⛪ Gate of Dawn (Vilnius)

About This Sacred Site

The Gate of Dawn (Aušros Vartai) is the only surviving gate of the original five that formed Vilnius's medieval city walls. A chapel above the gate houses the icon of Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn (Vilniaus Dievo Motina), a Renaissance painting venerated as miraculous by both Catholics and Orthodox Christians. The chapel, accessible by a narrow staircase, has been a popular pilgrimage destination since the 17th century and remains one of the most revered Marian shrines in Eastern Europe.

Key Facts

• •The only surviving gate of the five that once pierced Vilnius's 16th-century city walls
• •The icon of Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn is venerated by both Catholics and Orthodox Christians
• •The Renaissance-era painting of the Virgin is covered in a golden riza (metal covering) with only the face and hands visible
• •Pope John Paul II prayed at the Gate of Dawn during his 1993 visit to Lithuania
• •The chapel above the gate has been a pilgrimage site since at least the 17th century

Location

Coordinates: 54.6738, 25.2891