MARZ PHOTO GALLERIES  »  Our Holiday in Vivid Vilnius (Aug 2008) »  Viewing GateOfDawn2     [Image 59 of 417]  :: Jump To  
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Comment: In the 16th century city gates often contained religious artefacts intended to guard the city from attacks and to bless travellers. The Chapel in the Gate of Dawn contains an icon of The Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of Mercy, said to have miraculous powers. For centuries the picture has been one of the symbols of the city and an object of praise of both Roman Catholic and Orthodox inhabitants. Thousands of votive offerings adorn the walls and many pilgrims from neighbouring countries come to pray in front of the beloved painting.
NationalFilharmonicHall1 * The National Filharmonic Hall * 3118 x 2078 * (1007KB)

NationalFilharmonicHall2 * Closeup of the beautiful building used by the National Filharmonic. * 2004 x 1337 * (461KB)

GateNearStTheresaChurch * A gate near Saint Theresa's church. * 2176 x 3264 * (1.09MB)

StTheresaChurch * One of the most perfect early baroque buildings of Vilnius is the graceful and tall St. Theresa's Church. It was built during 1633 - 1650 at the initiative of Deputy Chancellor Steponas Pacas and at his expense. * 3262 x 2175 * (1.24MB)

OldBuilding * Not every building in Vilnius is beautifully ornamented, there is unfortunately poverty as well. * 2809 x 1872 * (1.38MB)

GateOfDawn1 * The Gate of Dawn was built between 1503 and 1522 as a part of defensive fortifications for the city of Vilnius, the capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The name-sake for the gate was the borough of Ostry Koniec (sharp end) to which the gate initially led. It has also been known as the Medininkai Gate, as it led to the village Medininkai south of Vilnius. Of the nine city gates, only the Gate of Dawn remains, while the others were destroyed by the order of the government at the end of the 18th century. * 1771 x 2656 * (728KB)
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GateOfDawn2 - Canon PowerShot A650 IS - F6.3 - 1/201 sec
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GateOfDawnPaintingPope * Pope John Paul II prayed here at the Gate of Dawn in 1993, and it's quite commonplace to see groups of pilgrims singing and weeping in the street below. * 3264 x 2448 * (2.75MB)

GateOfDawnWedding * Many weddings take place at the Gate of Dawn. * 1624 x 2436 * (666KB)

GateOfDawnMadonna * The original painting of the Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn. * 1990 x 2985 * (1.57MB)

GateOfDawnSilverVotives * Collage of silver votives by Ferdynand Ruszczyc. * 3264 x 2176 * (1.66MB)

OrthodoxChurchOfHolySpiritInterior1 * Beautiful interior of the orthodox church of the Holy Spirit, situated near the Gate of Dawn. In this church lies the well preserved bodies of three martyred saints – Anthony, Joann and Eustachius, who were two brothers and their cousin - who died in 1347. * 2176 x 3264 * (1.76MB)

OrthodoxChurchOfHolySpiritInterior2 * Closeup of cross inside the orthodox church of the Holy Spirit. * 2125 x 3188 * (1.79MB)
Album last updated on 2009.03.07
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Photos copyright of Stephen Mifsud. Publication in books or websites requires written permission