Kaunas Cathedral Basilica, Kaunas, Lithuania

Kaunas Cathedral Basilica (Kauno Šv. apaštalų Petro ir Povilo arkikatedra bazilika) is a Roman Catholic cathedral basilica. The exact date when the first Gothic style church dedicated to apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul was built is unknown, but it was first mentioned in written sources in 1413. The first parochial school in Kaunas at the St. Peter and St. Paul church was mentioned in 1473. The construction works were concluded only in 1624. The church greatly suffered from wars in 1655and was rebuilt in 1671 and gained some Renaissance features. Only one of the towers was rebuilt after the fire of the roof in 1732. As a part of renovation, the internal decorations were funded by the King Stanisław August Poniatowski in 1771. The main altar, a lectern and a choir were installed by Tomasz Podhajski in 1775. The present day shape of the building is from 1800 renovation. Тhе bishop of Samogitia, historian and one of the best known Lithuanian writers of the 19th century Motiejus Valančius was interred in a crypt of the church in 1875.

The church was promoted to cathedral status by Pope Leo XIII in 1895. It received the Basilica title in 1926, when the Diocese of Samogitia was reorganized into the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Kaunas by Pope Pius XI. The cathedral, being 84 m long, 28 m height and 34 m wide is the largest Gothic church in Lithuania. The Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, built in 1895, is an independent extension of the southern nave with carved wood furnishings in the neo-gothic style.

There is also a Neogothic mausoleum of one of the most famous Lithuanian romantic poets Maironis near the wall of the chapel. Kaunas Cathedral Basilica was included into the Registry of Immovable Cultural Heritage Sites of the Republic of Lithuania in 1996. Lithuanian Cardinal Vincentas Sladkevičius was also buried in the Kaunas Cathedral Basilica in 2000.

References:

Wikipedia

User Reviews

Rob P (3 years ago)
If you're in Kaunas' Old Town, then you should visit the Cathedral Basilica of Ss. Peter & Paul. You might not expect much from seeing the plain exterior, but inside is truly splendid. Large triple nave, huge arches, numerous side altars, a chapel for adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament, glorious high altar. Don't miss the large paintings high up along the nave depicting key moments in the lives of the church's patron saints -- Peter and Paul.

Natasha Kirichuk (3 years ago)
It looks a little scruffy from the outside, but is really grand from the inside. The organ there is really beautiful, as are all 7 altars. Must visit.

Keerthivash Chellamalai (3 years ago)
A must visit in Kaunas old town!

Ramil Rahmanov (3 years ago)
Amazing historical monument. So beautiful. I make it's model. It is different way of handicraft (combination of Cathedral without glue ) I will show at here after finishing .

J. G (4 years ago)
Intricately decorated Catholic church. All for visit during noon mass. Fantastically surprised.

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