Vilnius Cathedral
Vilnius Cathedral, formally the Cathedral Basilica of St Stanislaus and St Ladislaus, is the principal Roman Catholic church of Lithuania and the spiritual heart of the nation's Catholic life. It stands on Cathedral Square in the Old Town of Vilnius, on a site where Christian and earlier pagan worship have succeeded one another for centuries.
The present building, with its striking white neoclassical facade and freestanding bell tower, was rebuilt between 1783 and 1801 to the design of Laurynas Gucevicius, replacing successive Gothic and Renaissance churches. Beneath it lie crypts containing the remains of Lithuanian grand dukes, bishops and nobles, while the lavishly decorated Baroque Chapel of St Casimir honours the patron saint of Lithuania.
Suppressed and used as a warehouse and art gallery during the Soviet era, the cathedral was reconsecrated in 1989 and became a powerful symbol of national and religious revival. Today it is again a living place of worship and a focal point for state and church ceremonies, anchoring the historic centre of Vilnius.
- Annual visitors
- ≈ 300,000
- Location
- 54.6858, 25.2878
- Local time
- 01:33 (Europe/Vilnius)
🕘 Visiting hours
| Mon–Sun | 07:00–19:00 |
Open daily; crypts and treasury by ticket; access limited during services; approximate
✨ Saints & blessed venerated here
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Casimir of Poland (St Casimir) Saint
Patron of Lithuania; his Baroque chapel and silver shrine are the cathedral's focus
-
Stanislaus of Szczepanow Saint
Co-patron; Cathedral Basilica of St Stanislaus and St Ladislaus
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Ladislaus (Vladislav) Saint
Co-patron saint to whom the cathedral is dedicated
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Christopher Saint
Patron saint of Vilnius, depicted in the city's and cathedral's heraldry
-
Hyacinth (Jacek) Saint
Dominican saint venerated in the region's Catholic tradition
Care & donations
Vilnius Cathedral Parish (Archdiocese of Vilnius)
Free entry; donations welcomed; ticket for crypts and treasury
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