Vilniaus Šv. Mikalojaus bažnyčia

St Nicholas's Church in Vilnius is not only one of the oldest churches in the city but also an important part of Lithuania's cultural and historical heritage. Standing at the heart of Vilnius Old Town, this church is a Gothic gem that has retained its authentic architecture despite the passage of time and historical adversity.

Historical overview.

St Nicholas's Church is first mentioned in a privilege granted by Jogaila in 1387. It is thought that the first church on this site was built as early as the time of Grand Duke Gediminas, when merchants and craftsmen arriving in Vilnius had their own house of prayer. The present red-brick masonry building rose in the 15th century. Since then the church has been restored many times, but it has retained its Gothic style, with late Gothic features that appeared in the 16th century, when the wooden ceiling was replaced by masonry vaults.

In the mid-18th century, after a major fire, the church stood roofless for a long time, and its walls and vaults froze. After the church was rebuilt, it was adorned with elements of late Baroque and Rococo style: new altars, an organ loft and windows. At the end of the 19th century, Lithuanian Catholics, wishing to have a church of their own community, began to take care of the neglected St Nicholas's Church. Thanks to their efforts the church was handed over to the Lithuanian community in 1901 and became a place of Lithuanian-language worship.

Architecture and interior.

St Nicholas's Church has a rectangular plan and a single tower, with a three-sided apse and a sacristy connected to the church by a corridor. The building's facade is decorated with pointed-arch niches, and the church roof is covered with tiles. The main facade is adorned with a stepped triangular gable, one of the most recognisable features of this church.

Inside, the church has three naves, divided by four octagonal columns set on pedestals, supporting star-shaped or net-vaulted Gothic vaulting. The high altar is adorned with a cross, gilded angels and statues of saints. In the left side altar a special place is held by a 16th-century image of St Nicholas in a metal mounting, painted on wooden boards.

The church also contains a bust of Vytautas the Great, created to mark the 500th anniversary of the Grand Duke's death. The bust is cast in bronze and depicts Vytautas wearing a crown, armour and a cloak, giving the sculpture a particular grandeur.

Key events and heritage.

Over its long history St Nicholas's Church has witnessed many significant events. In 1812, during Napoleon's campaign, the church was turned into a warehouse and later repaired again. At the beginning of the 20th century, once the church had been restored to the Lithuanian community, Mass began to be celebrated there in Lithuanian, which strengthened Lithuanian identity in a Vilnius then dominated by Poles.

During the Second World War, under German occupation, the church lost two commemorative bells, and the parish house was destroyed by Russian bombing.