On Snipishkah - area of ​​the city of Vilnius, on the right bank of the river, Willie - majestic and austere church of St. Raphael. In general, the architecture of the temple belongs to the baroque style, but the altar and tower, towering on either side of the building reflects the architectural transition between the Baroque and Rococo.

The church was built between 1702 and 1709 years of known Lithuanian patron Nicholas Koshitsasom with financial support from the governors and Casimir Sapieha Hetman Michael Radziwill. Originally it was intended Jesuits. In 1740, the Jesuits decided to found a church at the Jesuit monastery, which operated until 1773, until the abolition of the Jesuit Order.

For twenty years the monastery became the property of public relations. In 1792, PR tsarist government sold the temple. According to government regulations in the buildings of the monastery and the church were built barracks.

In 1812, Vilnius was occupied by Napoleon, who also did not spare a remarkable architectural heritage, and began to use the church as an armory. Damage from the residence of the French warehouses was significant for the building of the temple and its interior. The temple was empty until 1824, when it was renovated and became a parish church. The tranquility did not last long. Not yet recovered from the devastating invasion of the French, the building has been subjected to new tests. In 1832 it was placed Russian military warehouse.

In 1860 the temple was returned to believers again. He became a parish. After this, the temple is no longer closed. Today, the Roman Catholic Church of the Holy Archangel Raphael is an active temple. It read service in Lithuanian and Polish.

In 1975 the church was returned to its original form by the full restoration of exterior and interior. Today, anyone can join the story, visit this wonderful architectural monument and see it in all its simple grandeur.

The temple is rectangular, with the front of the temple on the sides of two towers that are in the ensemble with a triangular pediment of the building in the middle, it looks like a crown .  On the second floor, in the recesses located on either side of a large central window above the portal installed plaster sculpture of the archangel Raphael and Joseph Kalasantsiya, founder and progenitor of the Order of Piarists .  In 1752 the architect Jan Valent Didershteyn, presumably together with Jan Nezemkovskim built two storey towers - the third and fourth .  Bouquet of both towers with columns, delicately curved eaves, facade gives an aura of grace and splendor .  The architectural forms of the two towers of the church is clearly seen the transition from baroque to rococo .  Complication forms of helmets is not entirely characteristic of the Baroque .  The side facades are restrained and austere appearance .  At the top of the pediment at the back of the temple stands a small turret, perfectly complement the overall ensemble .

The walls of the church of white stone color, as well as the walls of buildings adjoining monastery. Roofs of all these buildings, including the church itself, painted red.

The interior of the church is notable primarily large altar with multiple columns, set on a high pedestal, and lots of wonderful sculptures. All this is a great decoration led the big picture, the famous Polish artist, depicting the Archangel Raphael.

The paintings are framed with gold frame. Columns and sculpture - are white. The grounds and the column top - gold. All figures are sculpted wings, painted in the color of gold. Hanging from the arched ceiling chandeliers, too white and gold. This is a simple combination of white gold gives the church a unique strict grandeur, from which emanates purity and innocence.