Saint Casimir 

Prague-Krakow-Vilnius: The tour of Prague begins with a visit to Discalced Carmelite Church of Our Lady of Victories where the 16th century wax coated statue of the Infant Jesus is enshrined. Half day tour of the Old Town Square – stroll the Charles Bridge, visit the Prague Castle, including the Cathedral of St. Vitus, Wenceslaus and Adalbert, marvel at the baroque beauty of St. Nicholas Church. Krakow includes a visit to the Convent of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, where the relics of St. Faustina are located in Krakow-Lagiewniki and important places connected with St. John Paul II’s first home on Ulica Tyniecka Street in the Debniki District, Church of St. Stanislaw Kostka where he attended church and the houses on Kanoczka Street where he lived. There will be a Saturday Vigil Mass at the Wawel Cathedral where Pope Joh Paul II performed his first Mass. The tour of Vilnius begins with a morning Mass at the Chapel of Saint Casimir (in the Basilica of St. Stanislaus and Ladislaus) presided by Archbishop Gintaras Grusas. After breakfast at the hotel, we will visit the Shrine of Our Lady Gate of Dawn. Vilnius is often called the City of Mercy. Throughout history, “it is a place in need of mercy and in the last twenty years, a place where we need to show mercy.” In the 1600s, a painting of Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn was created and placed in a niche above one of the prominent city gates. When Vilnius was captured by the Swedish army, our Lady came to her people’s rescue. On the second day in Vilnius, we drive to Trakai and visit St. Mary’s Church where the icon of the Mother of God of Trakai is located. It is said to be the first and oldest known Marian icon in Lithuania. It was a gift from the Emperor of Constantinople on the occasion of the baptism of Grand Duke Vytautas. In 1409, Vytautas built a church in Trakai and donated the portrait to the local church. Lunch will be by the lake of Trakai Castle. Back to Vilnius and stroll at the Bernardine Gardens with a musical fountain in the center of a sprawling park full of green spaces. In the evening, we will attend Mass at the Shrine of Divine Mercy where the original image is displayed. The last day of the pilgrimage includes a visit to Hales Market on Pylimo Street, one of the oldest and largest markets in Vilnius. It has always been popular among the townspeople and guests for its locally grown and very fresh produce. Hales market offers exceptional service and is a good place for travelers to sample local foods as well as to learn about the local culture. There will be free time to shop at the Akropolis on Ozo Street, the largest shopping center in the Baltics. For more information and details of the itinerary, call Vytis Tours – Rimas (917)796 4535 or (718)423-6161. This is another ministry of St. Casimir’s Church Los Angeles to bring parishioners together with Christ.