A new exhibition at the Museum of Church Heritage in Vilnius showcases royal regalia discovered in the underground vaults of Vilnius Cathedral in late 2024, including burial items belonging to Lithuanian and Polish rulers Alexander Jagiellon, Elisabeth of Austria and Barbara Radziwill.
The exhibition, titled Hidden Within (Slėpti savyje), explores the history of the Vilnius Cathedral Treasury, including the discovery, concealment and preservation of its treasures. The newly displayed artifacts expand the cathedral treasury collection, which has been open to the public for more than two decades.
The recovered items include crowns, a sceptre and an orb – symbols of royal authority discovered in 1931 and hidden in 1939 at the start of World War II to protect them from destruction or loss.
“These are objects that embody the state, not just power. They are rare symbols of our historical statehood. Given the very complex history of our state, recovering them is extremely important. It allows us to once again place ourselves among Europe’s monarchies,” exhibition curator Giedrė Mickūnaitė said.
Some of the artifacts have undergone conservation work to restore their appearance, while others have been preserved in the condition in which they were found.
