frjack Loc: Boston, MA

I had the opportunity to spend some time in Lithuania, staying with the Jesuit community at the Church of St. Casimir in the old city of Vilnius. It was a great visit but alas, the temps were in the single digits that week. Didn't get to explore as much as I would have liked as a result.

The Church of St. Casimir was built in Vilnius in the early 17th Century. It went through multiple iterations as a result of politics, having been taken over by the commies and, before being returned to the Jesuits in 1991, being used as the "museum of atheism." Who says they don't have a sense of humor? Fortunately, the crypt below the altar lay undiscovered through the 19th and 20th centuries. No photos are included here but will be as I revisit, reprocess, and convert many to black and white.

I spent two afternoons alone in the church photographing. On the second day the organist came to practice. Hearing Bach's Fantasia and Fugue in g minor BWV 542 alone in a magnificent church is a memory I will treasure.

Marble, granite, and other enduring materials. Place is solid to say the least.

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Side alcove with a painting of Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits.

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Organ pipes. Superb sound. Have recently been converting a lot of shots to b&w with Capture One 21. My first rolls of film in 1977 were b&w. Is definitely my first love.

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Side altar. The church is huge with multiple niches and side altars. It is almost overwhelming to see in the typical tourist-length visit. The superior gave me a key to the church which afforded the opportunity to return multiple times.

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Am attracted to shooting chandeliers. This looks as if it could be a shot in Independence Hall (it has been decades since I've been there).

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Distorted reflection in a mirrored glass. Love shooting these shots using "natural" filters rather than computer legerdemain.

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Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Nice.

frjack Loc: Boston, MA

Thanks. It was a memorable week in Vilnius.

luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

Great photos!! I look forward to the churches you photograph and am always in awe of the beautiful craftsmanship and detail. The side alter is gorgeous as I'm sure the rest of the church is. I hope you can share more photos of this beautiful church that you have photographed so well?

Dodie

frjack Loc: Boston, MA

Thanks. I will be posting more. Am reworking a lot of shots and revisiting some projects. The crypt was a separate project. Will post in a week or so.

bikinkawboy Loc: north central Missouri

Great shots!

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Wonderful tour! Thanks for sharing.

NMGal Loc: NE NM

Gorgeous church without being overly ornate.

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

An absolutely magnificent place - and shots to match 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆

frjack Loc: Boston, MA

Thanks for commenting.

frjack Loc: Boston, MA

Thanks. It is a gorgous church. Wish I could capture the acoustics when the organ is playing.

frjack Loc: Boston, MA

thanks for commenting. I will be posting more later. The crypt was astonishing given that it lay undiscoered for a few hundred years.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

These are all interesting shots, Father Jack--enjoyed seeing them. The first and last are my favorites.

frjack Loc: Boston, MA

Thanks. The history of the building is remarkable. Burned, restored, burned, restored, turned Orthodox with architectural modifications, became Lutheran, and finally the museum of atheism. It was only rededicated in 1991, which is when the crypt was discovered.