Church of St.Archangel Michael (Šv. Mykolo St.9) is unique Renaissance ensemble, which forms a beautiful counterpart to the Gothic of the Churches of St.Anne and Bernardines.

In 1594-97 the church was commissioned by the Chancellor of the Grand Duchy Leo Sapieha as a mausoleum for his family.

The construction was finished in 1604. Later stonemason Jonas Kajetka rebuilt it. During the 1655-61 war with Moscow the Cossacks burned down and ravaged the church. It was renovated in 1663-73. 

A Baroque belfry was built in the 1st quarter of the 18th century.

The church was closed down by the tsarist authorities in 1888, and in 1905 returned to the Sapiehas. In 1933 both the church and monastery were renovated again. In 1972-2006 the Museum of Architecture operated in the church.

Now it is home for the Museum of Church Heritage.

The harmonious facade of St.Michael presents a sharp contrast to redbrick facade of St.Anne’s. It is built in a transitional style from Renaissance into Baroque.

There are twin towers with elegant Baroque spires on both sides. The facade is divided by pilasters with original capitals decorated with floral motifs. The pediment has a frieze, also with floral motifs.

Atop the belfry sits an iron weathervane representing St.Archangel Michael crushing the devil underfoot. Attention should be drawn to a late Classical fence, arches and columns in the churchyard.

The interior is rich but austere.

It is a single-nave space with tunnel vaults. The high altar is of the late Renaissance style, made of black, red, brown, dark green marble, decorated with white alabaster. Side altars are rococo. At the south wall, the largest memorial monument in Lithuania with features of Baroque and Mannerism. It is decorated with excellent allegoric sculptures and crowned with a statue of Christ Resurrected.

Relief images of Sapieha and his wives are taken from an earlier monument. A tombstone for Stanislaus Sapieha (1638-43) framing the sacristy door is noted for its innovatory structure and symbolism.

A monument to Theodore Christine Saphezyna stands at the south wall. All these monuments are made of marble and alabaster.

The crypt of the church holds the remains of some of the Sapieha’s, the founder of the church among them.