St. Nicholas Church, Vilnius

Saint Nicholas Church is a historic church located in the Old Town of Vilnius, the capital city of Lithuania. It is considered to be the oldest surviving church in Lithuania, having been built in the 14th century. The church is mentioned in writing for the first time in 1387 and was a center for German craftsmen and merchants who lived along the Vokiečių gatvė or German street.

The Church of St. Nicholas has played an important role in the history of Lithuania. In the early 20th century, it was the only church in Vilnius where the mass was held in Lithuanian, and it was a center of Lithuanian culture. The church was known for its famous dean Kristupas Čibiras, who was killed in 1942 during a bombing raid. In addition, sermons in Belarusian language were also held in the church in the 1920s to 1940s by famous priests.

During the Soviet occupation, a statue of the patron saint of Vilnius, St. Christopher, was erected in the church orchard as an act of resistance. The city's coat-of-arms with St. Christopher's figure was banned at that time.

Archaeologists believe that the same Roman Catholic church has survived till the present day. The church's exterior represents the Brick Gothic style, while its interior has been renovated several times. The church belfry was built in the 17th century in the Baroque style.

Its façade is flanked by two stocky buttresses with cut-off tops. The triangular pediment with niches has been recently renovated, accentuating its original Gothic character.

In the interior, four elegant octahedral pillars support web and star vaults. The high altar holds a painting of St. Nicholas with a silver setting from the 16th century. The church is adorned with two sculptures: a polychrome statue of St. Louis from the Gothic period, and Vytautas' bronze bust erected in 1930 by sculptor Rapolas Jakimavičius.