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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 sup- port from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission can- not be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. Comenius Project Listening to the voices of churches and mosques from Western to Eastern Europe 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. Radviliškio dailės mokykla, Lithuania 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.

Vilnius' Cathedral

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Page 1: Vilnius' Cathedral

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 sup-

port from the European Commission.

This publication reflects the views only

of the author, and the Commission can-

not be held responsible for any use

which may be made of the information

contained therein.

Comenius Project Listening to the voices of churches and mosques from Western to Eastern Europe

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. Radviliškio dailės mokykla,

Lithuania

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.

T h i s ch ap e l i s o ne o f t h e mo s t

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.

Page 2: Vilnius' Cathedral

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.

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.

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

a n d a l l e g o r i c a l c o m p o s i t i o n s .

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).