About the Church
The Church of the Most Holy Trinity (Trinapolis) in Vilnius is a Baroque-style church whose history and architecture attract visitors and worshippers alike. It stands in Vilnius, on the right bank of the Neris, at the mouth of the Cedronas (Baltupis), near Verkiai Regional Park. The site is remarkable not only for its religious significance but also for its unique natural surroundings.
The church is not a parish church itself: it serves participants of the retreat house and belongs to the Vilniaus Kalvarijos parish. The retreat house is located in the southern part of Verkiai Calvary Park and is run by the Sisters of the Congregation of Christ the King.
The history of this site begins in the late 17th – early 18th century, when the first wooden buildings of the Trinitarian monastery and church were built. The monastery supported thirteen monks, who lived on income from the Krosna manor and two inns assigned to them by the bishop.
In 1710 the monks went into hiding at the Krosna manor during a plague epidemic, and in the meantime the abandoned monastery and church burned down. Construction of a masonry church began in 1715 and continued until 1721, and it was consecrated in 1722. The monastery was also rebuilt in 1752.
In 1812, during the Napoleonic Wars, a French military hospital was set up in the monastery. After the 1832 uprising the church and monastery were closed, and in 1846 they were handed over to the Orthodox metropolitan Josifas Semaška. The church was converted into the Orthodox church of St Joseph.
After the First World War the church was returned to the Catholics. It was renovated and came under the administration of the Bishops of Vilnius. In 1918 the Bishop of Vilnius, Jurgis Matulaitis, allowed a home for Lithuanian children to be set up in Trinapolis, which housed an orphanage and home for the elderly as well as a primary school. In 1926 the monastery's premises became the bishops' summer residence.
It is worth noting that in 1927 a convent of the Congregation of the Handmaids of the Blessed Virgin Mary was founded here. However, after the Second World War, in 1948, the church was closed, and the monastery's premises were put to various uses: at different times they housed a hospital, and from 1959 a tourist base.
In 1992 the church and monastery complex were returned to the Curia of the Archdiocese of Vilnius. In 1997 the church was reconsecrated. The restored monastery buildings became home to the novitiate of the Sisters of the Congregation of Christ the King and to a retreat house, which the sisters still run today.
The Church of the Most Holy Trinity (Trinapolis) in Vilnius and its surroundings are a place where history, religion and nature meet, creating a unique atmosphere for both the city's residents and its visitors.
The church is not a parish church itself: it serves participants of the retreat house and belongs to the Vilniaus Kalvarijos parish. The retreat house is located in the southern part of Verkiai Calvary Park and is run by the Sisters of the Congregation of Christ the King.
The history of this site begins in the late 17th – early 18th century, when the first wooden buildings of the Trinitarian monastery and church were built. The monastery supported thirteen monks, who lived on income from the Krosna manor and two inns assigned to them by the bishop.
In 1710 the monks went into hiding at the Krosna manor during a plague epidemic, and in the meantime the abandoned monastery and church burned down. Construction of a masonry church began in 1715 and continued until 1721, and it was consecrated in 1722. The monastery was also rebuilt in 1752.
In 1812, during the Napoleonic Wars, a French military hospital was set up in the monastery. After the 1832 uprising the church and monastery were closed, and in 1846 they were handed over to the Orthodox metropolitan Josifas Semaška. The church was converted into the Orthodox church of St Joseph.
After the First World War the church was returned to the Catholics. It was renovated and came under the administration of the Bishops of Vilnius. In 1918 the Bishop of Vilnius, Jurgis Matulaitis, allowed a home for Lithuanian children to be set up in Trinapolis, which housed an orphanage and home for the elderly as well as a primary school. In 1926 the monastery's premises became the bishops' summer residence.
It is worth noting that in 1927 a convent of the Congregation of the Handmaids of the Blessed Virgin Mary was founded here. However, after the Second World War, in 1948, the church was closed, and the monastery's premises were put to various uses: at different times they housed a hospital, and from 1959 a tourist base.
In 1992 the church and monastery complex were returned to the Curia of the Archdiocese of Vilnius. In 1997 the church was reconsecrated. The restored monastery buildings became home to the novitiate of the Sisters of the Congregation of Christ the King and to a retreat house, which the sisters still run today.
The Church of the Most Holy Trinity (Trinapolis) in Vilnius and its surroundings are a place where history, religion and nature meet, creating a unique atmosphere for both the city's residents and its visitors.
Gallery and Resources
Archive captions are shown in Lithuanian.
Atvirukas, nespalvotas. Pavaizduotas Vilniaus miesto dalies, Trinapolio fragmentas. Pirmame plane Neris, toliau matosi Vilniaus Švč. Trejybės (Trinapolio) bažnyčia. Atviruką išleido D. Visunas, Vilniuje. Kitoje atviruko pusėje yra ranka, rusų kalba rašytas tekstas.