The Catholic Pilgrim's Guide to Vilnius, Lithuania

Vilnius holds profound Catholic significance as home to the original Divine Mercy image and sacred relics of St. Casimir, Lithuania's patron saint.

On October 16, 1978, the newly elected Pope John Paul II rushed from the Sistine Chapel to pray before a single image: the reproduction of Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn in the Lithuanian Chapel beneath St. Peter's Basilica. That a Polish pope's first act was to kneel before a Vilnius Madonna reveals something profound about this Baltic capital—a city where East meets West, where mercy meets history, and where two of the Church's most powerful devotions were born within steps of each other. Vilnius rises along the confluence of the Neris and Vilnia rivers in southeastern Lithuania, its Old Town—a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994—crowning gentle hills with some forty church spires. Among these stand 21 Roman Catholic parishes and chapels, creating one of Northern Europe's densest concentrations of Catholic architecture. The city earned the title "City of Mercy" not merely for its remarkable churches but for the convergence here of two universal devotions: the miraculous icon of the Mother of Mercy, venerated since the 17th century, and the original Divine Mercy image, painted under St. Faustina Kowalska's direction in 1934. For pilgrims today, Vilnius offers an extraordinary journey through living faith. One might begin at dawn beneath the only surviving city gate, climbing narrow stairs to a chapel where Catholics and Orthodox alike have prayed for four centuries. A ten-minute walk leads to the Shrine of Divine Mercy, open twenty-four hours, where the original painting—the only Divine Mercy image St. Faustina ever saw—hangs above the altar in perpetual candlelight. At the neoclassical Cathedral, the silver sarcophagus of St. Casimir, patron of Lithuania and Polish youth, draws pilgrims who come to venerate a prince who chose prayer over a crown.

📅 2025 Jubilee Year: Four Vilnius-area churches have been designated Jubilee Churches where pilgrims can obtain indulgences: Vilnius Cathedral Basilica, the Shrine of Divine Mercy, the Chapel of Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn, and Trakai Basilica.

Major Event: The 6th World Apostolic Congress on Mercy (WACOM 6) will convene in Vilnius June 7-12, 2026, drawing thousands of international participants. Registration: wacomvilnius.org

📜 History & Spiritual Significance

The spiritual story of Vilnius begins in 1323, when Grand Duke Gediminas founded the city after dreaming of an iron wolf howling on a hilltop. Lithuania was the last European land to embrace Christianity, and the faith took root slowly—the country officially converted only in 1387. Yet once the faith arrived, it flourished spectacularly. By the 16th century, Vilnius had become a center of Catholic learning, home to a Jesuit academy that would become Vilnius University. The Gate of Dawn (Aušros Vartai) rose between 1503 and 1514 as part of nine defensive gates protecting the city from Tatar raids. From the beginning, images adorned it: Christ the Savior faced outward toward approaching enemies, while the Virgin Mary looked inward, blessing the city's inhabitants. Sometime around 1620-1630, an anonymous painter created the image of Mary we see today—head gently tilted, eyes half-closed in prayer, hands crossed over her breast. When the Discalced Carmelites arrived in 1626, they built a wooden chapel above the gate to house the beloved icon. Miracles began almost immediately. In 1671, the first recorded healing occurred when a two-year-old child, badly injured after falling from a second-floor window, recovered completely after his parents prayed to Our Lady. A fire in 1711 destroyed the wooden chapel, but the image survived unharmed. The Carmelites rebuilt in brick, and devotion grew. By 1761, a monk named Hilarion had documented seventeen miracles. When the city's defensive walls were demolished between 1799 and 1805, the Gate of Dawn alone was spared—such was the reverence for the Mother of Mercy that even the authorities dared not touch it. The 20th century brought Vilnius its place in universal Church history. In 1931, a young Polish nun named Helena Kowalska—Sister Faustina—arrived at the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy convent. Here, in this city already devoted to mercy, she received visions of Jesus revealing the Divine Mercy devotion. Her confessor, Father Michał Sopoćko, commissioned local artist Eugeniusz Kazimirowski to paint the image according to Faustina's descriptions. The work took from January to June 1934, with Faustina visiting the studio frequently to guide the artist. The first public veneration occurred during the Jubilee Year celebration at the Gate of Dawn on April 26-28, 1935—fittingly, the painting of Divine Mercy was first displayed beneath the icon of the Mother of Mercy. Sister Faustina, gravely ill, attended and later wrote of her joy at seeing the crowds venerate the image. She was transferred back to Poland in 1936 and died two years later at age thirty-three, but the seed planted in Vilnius would grow into a worldwide devotion. The Cathedral Basilica of St. Stanislaus and St. Ladislaus anchors the city's faith at Cathedral Square. A pagan temple likely stood here before Grand Duke Mindaugas built Lithuania's first Christian church around 1251. Fire and war destroyed successive structures, and the current neoclassical edifice dates to 1783-1801, designed by architect Laurynas Gucevičius. Through decades of trial, the faithful preserved the Cathedral's character, and in 1989 it was formally reconsecrated for Catholic worship. The Chapel of St. Casimir, added in 1636, houses the remains of the beloved prince (1458-1484) who chose a life of prayer and charity over worldly power. His silver sarcophagus, created in 1747, rests beneath a magnificent baroque dome. Pope John Paul II's pilgrimage in September 1993—the first papal visit to independent Lithuania—confirmed Vilnius's significance. He prayed at each major shrine, leaving both his cardinal's zucchetto and papal zucchetto as gifts to the Gate of Dawn. Pope Francis followed in September 2018, praying the rosary at the Gate of Dawn Chapel, venerating the original Divine Mercy image, and visiting the former KGB headquarters to meet with survivors of Soviet persecution.

