See & Do

Orthodox Church of the Holy Spirit

The principal Orthodox church in Lithuania, hidden behind a gate just off Aušros Vartų in the Old Town, with a vivid green Vilnian Baroque iconostasis and the relics of the three Vilnius martyrs.

Updated Jun 20262 min read·2 sections

Holy Spirit Orthodox — Vilnius, Lithuania — Photo: Diliff · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

The short version

✓The major Orthodox church in Lithuania, with a continuously active monastery dating back centuries.
✓A striking Vilnian Baroque interior with a vivid green iconostasis, rare among the city's Catholic churches.
✓Holds the relics of the three Vilnius martyrs — Saints Anthony, John and Eustathios — in a carved reliquary in the nave.
✓Free to enter, with its own parking, just steps from the Gate of Dawn.
✓A profoundly peaceful, prayerful atmosphere that visitors single out again and again.

What to expect

Tucked behind an ornate gateway at Aušros Vartų g. 10, the Orthodox Church of the Holy Spirit is easy to walk past and a quiet revelation once you step inside. It is the principal Orthodox church in Lithuania and the heart of a monastery complex that has operated here for centuries. After an early wooden church burned, the present building was rebuilt in the mid-18th century in the distinctive Vilnian Baroque style associated with architect Johann Christoph Glaubitz, giving it the unusual character of a Baroque exterior wrapped around a traditional Orthodox interior.

Vilnius Churches — Vilnius, Lithuania — Hans-Joachim Kaiser · Unsplash License

Inside, the church is unlike anywhere else in this largely Catholic city. A great iconostasis painted a lively green dominates the nave, set against deep walls and a showy decorative scheme. At the centre stands a carved wooden reliquary holding the remains of the three Vilnius martyrs — Saints Anthony, John and Eustathios — which were taken to Moscow in 1915 as the First World War approached and returned in 1946. The relics are draped in fabrics that change with the liturgical season. Most visitors describe the overall feeling as profoundly peaceful and spiritual, whether they come to worship or simply to look.

Churches & Sacred Sites

Browse Vilnius's churches, chapels and sacred sites in one place.

Gate of Dawn

The famous shrine and city gate a two-minute walk away — easy to combine.

Orthodox Cathedral of the Theotokos

Vilnius's other major Orthodox landmark, by the river near the Old Town.

Senamiestis (Old Town)

The UNESCO-listed Old Town the church sits within.

Good to know

This is an active place of worship, so dress respectfully — covered shoulders and knees — and keep your voice down, especially during services. Photography may not be permitted inside, so look for signage or ask before raising a camera. Entry is free, and the church has its own parking, a genuine convenience in this part of the Old Town. Because it sits just off Aušros Vartų street, it pairs naturally with the Gate of Dawn and a wander through the surrounding lanes.