The Chapel of the Mother of God is established within the defense tower of the Gate of Dawn, built in the 16th century. Before the chapel was founded in 1671, the Icon of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary hung in a small niche on the inner side of the gate. To protect the Icon from snow and rain, it was shielded by shutters or small doors forming a nearly square rectangle. In front of them was a small porch, reached by straight and narrow stairs, allowing the faithful to light lamps in offering. Displaying icons of the Mother of God at city gates was a common custom in Catholic European cities.
In a niche on the outer wall, hanging as a pair to the Icon of the Mother of God, was the Icon of the Savior of the World (Salvator Mundi). This image was later kept at the Discalced Carmelite monastery and subsequently in the Vilnius Cathedral. Seized by the Soviet authorities, it was transferred to the Lithuanian Art Museum. Following the restoration of Lithuania’s independence, the Icon of the Savior of the World was returned to the Archdiocese of Vilnius and is currently preserved in the Church Heritage Museum.
