A few years passed after the fire, and in 1530 the restoration of Vilnius Cathedral was started again. The Grand Duke Sigismund III of Lithuania took care of the construction and installation of the expensive and artistically decorated Chapel of St. Casimir. King Vladislav IV completed its construction. To honour the relics of St. Casimir one of the most luxurious and beautiful chapels was built in the oldest church in the country, in Vilnius Cathedral. After its completion, on 14 August 1636, St. Casimir's remains were moved into an expensive and ornate silver casket, donated by King Sigismund III and solemnly reburied in the altar of the chapel. Almost 3,000 pounds (i.e., almost 1,100 kg) of silver were used to make the sarcophagus. The remains of the saint are resting in it.
St. Casimir chapel is one of the most impressive art monuments of the Vilnius Cathedral. It was built and decorated by the famous artist C. Tencallo. The interior of the chapel is lined with marble, the interior is decorated with twelve red marble pilasters, the cornices are made of black, and the decorations of the chapels are made of white marble.
The Chapel of St. Casimir is one of the most impressive art monuments of the Vilnius Cathedral. It was built and decorated by the famous artist K. Tenkala. The interior of the chapel is lined with marble, and decorated with twelve red marble pilasters, the cornices are made of black marble, and the decorations of small chapels are made of white marble.
St. Casimir Jagiellonian was born in Krakow on 3rd October,1458. He was the son of the Grand Duke of Lithuania the Polish King Casimir Jagiellonian and the grandson of King Vladislav Jogaila, who baptized Lithuania jointly with the Grand Duke of Lithuania Vytautas.
St. Casimir was a slender, handsome young man of medium height with gentle facial features. His personality traits he inherited from his mother. St. Casimir dedicated his whole life to prayers and good deeds. He voluntarily renounced the royal honour, wealth, and the pleasures of life. His father, King Casimir, had planned to make his son the heir to the throne. Despite his father's and other nobles' persuasions, the dignified young man refused power and marriage.
St. Casimir went from Vilnius to Kraków to take the rule of Poland, there he fell ill with tuberculosis. Then he returned to Lithuania again, and conclusively retreated from state affairs and dedicated himself to the service of God. However, he was not destined to live long on Sunday, on 4th March 1484 St. Casimir departed from this world. In 1521 he was canonised as a saint by Pope Leo X, but the celebrations in Vilnius took place only in the next century.
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