified,
connected by galleries with colonnades. In front of the
cathedral, Laurynas Gucevičius built a portico of six Doric
columns. To decorate the cathedral, the architect came up with
sculptures, some of which were built while L. Gucevičius was
still alive. The sculptures of the evangelists in the cathedral
were created by the Italian sculptor Tomaz Rigis. T. Rigis
sculpted all the high-reliefs on the western facade of the
cathedral. The main trinave part remained from the old cathedral
building, St. Kazimierz and Valavičiai chapels, walls of other
chapels.
in 1786 St. was renewed. Kazimierz chapel
(Italian architect Karlas Spampanis), painted pictures (painter
Pranciškus Smuglevičius), t. i.e. altar painting "St. Death of
Stanislaus" and images of 12 holy apostles and two paintings for
the altar wall.
in 1798 After the death of Laurynas
Gucevičius, the reconstruction works of the cathedral were
continued by the architect Mykolas Angelas Šulcas, who completed
them in 1801. After the reconstruction, the cathedral became
classicist. St. was built on the pediment of the facade. Elena,
St. Kazimierz and St. Stanislaus sculptures (sculptor Karolis
Jelskis, they were demolished and destroyed in 1950). Mykolas
Šulcas created the vicar altar of the Doric portico, which has
survived to this day. The pulpit, benches on the sides of the
presbytery, the organ choir was replaced, and the belfry was
reconstructed according to the project of Šulcs.
in 1817
the open lateral colonnades of the cathedral building were
bricked up so that the people of Vilnius would not pollute the
borders. Only one wicket left. 19th century at the beginning to
paint St. Casimir's chapel facades.
in 1836 On the
initiative of Bishop Andrias Benediktas Klongevičius, a
cathedral repair committee was formed, which included Karolis
Podčašinskis, Kanutas Ruseckas, Mykolas Januškevičius,
Pranciskus Andriolis. During this reconstruction, restored St.
Mary's and Valavičiai chapels, newly decorated Goštautai,
Kęsgailai, Montvydai chapels. A new Chapel of the Saviour's
Casket has been installed in the place of the northern entrance.
in 1848 the portrait of the Grand Duke Vytautas of Lithuania
from Ramintoja Church was brought to the cathedral. in 1897 the
vaults of the cathedral are strengthened, the building is
covered with a copper tin roof, which was torn off in 1915.
German troops. in 1889 a new organ was installed in the
cathedral (master Juozapas Radavičius).
in 1922 Vilnius
Cathedral was granted the title of basilica. in 1925 the
cathedral became the archcathedral. 1901 Lithuanian services
were held during the jubilee celebrations, which were later held
every Sunday morning (1908–1923). Later, Lithuanian services
were allowed only during Pentecost, in May. in the evenings and
during the funeral of Jonas Basanavičius in 1927. February 21
Since 1940 Lithuanians are again allowed to hold services on
public holidays. At that time, Archbishop Mečislovas Reinys
worked in the cathedral.
in 1931 during the spring flood
Neris flooded the dungeons of the cathedral, the walls of the
building cracked. The cathedral was closed. 1932-1939 it has
been restored. Wooden wall piles have been replaced with
reinforced concrete ones. The walls were tightened, after St.
Casimir's chapel is equipped with a mausoleum. The remains of
Prince Alexander, the wives of Žygimantas Augustus, Elžbieta
Habsburgaitė and Barbora Radvilaitė, and an urn with the heart
of Duke Vladislaus were found in the basement of the cathedral
brought to the mausoleum.
in 1949 The cathedral was closed in 1950. On the initiative of
Kazios Preikš, the sculptures of saints were removed from the
archcathedral and blown up. 1950 and 1951 the closed cathedral
was broken into several times. Most of the property was stolen,
the rest was damaged. in 1951 the remains of the chapter's
archive (1320 folders, 130 bundles) and more than 4000 books
were transferred to the special fund of the House of Books. in
1953 coffin with St. After Kazimierz's death, it was transferred
to St. Church of the Apostles Peter and Paul (returned in 1989).
in 1953 September 4 the commission inspected the cathedral and
found that its property was distributed to various institutions,
and the other part was sold. Destroyed altars, broken furniture,
damaged organs, sculptures, tombstones were found. After 1953
the cathedral was handed over to the Museum of Fine Arts.
