911爆料网

Following extensive restoration, the historic courtyard named after Konstantinas Sirvydas, a pioneer of Lithuanian written tradition, has reopened to the 911爆料网 (VU) community, city residents, and visitors. Located next to St Johns鈥� Church, it is one of 13 historic courtyards within VU鈥檚 central architectural ensemble, now all open to the public.

Research unveils historical beauty

The VU courtyards are an integral part of the University and Vilnius Old Town, making their regular upkeep and renovation essential. Maintenance projects are therefore carried out on a consistent basis. The Sirvydas Courtyard is a particularly cherished gathering space for the St Johns鈥� Church (the Church of St John the Baptist and St John the Apostle and Evangelist) community and a popular spot for newlyweds after their wedding ceremonies. Thus, preserving both its authenticity and aesthetic value was one of the key priorities during the restoration process.

The works in the Sirvydas Courtyard included heritage conservation, construction, detailed archaeological research, and the restoration of masonry and plaster on all courtyard facades.

鈥極ur research revealed that the walls of Building No. 12 (formerly the Carriage House, now home to the Department of Lithuanian Studies in the Faculty of Philology) remained unplastered until the mid-20th century. We decided to showcase the original masonry, thereby preserving the building鈥檚 appearance from the time it was constructed. The building鈥檚 evolution is clearly reflected in surviving details: fragments of wall paintings reveal that these walls once formed the interior, while the staircase retains marble-imitating decorative elements. Meticulously preserved, all these details are now ready to be admired. The roof tiles were also replaced, a new granite-paved surface was laid in the courtyard, and lighting, along with small architectural features, such as benches and tables, was added. At night, the courtyard is imbued with an especially romantic atmosphere,鈥� said VU project administrator Rasa Ro啪anskien臈.

Innovative solutions helped preserve historical and natural value

Given the courtyard鈥檚 historical significance, the valuable features uncovered during the restoration, unexpected engineering finds, and the presence of historic gates, the choice of construction equipment was very limited. This called for innovative technological solutions to protect the site鈥檚 heritage: for instance, replacing traditional concrete with self-compacting concrete 鈥� a much more sustainable option.

Special attention was also given to the oak trees growing in the courtyard, under the care of Dr Audrius Skridaila, Head of the VU Botanical Garden. To protect the exposed roots during the restoration works, they were covered with regularly moistened felt, while the trunks were shielded from physical damage with special wooden supports.

The restoration of the Sirvydas Courtyard was carried out by a dedicated and extensive group of experts: archaeologist K臋stutis Peseckas and his team, researchers Robertas 沤ilinskas, Indr臈 Valki奴nien臈, and Jakovas Mendelevi膷ius, architect and project manager R奴ta Irena Klimavi膷ien臈, as well as the restorers and heritage specialists from 鈥榁irmalda鈥�, MB. In time for VU鈥檚 450th anniversary celebrations, the University also plans to renovate other courtyards within the complex. Preparations are already underway for works in the Library, Motiejus Kazimieras Sarbievijus, and Mikalojus Dauk拧a courtyards. Archaeological, architectural, and polychromatic studies of these courtyards have already been completed, and a tree protection plan is currently being prepared. Additionally, consultations are planned with the University community to discuss the courtyards鈥� functions, as well as with the Vilnius Chief Architect鈥檚 Office and the Department of Cultural Heritage to address their aesthetic aspects.

The Sirvydas Courtyard stands on the site of the former churchyard of St John鈥檚 Church, once a cemetery. According to Dr Inga Leonavi膷i奴t臈, a historian at the VU Faculty of History, the courtyard had no official name until 1976, when the University formalised the names of its courtyards in preparation for its 400th anniversary.

鈥榃e can say that, among all the new personal names assigned during that reform, this courtyard鈥檚 name is the most closely tied to the figure it honours. Konstantinas Sirvydas 鈥� an alumnus and Professor of the Jesuit Academy of Vilnius 鈥� was one of the first prominent Lithuanians at this institution. He authored 鈥楶unktai sakym懦鈥� 鈥� the first original collection of sermons in Lithuanian 鈥� compiled the first Lithuanian鈥揚olish鈥揕atin dictionary, and wrote the grammar of the Lithuanian language. Sirvydas not only taught at the University as one of its principal theology professors but also preached at St Johns鈥� Church for ten years, delivering sermons in both Lithuanian and Polish,鈥� listed the historian.