Facts About Vilnius Cathedral
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The Cathedral Basilica of St Stanislaus and St Ladislaus of Vilnius is the main Roman Catholic Cathedral of Lithuania. It is situated in Vilnius Old Town, just off Cathedral Square.
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The cathedral and the belfry were thoroughly renovated from 2006 to 2008.
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During the Soviet regime initially, the cathedral was converted into a warehouse. Masses were celebrated again starting in 1988, although the cathedral was still officially called “The Gallery of Images” at that time. In 1989, its status as a cathedral was restored.
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Vilnius Cathedral is Dedicated to Saints Stanislaus and Ladislaus, the church is the heart of Catholic spiritual life in Lithuania.
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In 2002 work officially began to rebuild the Royal Palace of Lithuania behind the cathedral. The newly erected palace building will considerably alter the context of the cathedral.
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In 1387, the year in which Lithuania was officially converted to Christianity, construction began on a second Gothic Cathedral with five chapels. It was however burnt down in 1419.
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In 1769 the southern tower, built during the reconstruction of 1666 collapsed, destroying the vaults of the neighbouring chapel and killing 6 people.
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Between 1786 and 1792 three sculptures by Kazimierz Jelski were placed on the roof of the Cathedral – Saint Casimir on the south side, Saint Stanislaus on the north, and Saint Helena in the centre. These sculptures were removed in 1950 and restored in 1997.
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Inside crypts and catacombs of the Cathedral are buried many famous people from Lithuanian and Polish history.
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The heart of the Polish-Lithuanian king Władysław IV Vasa was buried there upon his death, although the rest of his body is buried at the Wawel Cathedral in Kraków.