This year marks the 40th anniversary of the discovery of the Vilnius Cathedral treasury: on March 23, 1985, during ventilation installation work, valuables hidden at the beginning of World War II were found sealed in a wall. This discovery lacked the royal insignia found with the rulers’ burials in 1931, as well as the silver plaques that once adorned the Chapel of St. Casimir. For a long time, there was speculation whether these treasures were still hidden in the Cathedral.
On December 16, 2024, in the presence of representatives from the Archdiocese of Vilnius, the Church Heritage Museum, and the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, a second hiding place was uncovered in the Cathedral’s underground. It contained insignia related to the burial garments of the rulers of Lithuania and Poland: the crown of Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland Alexander; the crown, chain, medallion, ring, and coffin plaque of Elizabeth of Habsburg, Grand Duchess of Lithuania and Queen of Poland; the crown, sceptre, orb, three rings, chain, and two coffin plaques of Barbara Radziwiłł, Grand Duchess of Lithuania and Queen of Poland. Also found nearby were six silver plaques from the Chapel of St. Casimir and a significant number of votive offerings: rings, earrings, small crosses, and several episcopal insignia. Among the discoveries was an epitaph plaque of Vilnius Bishop Benediktas Vaina.
The condition of the treasures found in the Cathedral is poor: they lay for decades in a damp environment filled with microfungi and bacteria, placed in an iron box and wrapped in newspapers. The best-preserved items are those made of precious metals. The objects suffered significant damage due to microbiological degradation from the newspapers and rust from the box: they are covered in moldy, decayed newspaper fragments and iron corrosion, which not only firmly adhered to the surfaces but also accelerated their deterioration. Experts inspecting the artifacts identified the following damage: deformation, deep metal corrosion and associated staining, local darkening, delamination, etching, grooves, dents, cracks, and accumulations of oxidized copper and silver compounds.
Currently, historical and technological research of the artifacts is underway, along with the development of restoration sequences and programs. At the same time, preventive conservation is being carried out: the artifacts are stored in a controlled museum climate, disinfected, and cleaned of decayed paper, plaster and cement debris, and other impurities.
The most significant and valuable items – the royal insignia – were prioritized for restoration. The others await their turn in storage. It is a slow and complex process that cannot be rushed or fully assessed in financial terms.
At present, one of Barbara Radziwiłł's insignia – the royal sceptre – can be viewed at the exhibition "The Queen, the Kingdom, and Emotions" at the National Museum of Lithuania. This is the first publicly displayed artifact – following expert confirmation that the sceptre's condition is stable, it was decided to loan it to the exhibition.
All of the treasures discovered in the Cathedral’s underground will be on view in the summer of 2026 at a planned exhibition, which will tell the story of the Vilnius Cathedral treasury’s concealment and rediscovery: from the autumn of 1931, when the royal burial crypt was discovered during emergency repairs following a flood; to 1939, when, at the onset of World War II, the treasury's valuables were hidden in the nave and underground; and finally to the discoveries of 1985 and 2024.
Funding for the Museum is provided by: Archdiocese of Vilnius, Lithuanian Council for Culture
Information is provided by Church Heritage Museum
1. The burial crown of Elizabeth of Habsburg before restoration (16th century). Photo by Aistė Karpytė.
2. The artifacts were severely damaged by rust from the iron box. Photo by Aistė Karpytė.
3. Votive plaque depicting the miracle of St. Casimir, before restoration. Photo by Gedas Čiuželis.
4. Coffin plaque of Barbara Radziwiłł, before restoration. Photo by Gedas Čiuželis.
-9a1e5858c9bc43296d9af13b975c8e2f.jpg)