On September 4, 1718, Pope Clement XI's envoy Bishop Brzostowski placed golden crowns upon the icon of the Trakai Mother of God—the first Marian image in Lithuania to receive this papal honor. This ancient ducal capital, where Grand Duke Vytautas the Great once held court in his island fortress, became a center of Marian devotion so powerful that the "Christian Horace" himself, the great Latin poet Maciej Kazimierz Sarbiewski, immortalized its pilgrim paths in verse. Here, where Gothic brick meets Baroque splendor on a peninsula between two glacial lakes, the miraculous icon has drawn the faithful for over four centuries. The church of Trakai holds a distinction unique in Lithuanian history: it has never been closed, never served another faith, never been repurposed. Through centuries of upheaval, the basilica remained what Vytautas intended when he founded it in 1409—a house of prayer where the Blessed Virgin receives her children. Today's pilgrims walk the same 28-kilometer path from Vilnius that Jesuit-organized processions have traced since the early 17th century, a living tradition that Sarbiewski captured in his celebrated cycle of pilgrimage poetry. The basilica received its elevated status in 2017, becoming one of only eight basilicas in Lithuania.
📜 History & Spiritual Significance
The story of Trakai as a pilgrimage destination begins with Grand Duke Vytautas himself. In 1409, while constructing his magnificent island castle—Trakų salos pilis—on Lake Galvė, Vytautas founded a parish church on the nearby peninsula, dedicating it to the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. According to cherished tradition, the Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaiologos sent Vytautas a precious icon of the Theotokos Nikopeia ("Mother of God, Bearer of Victory") to commemorate his baptism. This "Victorious" image, which had protected Byzantine emperors and Constantinople itself, would become the spiritual heart of Trakai. The same Grand Duke who constructed the fairy-tale fortress also founded the basilica and brought the miraculous icon, uniting temporal and spiritual power in service of his people. The icon's fame as a source of miraculous graces spread throughout the Grand Duchy during the early 17th century. In 1603, when plague ravaged Lithuania, Bishop Benediktas Voina organized a penitential pilgrimage from Vilnius to pray before the image—the first recorded pilgrimage to Trakai. He led the procession barefoot, and the faithful followed. The plague receded, and word of the Virgin's intercession spread. In 1622, following the Christian victory over the Ottoman forces at the Battle of Khotyn, the Jesuits of Vilnius Academy organized a magnificent thanksgiving procession to Trakai. Among those participating was Maciej Kazimierz Sarbiewski (Sarbievius), Europe's most celebrated Latin poet, who would immortalize this pilgrimage in his Quattuor leucae Virginis Matris ("The Four Leagues of the Virgin Mother"). This cycle of four Sapphic epodes, each marking one league of the journey, weaves together the ancient hymn Ave Maris Stella, the Litany of Loreto, imagery from the Song of Songs, and a portrait of Vytautas as a Christian monarch under Mary's protection. Sarbiewski presented Vilnius and Trakai as a locus sanctus—holy ground where heaven touches earth. The processions he described became an annual tradition that continues to this day. The image's reputation grew throughout the century. Chancellor Leonas Sapiega donated an exquisite golden crown around 1630. Dean Simonas Mankevičius published a History of the Parish Church of Trakai documenting the graces received through Mary's intercession. The Jesuit historian Albertas Vijukas-Kojalavičius included Trakai among the "most famous places of the Grand Duchy, renowned for special grace of miraculous power." On September 4, 1718, the Trakai Mother of God received the singular honor of papal coronation—the first Marian image in Lithuania to be officially crowned by the Holy See. Pope Clement XI sent Bishop Konstanty Kazimierz Brzostowski to perform the ceremony, and the image received the title "Intercessor of the Afflicted" (Advocata Afflictorum). The golden papal crowns, which still adorn the icon, mark Trakai as Lithuania's premier Marian pilgrimage destination of the Baroque era. Remarkably, the icon is venerated not only by Catholics but also by Orthodox Christians and the local Karaite Muslim community—a testimony to Mary's universal appeal as a mother who excludes no one from her care. In 2018, to mark the 300th anniversary of the coronation, Lithuania was consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Patroness of Lithuania, in a ceremony held at the basilica.
☩ Pilgrimage Sites in Trakai
Trakai's peninsula rises between Lake Galvė and Lake Totoriškių, its profile dominated by the basilica's Gothic brick tower. The pilgrimage landscape encompasses the basilica itself, several small devotional sites, and the broader setting of lakes and castle that make Trakai one of Lithuania's most visually striking destinations.
