About the Church
The Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Vilnius, also known as the Vilnius Visitandine Church, is an interesting, multilayered sacred site that has seen many changes over its long history. First built in 1756 to a design by Juozapas Pola, this Baroque church stood in the Old Town of Vilnius.
The church's history began with a temporary masonry chapel, built in 1717. Later, in 1729, work began on building the church, which continued until its consecration in August 1756. At the same time a tall masonry wall was built, protecting this sacred complex.
The church was adorned with paintings by the celebrated painter Szymon Czechowicz, depicting the founders of the order and other venerated saints. In addition, the convent that operated here in the 18th and 19th centuries educated girls, so this place had not only a religious but also an educational significance.
In 1863 the convent was closed, and two years later Orthodox nuns settled there. The church was converted into the Orthodox Church of St Mary Magdalene; during this refurbishment the square bell tower was demolished and some interior and exterior details were altered. Despite these changes, the noted historian Teodor Narbutt designed new gates, which still stand today.
After the First World War, in 1919, the convent was returned to the Visitandines, but their presence here lasted only until 1948. During the Soviet era a prison was set up in the buildings, which changed the interior appearance of both the convent and the church still further.
Unfortunately, the valuable paintings by Szymon Czechowicz that had been in the church's seven altars were removed and are now kept in the collections of the Lithuanian Art Museum. All this shows that the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Vilnius has a complex and rich history, in which different periods and cultural layers overlap.
Today this place is part of the Vilnius correctional labour colony, but its walls and fragments still live on as witnesses to the past events that shaped this extraordinary place.
The church's history began with a temporary masonry chapel, built in 1717. Later, in 1729, work began on building the church, which continued until its consecration in August 1756. At the same time a tall masonry wall was built, protecting this sacred complex.
The church was adorned with paintings by the celebrated painter Szymon Czechowicz, depicting the founders of the order and other venerated saints. In addition, the convent that operated here in the 18th and 19th centuries educated girls, so this place had not only a religious but also an educational significance.
In 1863 the convent was closed, and two years later Orthodox nuns settled there. The church was converted into the Orthodox Church of St Mary Magdalene; during this refurbishment the square bell tower was demolished and some interior and exterior details were altered. Despite these changes, the noted historian Teodor Narbutt designed new gates, which still stand today.
After the First World War, in 1919, the convent was returned to the Visitandines, but their presence here lasted only until 1948. During the Soviet era a prison was set up in the buildings, which changed the interior appearance of both the convent and the church still further.
Unfortunately, the valuable paintings by Szymon Czechowicz that had been in the church's seven altars were removed and are now kept in the collections of the Lithuanian Art Museum. All this shows that the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Vilnius has a complex and rich history, in which different periods and cultural layers overlap.
Today this place is part of the Vilnius correctional labour colony, but its walls and fragments still live on as witnesses to the past events that shaped this extraordinary place.
Gallery and Resources
Archive captions are shown in Lithuanian.
Šv. Pranciškus Ksaveras pavaizduotas peizažo fone, stovintis trimis ketvirčiais pasisukęs į kairę. Jo rankos ištiestos į šalis ir pakeltos į dangų, žvilgsnis nukreiptas į viršų. Iš kairėje atsivėrusio dangaus matyti krintantys kryžiai, simbolizuojantys kentėjimus, kuriuos jam teks patirti misijose. Šventasis drąsiai tiesia ranką jų link (pasakojama, jog regėjimo metu išvydęs jo laukiančias kančias, jis sušukęs: „Daugiau, Viešpatie, daugiau!“). Šv. Pranciškus Ksaveras, danguje matantis daugybę kryžių, Lietuvos bažnytinėje dailėje buvo vienas iš mėgstamiausių šventojo atvaizdų (panašią kompoziciją Vilniaus vizitiečių Švč. Jėzaus Širdies bažnyčiai nutapė Simonas Čechavičius, Vilniaus Šv. Jono bažnyčiai – Juozapas Jarmašauskas). Aptariamame kūrinyje panaudotas dar vienas – gėlių pynės, kurią, nusvirusią nuo dangaus iki žemės, laiko Dievo ranka, motyvas. Jis simbolizuoja Dievo meilę ir dangiškas malones: gėlės krinta ant šv. Pranciškaus delno, o nuo jo – iki pat žemės. Paveikslas labai dekoratyvus. Puošnus gėlių pynės motyvas pakartojamas detaliai nutapytuose baltos plačiomis rankovėmis kamžos nėriniuose ir raudonos stulos aukso ir sidabro siūlais išaustuose raštuose.
Aprašė Dalia Tarandaitė
Aprašė Dalia Tarandaitė
