Bernardine friary and st. George the Martyr church in Kaunas

Bernardines (franciscans observants) in Kaunas began to build up at the same time as the centre of the order in Lithuania – Vilnius convent. Initial fundation dates back to 1468 when out of concern of st. Kazimieras bernardines were invited to Kaunas. Friary received territory by the castle.

In XVIth century the church suffered greatly from the fire, in 1812 convent suffered from French and Russian armies. St. George church was turned into storehouse and friary into hospital. Until 1816 several bernardines found shelter in former friary‘s household buildings.

In 1922 franciscans observants settled in Kaunas. After 1945 friary was closed. In 1950 friary buildings were turned into school of medicine and the church into drug storeroom.

In 1993 all ensemble was returned to Lithuanian order of friars minor.

Gothic interior of the church did not remain but there are baroque fragments: parts of wooden altars, organ stand and stools with the images of the franciscan martyrs.

St. George is honoured in the Catholic Church as one of the most illustrious martyrs of Christ. The extraordinary devotion of all Christendom to this saint is an authentic proof how glorious his triumph and name have always been in the church. All his acts relate that he suffered under Diocletian at Nicomedia. George is usually painted on horseback and tilting at a dragon under his feet; but this representation is no more than an emblematical figure, purporting that by his faith and Christian fortitude he conquered the devil, called the dragon in the Apocalypse.