1955-1956 repainted, heating installed. in 1956 The Cathedral
has a Picture Gallery. Since 1968 the condition of the
building's structures was examined, architectural studies were
carried out. Engineer Napaleonas Kitkauskas led the works. in
1969 Potsdam H. Šukes firm restored the organ. in 1980 the roof
was covered with copper sheet, the facades were repainted, their
sculptures were restored. Since 1981 restored interior.
1984-1986 additional archaeological and architectural research
was carried out.
in 1988 October 22 during the founding
convention of "Sąjūdis", it was announced that the cathedral
would be returned to the faithful. The archcathedral was
repaired in 1989. February 5 solemnly consecrated. in 1989 March
4 a silver sarcophagus with the patron saint of Lithuania St.
During the time of Kazimierz. Since 1989 Holy Mass is held
regularly again in the Cathedral on October.
in 1996 the
state company Vilnius Castle Directorate restored the sculptures
on the Cathedral facade (sculptor Stanislovas Kuzma). Since 1993
In February (after A. Brazauskas took office), it became a
tradition to hold Holy Mass in the Cathedral, with the
participation of the elected President, as well as consecration
of the President's flag and organize a military parade as part
of the inauguration celebrations.
in 1993 September 4
Pope John Paul II began his apostolic visit to Lithuania
(September 4-8, 1993) with a prayer in the Cathedral.
Exterior
Vilnius Cathedral is symmetrical, classicist style,
rectangular plan, hall. The exterior of the cathedral is decorated
with 18 round sculptures and 6 reliefs. The portico of the church
facade has six large columns across the entire width and height of
the church. Three statues are placed on the portico: in the middle,
Saint Helena, holding a large cross and the nails with which Jesus
was nailed to the cross, on the right side - the bishop of Krakow,
the martyr St. Stanislaus, on the left - St. Kazimierz. These
sculptures are from the 1950s. copies of destroyed sculptures. in
1997 they were created by the sculptor Stanislovas Kuzma. The
sculptures stand on a pediment, in the center of which is a
high-relief "Noah's Ark". The high-relief depicts men and women
kneeling around a burning altar and raising their hands to the sky.
A hewn stone frieze surrounds the shelter and the church. The two
domes of the cathedral are composed on its sides – structurally
supporting the main space.
On the right side of the cathedral
is St. Casimir's chapel, which stands out in the color of grayish
limestone. On its outer wall there is a tablet of the foundation of
the chapel. The record plate is made of marble, the frames are made
of sandstone. St. rests in this chapel. Casimir. There are a total
of 11 chapels in the cathedral.
In the left niche of the
church facade is a sculpture of Abraham holding a knife. A sculpture
of Moses is placed in the extreme right niche of the facade. Moses
is depicted with rays protruding from his forehead. In his hands he
holds two stone tablets with the law of God. Sculptures of the four
evangelists - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John - stand in niches behind
the columns on the wall of the main facade. The evangelists are
depicted with the symbolic figures of an angel, a lion, a bull and
an eagle. The sculptures are proportional to the sizes of the
niches. The author of the sculptures is Tomaz Rigis. Above the
sculptures are placed bas-reliefs depicting the works of the
apostles. The central largest bas-relief composition above the
cathedral door is dedicated to Saint Peter addressing the crowd. In
the fourteen niches of the walls of the side facades, there are
statues of kings on the left side, and statues of the apostles and
saints of the community of Jesus on the right side. On the wall
above the niches is St. Peter and St. Compositions on the theme of
Paul's life with many figures. The location and sizes of the
sculptures on the main facade were determined in the reconstruction
project of the cathedral prepared by Lauryns Gucevičius.
In
front of the cathedral stands a 57-meter-high belfry - the
best-preserved tower of the defense wall of the Vilnius castles, in
which hang ten brass bells cast from the 16th to the 18th centuries.
Dutch and German masters. 19th century in the beginning, a clock was
installed here, which does not have a minute hand. The underground
quadrangular part of the bell tower is one of the oldest masonry
remains in Lithuania, built in the 13th century. At the bottom of
the old thieves of Vilnius. The ground part of the bell tower is 52
m high (with a 2.8 m cross - 57 m). The first floor of the belfry is
round, the three upper floors are octagonal. The dome ends in a
pyramid.