☩ Pilgrimage Sites in Vilnius

Vilnius's major pilgrimage sites cluster within its compact Old Town, easily walkable in a single day but worthy of much longer contemplation. The full circuit from Cathedral Square to Gate of Dawn covers approximately 2.1 km (30-40 minutes). Begin at the Gate of Dawn in the south, then walk north along the medieval street pattern to the Cathedral at the city's heart. The Divine Mercy Shrine lies just off the main route, on quiet Dominikonų Street.

Shrine of Divine Mercy

Vilniaus Dievo Gailestingumo šventovė

The Holy Trinity Church, built in the 15th century and reconstructed after fires in 1748-49, was reconsecrated as the Shrine of Divine Mercy on April 18, 2004 (Divine Mercy Sunday) by Cardinal Audrys Juozas Bačkis. Father Michał Sopoćko served as pastor here in 1946-47. The church features sgraffiti depicting the Virgin of Mercy and the prayer "Jesus, I trust in You" in eleven languages.

This is the only place in the world where pilgrims can venerate the original Divine Mercy image painted under St. Faustina's direction—the only version she herself ever saw. Eugeniusz Kazimirowski completed the painting in June 1934 after months of work guided by Faustina's descriptions. The image depicts Jesus with right hand raised in blessing, left hand touching His garment at the heart, with red and pale rays streaming forth symbolizing blood and water, grace and forgiveness.

Open 24 hours daily with perpetual Eucharistic adoration. Mass: Daily 10:00, 12:00, 20:00 (Lithuanian), 16:00 (Polish); Sundays adds 18:00. Divine Mercy Chaplet at 15:00 daily. A live webcam streams continuously at gailestingumas.lt.

Address Dominikonų g. 12, Vilnius 01131, Lithuania GPS 54.6795, 25.2886

Map Google Maps Web gailestingumas.lt

Chapel of Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn

Aušros Vartų Dievo Motinos koplyčia

The only surviving gate of Vilnius's 16th-century defensive walls, the Gate of Dawn houses Lithuania's most venerated Marian image. Pilgrims climb 35 steps to reach the intimate chapel, where silver votive offerings (ex-votos) cover the walls—including a visible bullet hole from 1702 Swedish sacrilege on the icon's right sleeve. The chapel, rebuilt in brick after a 1711 fire and adorned with stucco decorations in 1785-87, can only be approached from inside the Old Town. Pope Pius XI granted canonical coronation on July 2, 1927, officially bestowing the title "Mother of Mercy."