Basilica of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Trakų Švč. Mergelės Marijos Apsilankymo bazilika (Lithuanian)
Vytautas's original 15th-century structure, built in the brick Gothic style characteristic of the Baltic region, was possibly crafted by the same builders who constructed his island fortress. When he founded this church in 1409, he dedicated it to the Visitation—that Gospel moment when the Virgin Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth and proclaimed the Magnificat. The irregular floor plan reflects medieval building practices, while major Baroque renovations in the 17th and 18th centuries added the present great altar, ornate plasterwork, and decorative elements, preserving the Gothic bones beneath layers of splendor.
In 2006, restorers discovered remarkable Byzantine-style frescoes on the interior walls, dating to the 15th century. These paintings, depicting scenes from the Old and New Testaments, suggest that Vytautas brought artists familiar with Eastern iconographic traditions to decorate his church—perhaps reflecting his own grandfather's Orthodox faith.
The Miraculous Icon: The Trakai Mother of God dominates the Baroque high altar. The image depicts Mary in the Byzantine Hodegetria ("She who shows the Way") style: the Virgin gestures toward the Christ Child seated on her lap, who raises his hand in blessing. Research has revealed that the original Gothic painting showed Mary standing full-length with a crown of roses; the icon was trimmed and repainted in Byzantine style when the new altar was installed around 1600. The golden rims, the papal crowns hung above the image, and the surrounding silver ex-voto offerings testify to centuries of answered prayers. Over 400 votive offerings (milagros) surround the icon—silver hearts, hands, eyes, and figures given by the faithful in thanksgiving for healings and graces received.
Treasury: The basilica preserves a remarkable collection of sacred art: a Gothic silver pax with the Crucified Christ and symbols of the four Evangelists, likely made by Prussian goldsmiths in the early 16th century; 18th-century candlesticks and a sanctuary lamp; and the original silver revetments of the miraculous icon.
Chapel of St. John Nepomuk
Šv. Jono Nepomuko koplytstulpis (Lithuanian)
A distinctive roadside pillar (koplytstulpis), dedicated to St. John Nepomuk, patron saint of bridges and those in danger of drowning—an apt protector for a town surrounded by lakes. The current statue, by Vilnius sculptor Stanisław Horn-Popławski, dates from 1935 and replaced earlier figures. During the atheist period, Soviet authorities threw the statue into the lake, but museum workers recovered it and returned it to its place in 1990—a small resurrection mirroring Lithuania's own emergence from imposed atheism.
Orthodox Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Trakų Švč. Mergelės Marijos Gimimo stačiatikių cerkvė (Lithuanian)
A small Orthodox church built in 1863 in commemoration of the defeat of the Polish-Lithuanian Uprising, standing on one of the peninsula's hills at the corner of Maironis and Vytautas streets. The church serves the Russian Orthodox community and demonstrates the multi-confessional character of historic Trakai, where Catholic, Orthodox, and Karaite communities have coexisted for centuries. The icon of the Trakai Mother of God is venerated not only by Catholics but also by Orthodox Christians—a testimony to Mary's universal appeal as a mother who excludes no one from her care.
🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations
Feast of the Assumption (Žolinės) — August 15
Basilica of the Visitation. The summer indulgence feast draws pilgrims from across Lithuania. The miraculous icon is carried in a solemn procession through Trakai's streets, accompanied by scattered flowers, processional banners, and hymns. Herbs, flowers, grains, and vegetables are blessed during Mass—a custom connecting the harvest to Mary's Assumption into heaven. The festivities extend to the nearby "Cabbage Fair" on the Karaite island, blending sacred celebration with local tradition.
Trakinės (Feast of the Nativity of Mary) — September 1–8
Basilica of the Visitation. The annual "Trakinės" feast commemorates both Mary's birth (September 8) and the anniversary of the icon's papal coronation (September 4). Pilgrims walk approximately 30 kilometers from the Gate of Dawn in Vilnius to Trakai—the same route the Jesuits established in the 17th century and that Sarbiewski immortalized in verse. Young people from the Vilnius Archdiocese Youth Centre have revived this tradition, walking in groups with colorful banners, singing hymns, and giving witness to their faith.
