According to tradition, the oldest church on the site of the current late Baroque temple was founded as early as the time of Jogaila and Vytautas, after which it was rebuilt and handed over to the Dominicans (along with the monastery founded nearby) during the reign of King Alexander Jagiellon. After the gothic structure was burnt down, another church was built at the beginning of the 17th century, this time in the baroque style, which was also burnt down in 1655. Another church was built by the Dominicans in 1679-1688, after which this building was also burnt down in the middle of the 18th century (1759). It was not until the second half of the same century that a new late Baroque church with features of the so-called Vilnius Baroque was built on the framework of the old walls.

Work carried out in 2023

Based on the data from the laser scanning carried out in 2022, a set of vector architectural drawings was produced, which will be used for further research and architectural and conservation studies. In order to fully depict the complexity of the body of the church and to show all elements of both the structure and the architectural decoration and permanent furnishings, 10 projections (at levels including crypts, church floor, choir and attics), 10 cross-sections and seven elevation views were produced. In addition, the view elements of each cross-section were presented in the form of drawings with orthophotoplan underlay.

Executor: Geometric Sp. z o.o.

Works carried out in 2022.

Underneath the Church of the Holy Spirit are unique in Lithuania - extensive vaults where, according to local tradition, several thousand dead are buried (the so-called 'Vilnius kingdom of the dead'). In order to inventory them and verify the assumption that they are multi-storey, a non-invasive geophysical survey combined with laser scanning was commissioned in 2022.

As part of the GPR survey, a total of more than 200 profiling surveys were carried out within 6 survey polygons of varying sizes. On this basis, after analysis of the recorded geophysical anomalies, the existence of two levels of underground galleries was unequivocally confirmed. In addition, the laser scanning made it possible to obtain an accurate plan of the church, which reveals not only the great diversity of the interior, but also how far the previous projections of the church were simplified and far from reality. The resulting plan will be the basis for further inventory work in the church area.

A laser scan and a 3D model, covering the so-called upper floor of the catacombs, will enable a precise spatial analysis of the underground. Taking into account the fact that the foundations of the pillars of the most likely earlier church are located there - such a model combined with the plan of the present temple will allow the reconstruction of the plan of the earlier church.

Executor: GEO ARCHEO SERVICE FABIAN WELC

In addition, a laser scanning of the entire church was carried out in 2022, which was used to develop the following documentation:

- a point cloud in natural RGB colours covering the entire volume of the building,
- a photorealistic 3D model of the church and separate models of all the altars that constitute its equipment,
- orthophotoplans of the interiors and facades,
- promotional video - animation combining a point cloud model and a 3D model.

Executor: Geometric Sp. z o.o.

The research and conservation work was carried out between 2022 and 2023 as part of the Polonica Institute's strategic programme "Protection of Polish Cultural Heritage Abroad".