Educational classes at the Church Heritage Museum

The crypts of Vilnius Cathedral and the history of the treasury

We will descend into the crypts of Vilnius Cathedral and see the ancient burials and crypts, the royal mausoleum and the earliest fresco in Lithuania. We will explore the treasury of Vilnius Cathedral, which remained hidden in the times of war and turmoil and is currently exhibited in the newly renovated Saint Michael’s Church.

The classes take place in two locations: the crypts of Vilnius Cathedral and the Church Heritage Museum (Šv. Mykolo St. 9).

Grades 1–12
Duration – 2 hours
Price – 3 EUR

Christian symbols


Symbols are very important to people and have a deep meaning. What does a cross, an eye, a triangle or a dove symbolise? Why is a fish one of the oldest secret symbols of Jesus Christ? While admiring beautiful liturgical vessels, we will decipher the language of symbols and learn to make jewellery using the shrink plastic technique.

Grades 1–12
Duration – 90 min
Price – 2 EUR

Find the treasure


We will discover the history of the treasury of Vilnius Cathedral. Valuable objects of the treasury burned in fires several times, the hiding places were plundered by thieves and the cathedral was raided by enemies searching for treasures. In the practical part of the class we will go on a treasure hunt. A hint will lead to another hint, a difficult charade will follow a riddle, and only some knowledge of history will help us find the answers... If we solve everything, a treasure will be waiting for us.

Grades 7–12
Duration – 80 min 
Price – 2 EUR

Seals 

A ring, a pectoral, a mitre and a crozier are the bishop’s insignia serving as a mark of his office and ridden with symbolism and meanings. In ancient times the bishop would wear his ring on the glove and use it to seal letters and documents. During the class we will make a ring-seal.

Grades 5–8
Duration 90 min
Price – 2 EUR

A treasure map

The treasury of Vilnius Cathedral was carefully protected from thieves, fire and enemies who attacked Vilnius during the wars. Not once the artefacts of the treasury had been pawned, and the deteriorated pieces were recast. It is a miracle that the valuable part of the treasury has reached our times. In the practical part of the class we will draw an ancient treasure map.

Life in a convent

Dedicated to prayer, nuns lived a closed life invisible to the eyes of passers-by. What was happening behind the thick walls of the convent? What was the daily routine of the sisters? And what events would disrupt the slow and unvarying days of the Bernardine nuns? We’ll perform a fun task requiring some effort, patience and diligence (we’ll have a try at the technique of embroidery on paper or the Gothic script).

Grades 5–12
Duration – 90 min
Price – 2 EUR

A goldsmith’s puzzle
While playing with toy blocks, we will get acquainted with the history of centuries-old goldsmith’s artefacts, their meaning and the language of symbols. We’ll play “A goldsmith’s puzzle” and win prizes!

Grades 5–8
Duration – 90 min
Price – 2 EUR

Patron saint
Which saints accompany us since the day of our birth? What do their attributes tell us? What “duties” do the saints have in heaven? We will find it out during the class and will draw our patron saint on a wooden tablet.

Grades 1–12 
Duration – 80 min 
Price – 2 EUR

A trip to the convent
We will see the convent and the treasury of Vilnius Cathedral. If our little visitors bring cardboard boxes, we can build a large convent ensemble using Makedo creative play tools.

The programme is addressed to pre-school children. 
Duration – 80 min 
Price – 2 EUR

Advance booking is required for educational classes.
Classes take place all year round from Tuesday to Friday, 11 am – 5 pm.
The size of a group of schoolchildren is from 10 to 25 persons.

Information and booking: 
tel. (8 5) 2697800, (8 5) 2697803, 
email: violeta.indriuniene@bpmuziejus.lt 

Educational classes take place in the Church Heritage Museum, Šv. Mykolo St. 9, Vilnius.