The cathedral has six bells donated by H.E. Cardinal
Joachim Meisner of the Archdiocese of Cologne, the largest of which
is 2,600 kg named after Joachim. The oldest bell is from the 16th
century. the end of the 17th century the beginning, features of the
Renaissance. It is used for the tower clock. Other bells are
baroque. John Delamars 1673 the cast bell is decorated with
compositions of figures and bands of ornaments. The bell tolls for
hours. The rest of the bells were also cast by famous masters:
Andriejas Dorling, Karolis Gotlyb Špar, Gustav Miorka, Pilipas
Jakūbas Ginteris.
The bell tower was first mentioned in
historical sources in 1522. At that time it was being repaired.
During the reconstruction, the firing holes were eliminated, the
belfry was plastered. in 1598 the third floor of the bell tower was
built. 1610 the tower was destroyed by fire. The reconstruction of
the bell tower was led by the architect Vilhelmas Polis.
Interior
The internal choir of the church is supported by twelve
columns. There are twelve windows in the two side walls. The floor
is made of stone slabs. Cathedral trinave: the main and two side
naves are separated by massive pillars, covered with cross vaults,
which are decorated with laurel wreaths. The central nave is higher
than the side ones. Light also enters through the windows of the
central nave, which are higher than the windows of the side naves.
When building the cathedral, Laurynas Gucevičius did not dare to
raise the naves higher so that there would be more space for windows
above the chapels, so the cathedral is too poorly lit.
The
vaults of the cathedral are cruciform, decorated with rosettes,
resting on sixteen pillars. The pulpit of the cathedral is attached
to one of them. The presbytery of the cathedral is separated from
other rooms by a fence.
There are only two altars in the cathedral. The main high altar of
the canons in the classical style has columns and a pediment with a
gilded cross. Its main elements are made of artificial marble, the decor
is made of stucco. On either side of the altar are stairs with metal
gates. In the altar there is a picture of "St. The death of Stanislaus".
This altar was designed and installed by Lauryns Gucevičius instead of
the three former altars. Above the high altar there is a semi-circular
window. Behind the high altar by the church wall, a vicar's altar is
raised from the floor. In this altar hangs a picture of Pranciškaus
Smuglevičius, depicting him as Boleslaus II the Brave 1079 kills Bishop
Stanislaus of Krakow.
On the side walls of the naves hang
paintings by the Italian artist Konstantinos Vilanis, on the back wall
of the cathedral - paintings by Pranciškaus Smuglevičius. The paintings
of the twelve apostles by the artist P. Smuglevičius are hung on the
pillars of the central nave. At the end of the central nave, a painting
by Pranciškaus Smuglevičius can be seen through the altar columns,
depicting St. Stanislaus. In total, there are 12 paintings by
Smuglevičius in the cathedral. St. painted by the artist Slendzinskis is
also hung in the cathedral. Casimir's picture.
The cathedral
organ is in baroque style, decorated with golden ornaments and
decorative vases. In the middle is depicted King David with a harp, on
the sides - angels playing music.
The interior of the building is
full of frescoes, valuable paintings, sculptures, and tombstones. In the
cathedral there is one of the most valuable examples of early Baroque -
the Casimir Chapel, where the coffin with St. During the time of
Kazimierz.
The sacristy of the cathedral is rotunda-shaped,
designed by Lauryns Gucevičius. On the sacristy there is a treasury with
the insignia of King Alexander, Queens Elizabeth and Barbora Radvilaitė.
There are memorial epitaphs and memorial plaques installed in the
cathedral.
The baroque epitaph of Samuel Pac, which was created
between 1629 and 1633, hangs in the south nave against the pilaster of
the south wall. It is composed of brown and black marble and limestone.
The epitaph consists of a plaque with a memorial inscription. In the
oval niche is a white portrait. The epitaph is also decorated with a
white coat of arms. The epitaph is dedicated to LDK flag bearer Samuel
Pac.
The epitaph of Jurgis Tiškevičius is hung in the southern
nave by the pilaster of the southern wall. It is composed of bronze and
marble and is also baroque. In the epitaph, there is a carved bust of
the bishop, placed in a niche, below it is embedded a plaque with a
memorial inscription. The epitaph was created around 1652.
The
epitaph of Eustachius Valavičius is located in the Valavičius chapel by
the eastern wall. It is composed of gray and brown marble, sandstone and
stucco. Also baroque. The epitaph consists of a rectangular inscription
plate and a framed upper part of the epitaph. In the center of the
epitaph there is a portrait of Bishop Eustachius Valavičius.