🛏️ Where to Stay
Apvalaus Stalo Klubas ⭐⭐⭐ — Charming lakeside hotel with views of the island castle, traditional Lithuanian cuisine, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Walking distance to the basilica. Website ∙ Reserve this hotel
TRASALIS ⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Larger resort hotel with spa and conference facilities on the lakeshore, ideal for pilgrims seeking rest and restoration after the long walk from Vilnius. trasalis.lt ∙ Reserve this hotel
Trakai Sport Centre (hostel) — Simple accommodations often used by youth pilgrimage groups, particularly during the Trakinės feast. Contact directly for availability.
🚗 Getting There
By Air: Vilnius International Airport (VNO) is approximately 35 km from Trakai, with onward bus or taxi connections.
By Train: Trains run from Vilnius Railway Station to Trakai station, which is a pleasant 2 km walk from the town center.
By Bus: Direct buses depart from Vilnius Bus Station every 15–30 minutes to Trakai; journey takes approximately 40 minutes. From Kaunas (100 km), take a bus to Vilnius and transfer.
By Car: From Vilnius (28 km), follow the A4 highway southwest; parking available near the castle and town center. From Kaunas (100 km), take the A1/E85 east toward Vilnius, then turn south on the A4.
On Foot: The 28-kilometer traditional pilgrimage walk from the Gate of Dawn in Vilnius follows the path traced by Sarbiewski's 17th-century procession. Youth groups and organized pilgrimages typically walk this route in 7–8 hours.
📚 Further Reading
Books:
Krzysztof Fordoński and Piotr Urbański (eds.), Casimir Britannicus: English Translations, Paraphrases, and Emulations of the Poetry of Maciej Kazimierz Sarbiewski (Modern Humanities Research Association, 2010) — The definitive collection of English translations of Sarbiewski's poetry, including scholarly analysis of his Trakai pilgrimage cycle.
Robertas Gedvydas Skrinskas, Piligrimo Vadovas: Po stebuklingas Marijos vietas (1999, in Lithuanian) — Comprehensive guide documenting over 100 miraculous Marian images and 25 apparition sites across Lithuania, including Trakai.
Articles & Online Resources:
The Image of Our Lady in the Church of Trakai – Orbis Lituaniae's detailed history of the miraculous icon.
Ona Daukšienė, "Švč. Mergelės Marijos vaizdavimas LDK XVII a. poezijoje: M. K. Sarbievijaus 'Keturios Mergelės Motinos mylios'" (Lituanistika) – Academic analysis of Sarbiewski's Trakai pilgrimage poetry (in Lithuanian).
Sacred Sites in Lithuania – Lithuania Travel's overview of the country's major pilgrimage destinations.
🔗 Useful Links
Trakai Basilica Official Website (in Lithuanian)
Pilgrim Route of St. John Paul II – Official route information including Trakai
Trakai Tourism Information Centre – Practical visitor information
Vilnius Archdiocese – Information about diocesan pilgrimages and events
🥾 Pilgrim Routes
Pilgrim Route of St. John Paul II — A 100 km pilgrimage following Pope John Paul II's historic 1993 visit to Lithuania, the first papal journey to a former Soviet republic. The route connects the Hill of Crosses near Šiauliai, the Marian shrine at Šiluva, the Gate of Dawn in Vilnius, and Trakai's basilica, tracing the sites where over a million Lithuanians gathered to celebrate faith and freedom.
🧭 Nearby Pilgrimage Destinations
Vilnius (23 km northeast) — Lithuania's capital and starting point for the traditional 28 km pilgrimage walk to Trakai; home to the Gate of Dawn with its miraculous icon of Our Lady, and the Church of St. Casimir.
Šiluva (147 km northwest) — Lithuania's national Marian shrine, site of a 1608 apparition of the Virgin Mary and crowned by Pope John Paul II during his 1993 visit.
Hill of the Crosses (180 km north) — Sacred hilltop near Šiauliai where hundreds of thousands of crosses mark centuries of Lithuanian devotion and resistance, repeatedly bulldozed by Soviets and rebuilt by the faithful.
Baruny (147 km southeast, Belarus) — Historic Basilian monastery village with Vilnian Baroque architecture and the miraculous icon of Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted.
Budslaw (182 km east, Belarus) — Belarus's national Catholic sanctuary, home to the miraculous Our Lady of Budslau icon attracting tens of thousands of pilgrims annually.
🪶 Closing Reflection
"Through the ages, Lithuanians have expressed a particular devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. I think of the many Marian shrines in your land, especially those of Trakai, Šiluva and the Gate of Dawn in Vilnius. May Mary, Star of Evangelization, continue to guide the Church in Lithuania as she journeys towards the third millennium!"
— Pope St. John Paul II, Address to the Bishops of Lithuania, September 1993
