Church of Sts Johns, Vilnius

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The Sts. Johns' Church (Sv. Jonu Baznycia) is also known as University Church as it is situated within the university complex.

The church has a long history dating back to the 14th century, but the current structure was built in the 18th century after plans of Jan Krzysztof Glaubitz. His name stands for the typical Vilnius baroque style. During the Soviet years the church served as a science museum.

At 68 m in height the belfry is said to be Vilnius' highest church tower. It was erected in the early 17th century.

Directions:
The Sts. Johns' Church is located right in the heart of Vilnius' old town, just on the eastern side of the university's courtyard.

Address: Sts. Johns' Church, Sv. Jono 12, Vilnius

This was one of the first Roman Catholic churches built in Lithuania, at the end of the 14th century, in gothic style.
The church was held by the fathers Jesuits from the 16th and became part of the University complex. Quite little of the originary gothic style is still there nowadays, but it's still one of the most beautiful churches in Vilnius.
The bell tower of St. John's church was built in 1571 and is even higher than the Cathedral's (68 m).
Inside the church there is also a small museum

The church was built on the corner of the old market place. Construction began just before Lithuania was officially christianised and was completed in 1426. This was a gothic building at that time. The church became the domain of Jesuits in 1571 and since then has been considered to be part of the University campus. Masses, student protests and theatre performances have all taken place here.
The belfry of St. Johns churh is one of the tallest constructions in the Old Town. It is 68 meters tall. The belfry was built at the end of XVI century. The cross on the top of the bell tower was made by local blacksmiths in the second half of the XVII century . The bell was cast by the famous baroque master, J. Delamarsas.

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Construction of this church began in 1387, when Lithuania became a catholic country. In 1571 Lithuanian Duke Zygimantas Augustas gave this church to Jesuits and from when it is a part of Vilnius university. Present church was reconstructed in 1737, late baroque. Worth to see ten altars of this church and a little museum of books and documents of University inside.

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The construction of the church of St. John started soon after Lithuania's Christianisation in 1387 and was finished 1426. Originally it was Gothic. In 1571 it was taken over by Jesuits who built a wide Gothic presbytery with a passage around the altar. In 1738-49 the church was reconstructed in distict late Baroque style. Most precious is the church facade, which was completed in the 18th century. Although the facade has many small volutes and pilasters it looks harmonious.

This belfry (bell tower) of St. John's church on my picture was built at the end of 16th or at the beginning of 17th century. With its height of 68 m or 223 ft its top was good and very usuful orientation point for me especially that the tower stood just by main street of the old town called Pilies gatve (Castle Street).

Four corners of the tower were decorated with stone vases. Imagine that the cross on the top was 6.2 m (20 ft + 4 inches) high.

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On the edge of the university grounds sits the imposing Church of St. John's. The church was originally built in Gothic style but was renovated in the 18th century and now appears more Baroque. The interior (particularly the stained glass windows) is quite impressive. If you want to enter the church, you must do so from within the university grounds. This fooled us at first, since the church borders old town streets and appears as though you should be able to get in from one of these side streets.

We were eating very good late lunch at Kristupo kavine (Pilies gatve 24), just across this tower on my picture. There was St. John's church with large, inpressive but... typical late baroque facade with the bell tower (belfry) just across Pilies gatve (Castle Street). Its baroque interiors including a few chapels were more interesting, esp. the main altar and numerous frescos from 18th century.

This was university church where generations of famous students and professors used to pray in the past. The church luckily survived numerous wars but not the Soviet occupation were it was closed, robbed and severely damaged. After 1991 it was given back to catholics and renovated. In 1993 the church was visited by pope from Poland - John Paul II.

The bell tower was built at the end of 16th or at the beginning of 17th century. With its height of 68 m or 223 ft its top was good and very usuful orientation point for me.
Four corners of the tower were decorated with stone vases. Imagine that the cross on the top was 6.2 m (20 ft + 4 inches) high.

This is one of my favorite photos because of the light effects.
The shown building is the Catholic Church of St. Johns. It was built in 1387 and remodeled in the 18th century. The altar inside is breathtaking!

Like the Cathedral of Vilnius, the Church of St. John has a separate belfry. The two buildings form part of Vilnius University, which incorporated them in 1571 when the Order of Jesuits took ownership of the church. During Soviet times it was turned into a warehouse, but today, as can be seen from the wedding in the picture, it has returned to normal functions. It was even visited by Pope John Paul II in 1993.