≈ 3 hr 50 min awayHomyel'- Month
- ≈ $500
- Distance
- 452 km
Vilnius · Lithuania
Church of St. Johns, Vilnius: what's nearby, how to get there and when to go · 2026
Scholars and long-term residents in the Old Town navigate university courtyards framed by the church tower, trading modern car access for cobblestone walks between lecture halls.
Around here24
Exchange rate€0.87as of Sep 18, 2026
About the place
A freestanding bell tower and late Baroque facade mark this central sanctuary within the university courtyards.
The sanctuary belongs to the central university ensemble, sharing its courtyards with faculty halls. Established during the medieval expansion and reshaped after fire by architect Johann Christoph Glaubitz in late Baroque form, it functioned as the ceremonial hall of the Jesuit Academy. Theologians preached here, scholars defended doctoral theses, students staged performances, and visiting monarchs were formally welcomed.
Read on
A later neoclassical renovation by architect Karol Podczaszyński gutted the elaborate interior, discarding altars and stucco sculptures while sparing the side chapels. During wartime occupation, Reverend Alfonsas Lipniūnas delivered defiant sermons from the pulpit before his arrest. The Soviet administration closed the nave, turning it into a university museum before parishioners reclaimed the building for worship.
Associations
- Johann Christoph Glaubitz
- Karol Podczaszyński
- Alfonsas Lipniūnas
- Pope John Paul II
Facts
- The church is dedicated jointly to St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist.
- Architect Johann Christoph Glaubitz reconstructed the exterior in late Baroque style after a devastating fire.
- The bell tower was constructed as a standalone structure rather than integrated into the church facade.
- During the Soviet period, authorities closed the church and later operated a university museum inside the building.
- Reverend Alfonsas Lipniūnas preached rebellious sermons against the occupying regime before being sent to Stutthof camp.
Church of St. Johns, Vilnius in pictures8 photos · 2 places
Getting there and staying
Flight, airport, hosts and rent
No free-housing hosts here yet — the nearest city with them:
Saint Petersburg2 sources · As of September 20, 2026
Source: TravelHub · OurAirports (public domain)
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