Exhibitions

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.