Basilica of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary (Trakai)

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Side view of the basilica
Interior of the basilica
Image of the Blessed Mother

The Basilica of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary ( Lithuanian Švč. Mergelės Marijos Apsilankymo bazilika ) is a Roman Catholic parish church on a hill in the center of Trakai in Lithuania . The church in the Archdiocese of Vilnius with the patronage of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and has the title of a minor basilica .

history

The basilica was founded in 1409 by the Lithuanian Grand Duke Vytautas the Great following the construction of the Trakai moated castle ; completion and consecration are not known. During the Russo-Polish War 1654–1667 the church was significantly damaged and then restored from 1670 onwards. It was redesigned in Baroque style around 1719. During the rebellion in 1794 the church was badly damaged by fire, especially the organ and roof. In 2017 the church was elevated to a minor basilica by Pope Francis .

architecture

The three-aisled church was built on a rectangular floor plan as an off-side hall in the Gothic style. Behind the two-tower facade with a high ornamental gable extends the now baroque , vaulted nave, which closes with a three-sided apse . There is a roof turret at the transition . The square west towers protrude approximately at roof level. The low side aisles end with the sacristy and a chapel.

Furnishing

The most important part of the church furnishings is the baroque high altar from 1718 with the miraculous image and its flanking life-size figures and cast plaster columns, which completely fills the apse. The walls are decorated with paintings, including by Vytautas. The Gothic pulpit is on the left side of the main nave. The organ stands on a gallery above the entrance area.

Miraculous image

The Mother of God of Trakai is a miraculous icon from the 15th century with overpaintings from the 17th century, originally probably Gothic. According to legend, it was a gift from the Byzantine emperor Manuel II. Palaiologos to Vytautas on the occasion of his baptism. In 1718 Pope Clement VI sent Bishop Konstanty Kazimierz Brzostowski on the coronation of the image of Mary .

Web links

Commons : Basilica of the Visitation  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Švč. Mergelės Marijos Apsilankymo bazilika on gcatholic.org
  2. ↑ History of the basilica (Lithuanian)
  3. ↑ Architecture of the basilica (Lithuanian)
  4. ↑ Trakai Parish Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary (Engl.)
  5. ↑ The Portrait of Our Lady of Trakai
  6. ↑ Trakai Basilica of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary (Engl.)

Coordinates: 54 ° 38 ′ 34.4 ″  N , 24 ° 56 ′ 3.8 ″  E