The Gate of Dawn holds unique ecumenical significance—Catholics, Orthodox Christians, Greek Catholics, and believers of all backgrounds venerate the image. When St. John Paul II prayed here in 1993, he declared it "a special place of meeting with the Mother of the Church and Christ, and a place of unity for the faithful of the entire region." The chapel was also the site of the first public veneration of the Divine Mercy image in April 1935. The feast of Our Lady, Mother of Mercy is celebrated November 16.

Hours: May-October 6:00-19:00; November-April 7:00-19:00. Buses 11, 13, 31, 34, and 74 stop at "Aušros vartai" directly outside.

Address Aušros Vartų g. 14, Vilnius 01303, Lithuania GPS 54.6741, 25.2884

Map Google Maps Web ausrosvartai.lt

Vilnius Cathedral Basilica of St. Stanislaus and St. Ladislaus

Vilniaus Šv. Stanislovo ir Šv. Vladislovo arkikatedra bazilika

The current neoclassical structure, designed by Laurynas Gucevičius, dates to 1783-1801, but a church has stood here since Grand Duke Mindaugas built Lithuania's first Christian cathedral around 1251. The cathedral was formally reconsecrated in 1989. Beneath the cathedral, crypts contain the remains of Lithuanian Grand Dukes, including Vytautas the Great, and two queens. The underground crypt is accessible through the Church Heritage Museum (+370 600 12080) and contains Lithuania's oldest fresco.

The Chapel of St. Casimir (built 1636) is the cathedral's spiritual heart. Beneath its baroque dome rests the silver sarcophagus of Lithuania's patron saint—containing nearly 1,100 kg of silver. The chapel features Michelangelo Palloni's 1692 frescoes and the "three-handed St. Casimir" portrait above the altar, symbolizing his legendary generosity. St. Casimir's feast is celebrated March 4. Pilgrims often venerate the Sapiega Madonna in the nearby Gostautas Chapel, a miraculous painting from the early 17th century.

Hours: Monday-Saturday 7:00-18:00; Sunday 7:00-19:00. Mass: Weekdays 8:00, 12:30, 17:30; Sundays 9:00, 10:00, 11:15, 17:30, 18:30 (Latin).

Address Katedros a. 2, Vilnius 01143, Lithuania GPS 54.6857, 25.2878

Map Google Maps Web katedra.lt

Church of St. Teresa

Šv. Teresės bažnyčia

Built by the Discalced Carmelites and consecrated in 1654, St. Teresa's is one of Lithuania's first Baroque churches. The frescoes and illusionistic altars depicting the life of St. Teresa were painted between 1760-1764 by local artist Motiejus Sluščianskis. The church connects directly to the Gate of Dawn chapel via an interior corridor.

The main altar painting shows the mystical transverberation of St. Teresa—the moment an angel pierced her heart with a spear of divine love. The church serves as the custodian church for the Gate of Dawn sanctuary, with Masses in both Lithuanian and Polish. Pilgrims typically begin their visit to Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn by entering through St. Teresa's.

Address Aušros Vartų g. 14, Vilnius 01303, Lithuania GPS 54.6747, 25.2883

Map Google Maps

Orthodox Church of the Holy Spirit

Šventosios Dvasios stačiatikių vienuolyno cerkvė

This Russian Orthodox monastery church holds profound ecumenical significance. The church features Johann Christoph Glaubitz's distinctive Baroque architecture (1749-1753) paired with an emerald-green Orthodox iconostasis. The entrance is through an ornate courtyard gateway just past the Gate of Dawn.

