Past exhibitions

Drawing on the long tradition and teaching of the Catholic Church, Pope Pius IX proclaimed the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1854 in the bull “Ineffabilis Deus”. The main artefacts of this exhibition are the original Lithuanian and Polish language manuscript albums of the bull “Ineffabilis Deus”, preserved in the Vatican Apostolic Library, as well as examples of Lithuanian folk devotional practices inspired by the bull. The Lithuanian translation of the bull from Latin was produced by Motiejus Valančius, Bishop of Samogitia.

To mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis, we presented a memorial object of special significance in preserving the memory of the Čiurlionis family: the organ from the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Kabeliai. Historical research suggests that this instrument originally stood in the old church of Ratnyčia, where M. K. Čiurlionis’s father, Konstantinas Čiurlionis, worked as an organist in 1876–1877. This unique artifact is closely tied to the artist’s early childhood and to the history of Ratnyčia and Kabeliai.

The new exhibition is dedicated to one of the oldest women's convents in Vilnius, dating back to the 6th century, which was founded and flourished more than 400 years ago. The exhibits reflect the external and internal aspects of the life of the Vilnius Benedictine Nuns, from the founding and flourishing of the community to the tragic fate of the twentieth century, which divided the community and its heritage. For the first time in one place, the collected paintings of St Catherine's Church, liturgical vessels, library treasures, and photographs of ceremonies and daily life are displayed. A beautiful collection of 12 reliquaries is presented - a combination of careful Benedictine handwork and prayer. The portrait of Abbess Konstancja Tyzenhauzówna from the late 17th century, which has been preserved in the National Museum in Warsaw, and the unique pastoral of the abbess, preserved in Vilnius, are the most impressive exhibits. The story of St Catherine's Church is told, with some of the surviving paintings by Szymon Czechowicz and his workshop on display in the normally closed part of the museum, the cloistered corridor.

The Vilnius Cathedral bell tower has been welcoming visitors for a decade now. In celebration of this milestone, we proudly presented the installations Vėjalaikis by Žilvinas Kempinas, crafted exclusively for this historic space. It marked the first encounter between contemporary art and the ancient tower.

The exhibition traced the history of Lithuanian chapels (Chapel of Our Lady of Šiluva in the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington and Chapel of Our Lady Mater Misericordiae in the grottoes of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican), underscoring their significance for the Lithuanian diaspora and for Lithuania under occupation. It specifically examined the artistic milieu that enabled Lithuanian artists, war refugees, to integrate into the artistic landscapes of their host countries and make their mark on an international stage. 

The international exhibition was inaugurated on September 29 at the Church Heritage Museum. It was served as a commemoration of the saint’s martyrdom, coinciding with the 700th anniversary of Vilnius. The city of Vilnius holds a special place in the history of St Josaphat, as it marks the beginning of his monastic journey and the unfolding of his pastoral activities. It was in the Monastery of the Holy Trinity in Vilnius that St Josaphat, alongside Josyf Veliamin Rutski, initiated reforms in monastic life and established the Basilian Order.

The exhibition was dedicated to recall the most important events and people of our city, state, and Church - all of which are points of reference for understanding the changes in Vilnius. As visitors climbed up, they admired the city, discovered the bell tower, and retraced the timeline of Vilnius as it unfolds here.

Exhibition presented the first disciples of Jesus Christ who were called apostles (Greek apostolos, ‘messenger’). The New Testament reads that Jesus originally called twelve disciples. They were Peter, James the Elder, John, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the Less, Judas Thaddaeus, Simon, and Judas Iscariot.

Exhibition Theatrum biblicum (The Bible Theatre) of the Church Heritage Museum was dedicated to scenography. It presented a unique collection of baroque Holy Week and Easter decorations discovered in the last decade, painted scenes from the Old and New Testaments from St. James the Apostle Church in Švėkšna and from the collections of other Lithuanian churches and museums.