The
epitaph of Tomas Vavžeckis is hung in the northern nave by the wall. It
is made of cast iron, marble and plaster. The epitaph is silvered and
gilded, classicist style. The epitaph has a bust of Tomas Vavževski
placed in a niche and a plaque with a memorial inscription. The epitaph
states that it was installed by Tomas Vavževski's brother.
The
epitaph of Mykolas Liubičius Zaleskis is on the eastern wall of the
Kęsgailai chapel. It is made of marble, classic style. The epitaph is
decorated with a composition of figures and a memorial inscription. The
composition is separated from the slab by a cornice. The inscription on
the epitaph indicates that it is dedicated to the LDK figure Mykolas
Liubičius Zaleskis (1744-1816).
The epitaph of John Nepomuk
Kosakovski is hung in St. Mary's chapel at the east wall. It is made of
granite, marble and plaster, in a cleististic style. The epitaph
consists of a plaque with a memorial inscription and an embedded
portrait, insignia and coat of arms of the bishop.
Vytautas'
memorial plaque is hung in the northern nave, by the eastern wall. It
consists of a black marble slab with a gilded inscription. The board is
decorated with ornaments. This board was installed by Eustachijus
Tiškevičius. It repeats the 1573 decree of Vilnius bishop Valerijonas
Protasevičius. Vytautas was also equipped in 1610. a record of a
tombstone burned by fire. The memorial plaque of Bishop Andrias
Benediktas Klongevičius is installed in the southern nave by the
pilaster of the southern wall. It is made of plaster. The memorial
record is surrounded by frames decorated with decor. The board was
created in the 19th century. The memorial plaque of Vincent Kliučinskis
is hung in the Kęsgailai chapel on the western wall. It is made of
bronze. There is an embedded portrait on the board, and a memorial
inscription below it. The board was created in the 20th century. On the
I side.
Currently, the cathedral has eleven chapels. The chapels were unified
by Laurynas Gucevičius.
The first chapel from the main door of
the cathedral to the left is the chapel of St. Vladislaus, built by
Laurynas Gucevičius. Until 1530 at the time of the fire, the sacristy of
the Royal Chapel and one of the towers of the cathedral stood in this
place. The chapel is oval, has a dome. The memorial plaque of Vilnius
Bishop Benediktas Vaina hangs next to it.
Also in the cathedral
is St. Virgin Mary Chapel, also called Valavičius Chapel or Old Royal
Chapel. This chapel was founded by the king of Poland and the duke of
LDK, Jogaila's son Kazimierz. in 1473 in the basement of the chapel for
some time there was St. The remains of Kazimierz, Alexander and both
wives of Žygimantus Augustus. 1530 the chapel was burning. in 1534 it
was rebuilt by Žygymantas Senasis. in 1547 Žygimantas Augustas and
Barbora Radvilaitė were secretly married in this chapel. The chapel was
later rebuilt at the initiative of Eustachijaus Valavičius. It is
rectangular, covered with a dome, in which the four evangelists are
depicted. The altar of the chapel is installed on the northern wall, in
the late baroque style. St. is hanging in the altar. A picture of the
Virgin Mary, above which the Holy Spirit is depicted in the clouds. The
altar was made in the 17th century.
Next to the Valavičiai chapel
is the Kęsgailai chapel. It is closed, not accessible to visitors, built
in 1436. Vilnius Voivodeship and Lithuanian Chancellor Mykolos
Kęsgailas. A memorial plaque is built into the wall of the chapel,
dedicated to the memory of the first Franciscans martyred in Vilnius.
The memorial plaque was moved to this chapel from the Franciscan Church.
Further on is the Chapel of the Sepulcher of Christ, also closed. The
"Tomb of Christ" was created by Vilnius University professor Karolis
Podčašinskis. Further behind this chapel is the northern entrance of the
cathedral. It was built instead of the old chapel, called the second
Kęsgailai chapel. There are two sacristies behind the side entrance.
In the left nave in 2018 The Chapel of the Blessed Relics was
opened, where the two blessed archbishops of Lithuania - pal. Jurgis et
al. Relics of Theophilus. The relics were moved from the central altar
to the chapel, which is decorated with images of Blessed Jurgis
Matulaitis (1871–1927) and Archbishop Teofilius Matulionis (1873–1962).
