Vilnius Basilian Monastery buildings ensemble (Vilnius)

 heritage, monastery, interesting place

 Upload a photo

The ensemble of Basilian monastery lies on St. Trinity hill, which is known as murder site of 3 Vilnius martyrs - Anthony, John and Eustathios. Accoring to the legend Uljana (Julijona), wife of grand duke of Lithuania Algirdas, built a wooden ortodox church in 1347 to honur these martyrs. In 1514 Konstanty Ostrogski (Konstantinas Ostrogiškis) funded the new ortodox church, monastery and belfry. Basilians, pupils of uniate Velamin Rutski, here settled in 1607 and women basilians - in 1610. Vilnius Basilian Monastery became the centre of Uniate Chuch of Lithuania. Noviciate operated succesfully, uniates had their publish house. In the 17th century chapels of St. Luke, St. Cross exaltation, St. God's Mother visit (Skuminai) were built. After 1760 fire architect Johann Cristoph Glaubitz reconstructed the church and projected the Gate of Basilian Monastery. The church was reconstructed in the 19th century.
The basilian monks were banished in 1821. The church of St. Trinity was turned into ortodox church of Revelation, monastery was turned into ortodix seminary and part of men monastery was used as a prison. Many students of Vilnius University, Filaret organisation members were imprisoned (the most famous prisoners - writer Adam Mickiewicz (Adomas Mickevičius), scientist Ignacy Domeyko (Ignotas Domeika), leader of 1831-1832 resistance Szymon Konarski (Simonas Konarskis). In 1919 the monastery was gave to catholic society of St. Vincent de Paul. During the soviet ocupation it was closed. In 1992 the ensemble was returned to uniates. Currently Basilial Order of St. Josaphat is settled in the monastery building, masses in St. Trinity Church are celebrated in ukrainian language.