Vilnius’ Cathedral St. Casimir Chapel of art connoisseurs of Vilnius Cathedral is called a beautiful ring jeweler and St. Casimir Chapel - the jewel piece of jewelry. This chapel is one of the most valuable Lithuanian Baroque masterpieces. St. Casimir is saint patron sof Lithuanian was born in the 17th century to whom this fair was dedicated to in the 19th century. It is one other most remarkable calendar festivals with deep traditions, each time presenting ingenious handworks, and having no rivals in the surrounding areas.
An other important part of the Cathedral is its catacombs. The Cathedral of Vilnius is the main Roman Catholic Cathedral of Lithuania. It is the heart of Lithuania's Catholic spiritual life.
This material is published as part of the Comenius school partnership project “Listening to the voices of churches and mosques from Western to Eastern Europe” in which Radviliškio dailės mokykla is involved. This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
Radviliškio dailės mokykla, Lithuania
It is thought that in pagan times this was the location of an altar, an eternal fire, or even a temple to Perkūnas. King Mindaugas built the original cathedral in 1251 after his conversion to Christianity. In the long course of history it has been rebuilt several times. As a result, gothic, renaissance, and baroque styles are reflected in its architectural history. As reconstructed by Laurynas Stuoka
Gucevičius in 1783, the Cathedral is a grandiose, harmonious and monumental building of the classicism style, with 11 lateral chapels, a sacristy, north and south side entrances and a portico at the western end. The building is rectangular and of symmetrical composition. The bell tower is 52 metres high and free-standing in front of the church. The bell tower stands on the remains of the fortifications of the Lower Castle. Comenius Project Listening to the voices of churches and mosques from Western to Eastern Europe
The great crypt was the final resting place for grand dukes, archbishops, noblemen and their families. There are about 20 rooms under the floor of the naves and chapels. Some of these, including the one holding the remains of Grand Duke Vytautas, have yet to be discovered.
The interior of the Cathedral is of a great artistic value. More than 40 artworks from the 16-19th centuries, both frescoes and paintings decorate the walls of the Cathedral. A museum dedicated to the history of the building from the pagan time till nowadays is located in the Cathedral's catacombs. At the exhibition different archeological finds and the altars of a pagan temple are presented.
Casimir Chapel is one of the most beautiful examples of the early Baroque in Vilnius. It was constructed in 1623-1636 according to the order of the Grand Duke and King Sigismund Vasa, who wanted to have a chapel for the patron saint of Lithuania in the Cathedral. The palace architect and painter Constantino Tencallo used sandstone from Sweden, black, white and brown marble from Italy and the Carpathian Mountains for decoration works.
Eight wooden statues, covered with silver, of the rulers of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Poland and members of their families, dating back to the middle of the 17th century, stand in niches in the walls covered with scenes from St. Casimir's life and allegorical compositions. Like many historic building the Cathedral has its mystery and doesn't want to disclose it. Many people believe in the evil spell Valaviciai Chapel cast on the researchers. There is a Latin inscription on the facade of the Valaviciai Chapel "Violator operis infelix esto" (Those who desecrate this creation will be unhappy).
During the restoration of the Cathedral, the very first floor, laid in the days of Mindaugas, was found in addition to the remains of the cathedral built in 1387, the altars of a pagan temple, and other archaeological finds. A fresco dated to the end of the 14th century, the oldest known fresco in Lithuania, was found on the wall of one of the underground chapels. The
chapel contains a unique 18th century goblet-shaped pulpit.