The legend of the Church of Vytautas the Great

The legend of the construction of the first church in Kaunas (circa. 1400).

In the battle against the Tatars near the river Vorksla, the Grand Duke Vytautas of Lithuania got defeated and nearly drowned in the river. At the time of his rescue, he vowed to the Holy Virgin Mary that he would build a church on the riverbank. Most of the troops and many dukes fell in this battle, and Vytautas himself barely managed to escape together with his brother Žygimantas. Who will confirm now whether Vytautas indeed experienced a personal revelation by the Virgin Mary or just expressed his gratitude to her for staying alive in the battle? Today the church is known by two names – that of Vytautas the Great and of the Assumption of the Holy Virgin Mary.