The incorrupt bodies of the Vilnius Martyrs—Saints Anthony, John, and Eustathius, executed in 1347 for refusing pagan sacrifices—rest in a glass-covered wooden reliquary at the nave's center. Their feet remain visible beneath ornate shrouds that change color seasonally. Catholic pilgrims may venerate these martyrs, whom Pope John Paul II referenced during his 1993 visit. Their feast day is April 14 (Julian) / April 27 (Gregorian).

Hours: Daily 10:00-17:00.

Address Aušros Vartų g. 10, Vilnius 01303, Lithuania GPS 54.6753, 25.2886

Map Google Maps

Church of Sts. Peter and Paul

Šv. apaštalų Petro ir Povilo bažnyčia

Considered Vilnius's Baroque masterpiece and one of the world's most beautiful Catholic interiors, this 1668-1676 church was commissioned by Lithuanian Grand Hetman Mykolas Kazimieras Pacas as a votive offering for the city's liberation from Muscovite occupation. The interior features over 2,000 white stucco figures depicting biblical scenes, angels, and allegories—the 30-year work of Italian sculptors Giovanni Pietro Perti and Giovanni Maria Galli.

Notable features include the "Jesus of Antakalnis" (a life-sized Ecce Homo sculpture with natural hair), a ship-shaped pulpit symbolizing the Church navigating worldly storms, and a Memento Mori skeleton near the exit. The founder lies beneath the threshold under an inscription reading "Hic jacet peccator" (Here lies a sinner). The church never closed during Soviet rule and housed St. Casimir's relics until 1989.

Hours: Daily 6:30-18:45. Mass: Weekdays 7:00, 7:30, 18:00; Sundays 7:30, 10:00, 11:30, 18:00. 20-minute walk northeast from Cathedral Square.

Address Antakalnio g. 1, Vilnius 10308, Lithuania GPS 54.6936, 25.2964

Map Google Maps Web petropovilo.lt

🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations

Divine Mercy Sunday (Second Sunday of Easter)

2025: April 27 | 2026: April 12 Shrine of Divine Mercy. The feast instituted by St. John Paul II in 2000 draws thousands of pilgrims to the shrine housing the original image. Divine Mercy Week runs from Easter Monday through Divine Mercy Sunday. On Saturday evening, an ecumenical Way of Light procession travels from the Gate of Dawn Chapel to the Shrine. The 2025 celebration marks the 25th anniversary of St. Faustina's canonization and Pope John Paul II's institution of Divine Mercy Sunday (April 30, 2000). The nine-day Divine Mercy Novena begins on Good Friday.

Feast of St. Casimir (March 4) and Kaziuko Mugė

Kaziuko Mugė 2025: March 7-9 | 2026: Likely March 6-8 Vilnius Cathedral Basilica and Old Town. Lithuania's patron saint is honored with solemn Mass and the veneration of his relics in the baroque chapel. The traditional Kaziuko mugė (Casimir Fair)—the largest folk craft market in the Baltic States—transforms central Vilnius with over 1,000 artisan stalls selling traditional Vilnius Palms (colorful dried flower arrangements), heart-shaped "Casimir's Heart" gingerbreads, woodcarvings, pottery, and honey. The St. Casimir's Parade departs Independence Square at 14:00 on Friday, processing down Gediminas Avenue to Cathedral Square.

Feast of Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn (November 16)

Chapel of Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn. The Great Indulgence Feast is celebrated for eight days during the week containing November 16. All Lithuanian bishops gather at the shrine, and pilgrims from Lithuania, Poland, Belarus, and Ukraine crowd the chapel. Monthly minor feasts occur on the 16th of each month with Masses at 10:00 (Polish) and 12:00 (Lithuanian) at St. Teresa's Church.

