An extensive article reporting on the discovery of two tin cans in the crypt of Vilnius Cathedral - one of which contained the heart of King Ladislaus IV. Also found in the foundations were, among others, plaques with inscriptions attesting to the burial there of King Alexander Jagiellon, Elżbieta Rakuszanka and Barbara Radziwiłłówna (Source: "Wieści z Polski", Warsaw 1931, R: 5, no. 10, pp. 5-6, after: Jagiellonian Digital Library).

A modernised reading of the text

A momentous discovery in the vaults of Vilnius Cathedral.

A momentous discovery in the vaults of Vilnius Cathedral. The discovery of royal tombs in the vaults of Vilnius Cathedral, which were discovered by chance during work undertaken in the vaults of the Cathedral to examine the fortifications of the foundations of this temple, has aroused great and well-deserved interest throughout Poland. This work, which had been undertaken for a long time, was carried out under extremely difficult and troublesome conditions, because the foundations do not lie on one level, sometimes reaching up to 18 metres deep, and in addition there is water in the vaults.

The work supervisors were expecting to come across some unknown tombs, but no archive records gave them any clues in this respect. However, in mid-August, while draining the foundations of St Casimir's chapel, they came across a wall of more recent origin, which was bounced up and where two tin cans were found, one of which contained the heart of King Władysław IV.

The finding of these tin cans gave impetus to the restorers and they proceeded metre by metre until finally, on 21 September, they came across the royal crypt; it was located just below the presbytery but there was no exit to it, and it was so carefully walled up and masked that it had not been opened since the beginning of the 17th century. Three silver plaques were found in the crypt with inscriptions stating that King Alexander Jagiellon, Queen Elisabeth Rakuszanka, the first wife of Sigismund Augustus, and Barbara Radziwillowna, the second wife of the same king, were buried there. Alexander Jagiellon was the fourth son of Casimir Jagiellon and died in Vilnius in 1506.

Both wives of Sigismund Augustus died, the first in 1545 and the second in 1551. Both of these queens are surrounded by a halo of sadness and shrouded in legends and poetry; both were persecuted by Sigismund's mother, Bona, and, according to legend, poisoned on her orders. A funeral crown has been preserved on King Alexander's skull, a scepter has also been found, while a crown and a gold chain were found next to Queen Elisabeth's corpse. Barbara's coffin is the best preserved, also containing the crown.

The news of the discovery of the royal graves was received by Vilnius Archbishop Jałbrzykowski, Bishops Michalkiewicz and Bandurski, Vilnius Voivode Bęczkowicz, a representative of Stefan Batory University, vice-chancellor Fr. m. The committee members were Rector of the Basilica Rev. Professor Kłos, conservator Dr. Lorenz, Stefan Batory University Professor Ferdynand Ruszczyc, architect Jan Pększo, who was the first to find the crypt. After medical examination and the work of a scientific commission, the royal remains will be placed in new coffins and buried in special sarcophagi.

Work in the cathedral's vaults continues next to the royal crypt, where a deep dungeon full of human and animal bones was found, dating back to the time of the siege of the cathedral by Hetman Pac (1650), when Moscow troops were quartered in the cathedral and left piles of corpses behind. The conservators have now set themselves the task of finding the remains of Grand Duke Vytautas, who is also buried in the cathedral and even had a magnificent tomb that was ransacked by the Muscovites.

Because of the majesty of the royal remains found, their current resting place was decorated and a guard of honour was erected at it. The place in the nave where the entrance to the crypt was made was fenced off with railings and decorated accordingly. A large canopy was stretched over the entrance to the crypt, the base of which is decorated with the White Eagle and the Pogo, while the sides are surrounded by a whole bunch of shrubs and flowers offered by the city. The royal crypt is guarded by the army.

On the first day, the honour of serving at the tomb fell to the 19th Field Artillery Regiment. The guard of honour will not be drawn down until after the royal remains have been deposited in the mausoleum. Traffic on Cathedral Square was suspended until further notice. On 23 September, a solemn service was held in the cathedral, celebrated by H.E. Archbishop Jałbrzykowski. During the service, the bells of all the churches in Vilnius were rung and simultaneously - the batteries set up fired 21 cannon shots.