At the end of the left nave is the sacristy of the cathedral. It is
octagonal, with a dome. The dome was painted by artist Albertas
Vaitiekus Žametas. A gate separates the sacristy from the side nave of
the cathedral.
St. Casimir's chapel in the nave on the right side
was started by Duke Zygmantas Vaza and completed by Vladislaus IV. The
chapel is built of Swedish sandstone, its interior is lined with marble.
The chapel is square, baroque style. In her altar is St. Casimir's
coffin.
Behind St. Towards the door of the Kazimierz chapel is
the bishop's chapel, built in the 16th century. at the beginning of
Vilnius bishop John from the princes of Lithuania. Since 1537 the
bishops of Vilnius were buried in the basement under the chapel. The
wall decor of the bishops' chapel was created by artist Jurgis Hopenas.
A memorial plaque to Bishop Antanas Pranciškas Audzevičis is hung in the
chapel. Bishop Ignotas Jokūbas Masalskis and archbishop Julijonas
Steponavičius are buried in the crypts of the chapel.
Further on,
there is a chapel whose name has changed. The bishops of Vilnius were
also buried in its dungeons. A memorial plaque to Bishop Jonas Civinskis
is hung in the chapel. There is a desk in the chapel. Next to this
chapel is a side entrance that leads to the cathedral from the square.
Behind this chapel is the Montvydas chapel built by Lauryns Gucevičius.
After the cathedral was closed, the property of the chapel was looted.
The further Goštautas chapel was founded by Trakai voivodeship Martynas
Goštautas in the 15th century. Two Renaissance tombstones of LDK
Chancellor Albert Goštautas and Bishop Povilas Alšėniškis are built into
the walls of the Goštautai chapel.
The last chapel near the door
is called the Exile Chapel and is dedicated to the memory of the victims
of the Soviet regime. Vilnius bishop Jonas Nepomukas Kasakauskas is
buried in the basement of the chapel. A memorial plaque created for him
is hung on the left wall of the chapel. There are statues of saints in
the niches of the chapel. Above the altar of the chapel is hung the
Crucifix from the Valavičiai chapel.
Currently, there are 27 cellars in the dungeons of the cathedral.
Some are grouped by several: you can go from one basement to another.
The exhibition in the dungeons of the archcathedral reflects the history
of the archcathedral, its construction and reconstruction stages from
the 13th century. the first Lithuanian cathedral built by King Mindaugas
until its last reconstruction, carried out according to the project of
architect Lauryns Gucevičius (1753–1798).
Famous people of the
LDK were buried in the dungeons of the arch-cathedral: nobles, bishops,
princes. Dukes were usually buried in crypts under the floor of naves or
side chapels. A total of 20 crypts are counted. Some crypts have names
such as the Crypt of the Kings, the Crypt of the Chapter, the Crypt of
the Bishops. Laurynas Gucevičius had walled up the entrances to the
crypts. 1930 researchers could only enter the crypts of the Valavičiai
and Goštautai chapels.
Buried in the cathedral: Grand Duke
Vytautas of Lithuania (1430), his first wife Ona (1418). Jogaila's
brothers Aleksandras Vygantas (1392), Karigaila (1390), Grand Duke
Žygimantas Kęstutaitis (1440), Jogaila's brother Grand Duke Švitrigaila
(1452), Vytautas's brother Žygimantas Kęstutaitis' son Mykolas (1452)
are buried in the dungeons of the cathedral. .), St. Kazimierz (1484,
canonized 1602), Grand Duke of Lithuania and King Alexander of Poland
(1506), first wife Elžbieta Habsburgaitė (1545) and second wife Barbora
Radvilaitė (1551) of Duke Žygimantas Augustus, chancellor of LDK
Albertas Goštautas, bishop Valerijonas Protasevičius (1580). in 1931 In
the basement of the cathedral, a crypt was found with the remains of the
Grand Duke Alexander of Lithuania and the two wives of Žygimantus
Augustus, Elizabeth of Habsburg and Barbora Radvilaitė, in wooden
coffins. A mausoleum was installed for the remains after St. Casimir's
Chapel. in 1986 between the western walls of the first cathedral and the
middle crypt, a number of graves were found at unequal depths.
In
the dungeons of the cathedral there is the oldest fresco in Lithuania
(end of the 14th century), which depicts the crucifixion of Christ.