Church of Saint Nicholas, Vilnius

Saint Nicholas Church (Lithuanian: Šv. Mikalojaus bažnyčia) is the oldest surviving church in Lithuania, built in the Old Town of the capital city Vilnius.

The Church of Saint Nicholas
Šv. Mikalojaus bažnyčia
St. Nicholas Church
54°40′42″N 25°16′58″E
Country	Lithuania
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Website	mikalojus.lt
History
Status	Active
Founded	Before 1387
Architecture
Functional status	Church
Architectural type	Church
Style	Gothic architecture
Administration
Archdiocese	Vilnius
Clergy
Archbishop	Gintaras Grušas

History

Originally built in the 14th century, the church is mentioned in writing for the first time in 1387. In 1901-39 the Church of St. Nicholas was the only church in Vilnius where the mass was held in Lithuanian. By the same token it was a centre of Lithuanian culture (its famous dean Kristupas Čibiras was killed in 1942 during a bombing raid).[1]

In the 1920s to 1940s, sermons in Belarusian language were also held in the church by famous priests including Adam Stankievič, Vincent Hadleŭski, Jazep Hiermanovič, Kazimir Svajak.[2]

After the World War II, the Cathedral of Vilnius was closed and the Curia of the Archdiocese of Vilnius was moved to the St. Nicholas Parish building and the Church of St. Nicholas in fact performed the functions of a cathedral.[3]

During the Soviet occupation a statue of the patron of Vilnius, St. Christopher, was erected in the church orchard (sculptor Antanas Kmieliauskas, 1959); it was an obvious act of resistance, as the city's coat-of-arms with St. Christopher's figure was banned at that time.[4]

Architecture

Archaeologists believe that the same Roman Catholic church survived till the present day. Externally, the church represents the Brick Gothic style, while its interior has been renovated several times. The church belfry was built in the 17th century in the Baroque style. Its façade is flanked by two stocky buttresses with cut-off tops. The triangular pediment with niches has been recently renovated accentuating its original Gothic character. In the interior, four elegant octahedral pillars support web and star vaults. The high altar holds a painting of St. Nicholas with a silver setting from the 16th century. The church is adorned with two sculptures: a polychrome statue of St. Louis from the Gothic period, and Vytautas' bronze bust erected in 1930 (sculptor Rapolas Jakimavičius).

Gallery

• 
  Main altar
• 
  Interior fragment
• 
  Monument to Vytautas
• 
  Exterior
• 
  Side view of the exterior

References

1. Prof. Tomas Venclova, Vilnius. R. Paknys Publishing House, ISBN 9986-830-48-6
2. Viktar Korbut. Vilnius — Vilnya: capital of Lithuania in Belarusian history, Sovetskaya Belorussiya – Belarus' Segodnya, 11 May 2015. Quote: "The site of St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Church, built in the early 16th century. From 1901-1939, it was the only church in Vilnya where sermons were read in Lithuanian. From 1901-1906, its priest was Juozapas Kukta. The building kept a secret collection of editions published by Martin Kukhta’s publishing house. From 1921, services were offered each Sunday at 10am, with Belarusian language sermons. Until 1940, priest Adam Stankevich served there and, in the 1920s, its priests included Konstantin Stepovich (Kazimir Svayak), Wincenty Godlewski and Yazep Germanovich."
3. "Šv. Mikalojaus bažnyčios istorija". mikalojus.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 27 November 2019.
4. "Skulptūra „Šv. Kristoforas"". vilniusgo.lt (in Lithuanian). 9 November 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2019.

• Šv. Mikalojaus bažnyčia. Retrieved on 2007-09-21 (in Lithuanian)