🛏️ Where to Stay

Domus Maria ⭐⭐⭐ — Archdiocese-operated 48-room hotel in a 400-year-old Carmelite monastery, 130 meters from the Gate of Dawn. Rooms 207 and 307 offer direct chapel views. Breakfast in former monks' refectory. domusmaria.com ∙ Reserve this hotel

Bernardinu B&B House ⭐⭐⭐ — Family-owned bed and breakfast in a 17th-century baroque building with original timber floors and restored wall paintings. Steps from St. Anne's Church. bernardinuhouse.com ∙ Reserve this hotel

Artagonist Art Hotel ⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Boutique hotel in an authentic 15th-century building on the main Old Town street, featuring 34 rooms decorated with original artworks by Lithuanian artists. artagonist.lt ∙ Reserve this hotel

Hotel Pacai ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Design Hotels member in a meticulously restored 1677 Baroque palace with original frescoes, PACAI Spa, and Michelin-noted restaurant. hotelpacai.com ∙ Reserve this hotel

Downtown Forest Hostel & Camping (budget accommodation) — Hostel in the artistic Užupis district with dormitory and private rooms, camping facilities, and communal terrace. 10-15 minute walk to Old Town. downtownforest.lt ∙ Reserve this hotel

Trinapolis Retreat House (pilgrim accommodation) — Archdiocese-operated retreat center accommodating groups up to 60, located near Vilnius Calvary. Contact: info@trinapolis.eu

House of Mary (pilgrim accommodation) — Brothers of St. John monastery guesthouse for individuals and groups up to 20. Contact: marijosnamai@joanitai.org

🚗 Getting There

By Air Vilnius International Airport (VNO) lies 6-7 km south of the city center, with direct connections to most major European cities. Trains reach Vilnius Central Station in 7-8 minutes for €0.70-0.80, departing every 40-60 minutes. Bus 88 travels directly to the Gate of Dawn ("Aušros vartai" stop) in 15-20 minutes for €1. Bolt is the most reliable ride-hailing option (€5-10 to Old Town). Note: The airport was renamed "Vilnius Čiurlionis International Airport" from January 2025 through December 2029. Official website: vilnius-airport.lt By Train From Warsaw: LTG Link and PKP Intercity operate twice-daily joint service (increased from once daily in December 2024). Journey time is approximately 7 hours 30 minutes with a brief train change at Mockava. Tickets from €25; book early at ltglink.lt—trains frequently sell out. From Riga: LTG Link operates twice-daily service (launched December 2023), departing Vilnius at 07:05 and returning from Riga at 16:55. Journey time approximately 4 hours; tickets €24 (second class) or €34 (first class). By Bus The Vilnius Bus Station (Vilniaus autobusų stotis), adjacent to the railway station, offers connections to Riga, Tallinn, Warsaw, and other Baltic and European cities via Lux Express (premium), FlixBus (budget), and Ecolines. Warsaw-Vilnius: 7-8 hours (€17-47); Riga-Vilnius: under 4 hours (from €7). By Car From Warsaw: 470 km via E28/Via Baltica (5-6 hours). From Riga: 310 km via A1/E67 (4 hours). The Old Town is largely pedestrianized; parking is available at garages around the perimeter. Within Vilnius All major pilgrimage sites are within walking distance in the compact Old Town. Public transport (buses and trolleybuses) serves the wider city, with single tickets available from drivers or the Trafi app.

📚 Further Reading

Books:

  • Fr. Seraphim Michalenko, MIC & Vinny Flynn, The Divine Mercy Message and Devotion – Essential introduction to Divine Mercy outlining the message and devotion with selected prayers from St. Faustina's Diary.
  • Fr. Michael E. Gaitley, MIC, Divine Mercy Image Explained – Engaging guide revealing hidden gems and inspiring truths about the Divine Mercy Image, with instructions for home enthronement.
  • St. Faustina Kowalska, Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul – The spiritual diary of St. Faustina, much of which was written in Vilnius.
  • Fr. Michael E. Gaitley, MIC, 33 Days to Merciful Love – Retreat guide that draws on St. Faustina's spirituality.

Articles & Online Resources:

🎥 Recommended Videos

  • Vilnius by EWTN (Explore with the Miracle Hunter) – Michael O'Neill investigates the miraculous image of Our Lady of Mercy and visits sites of St. Faustina's early life and the original Divine Mercy image.
  • The Origins of the Divine Mercy Icon by EWTN Jubilee – Visit the sites in Vilnius where the Divine Mercy devotion unfolded, home to the original icon painted at St. Faustina's instruction.
  • Our Lady Mary Gate of the Dawn by SSVM Northern Europe – History and views of the Gate of Dawn chapel, patroness of the Servidoras Northern Europe Province.
  • Shrine of Divine Mercy Live Adoration by Divine Mercy – Live Eucharistic adoration from the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Vilnius.
  • Feast of Saint Casimir Holy Mass by Vilniaus Arkikatedra Bazilika – Holy Mass in English from the Chapel of Saint Casimir in Vilnius Cathedral on the patron saint's feast day.

🔗 Useful Links

🧭 Nearby Pilgrimage Destinations

Trakai (28 km) — The Basilica of the Visitation houses the miraculous icon of Our Lady, Protectress of Lithuania. Designated a 2025 Jubilee Church. An annual youth pilgrimage walks from the Gate of Dawn to Trakai.

Šiluva (150 km) — Site of the first Church-approved Marian apparition in Europe (1608), where Our Lady appeared weeping over an abandoned chapel. Major pilgrimages September 8-15.

Aglona, Latvia (220 km) — The Dominican basilica housing the miraculous White Madonna icon is the most important Catholic pilgrimage site in Latvia, drawing 300,000 pilgrims for the Assumption feast.

🥾 Pilgrim Routes

John Paul II Pilgrim Route – This officially marked, 1,050-kilometer route connects 19 sites across Lithuania where the pope celebrated Mass or prayed during his 1993 visit. The recommended seven-day itinerary begins in Vilnius (Cathedral, Divine Mercy Shrine, Gate of Dawn, Vilnius Calvary, and Trakai) before continuing to Marijampolė, Kaunas, Klaipėda, the Hill of Crosses, Šiluva shrine, and beyond. Full route maps at piligrimukelias.lt. Way of Divine Mercy – This informal but well-documented route connects sites integral to St. Faustina's Vilnius years (1933-1936): the Shrine of Divine Mercy, her former Antakalnis convent, the Gate of Dawn (where the image was first publicly displayed in April 1935), and locations associated with Blessed Fr. Michał Sopoćko. Youth Pilgrimage to Trakai – An annual 30-kilometer walking pilgrimage from the Gate of Dawn to the Trakai Basilica, typically during the Trakai Feast (September 1-8). Organized by the Vilnius Archdiocese Youth Centre. Vilnius Pilgrim App – Available for iOS and Android, offering GPS navigation, audio descriptions, and four mapped pilgrimage routes in English and Lithuanian.

🙏 Practical Pilgrim Information

Pilgrim Center: Vilnius Pilgrim Center, Dominikonų g. 6, open Monday-Friday 10:00-18:00. Contact: pilgrims@cityofmercy.lt, +370 677 21 591. Pilgrim Passports available here and at St. Teresa's Church. Guided Pilgrimages: The "Way of Mercy" guided pilgrimages depart on the last Saturday of summer months. Dress Code: Modest dress (covered shoulders and knees) expected at all churches. Best Times: Early mornings offer quieter prayer time at popular sites. Bl. Michał Sopoćko: St. Faustina's confessor and spiritual director was beatified September 28, 2008. His liturgical feast is February 15. His canonization cause remains active. Current Archbishop: Gintaras Linas Grušas (since April 2013), also President of the Council of European Bishops' Conferences (CCEE).

🪶 Closing Reflection

"At the Vatican there is a Lithuanian Chapel that guards a copy of the image venerated in this Sanctuary. From there, the Successor of Peter often unites himself spiritually to the prayer that rises to God from here. Today, at the beginning of my pastoral visit to the Baltic region, I have the great joy of being present here not only spiritually but also physically. As Pastor of the universal Church, I come to place in Mary's maternal hands, with the support of your prayer, my thanksgiving and my invocation."
— St. John Paul II, Gate of Dawn, Vilnius, September 4, 1993