The original purpose of the church was to show appreciation to God for the victory against the Russian army in the Battle of Vilnius during the Second Northern War, which started in 1655 and lasted until 1661.

In 1755, the Dominicans of Vilnius launched the construction of a new church, a monastery and twenty new masonry chapels for the calvary.

The main sponsors of the effort were minor nobility from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, with support from the Bishop of Vilnius and other clergy.

The interior of the sanctuary was decorated with frescoes, showing the legend of the Finding and Glorification of the Holy Cross, episodes from the New Testament and other scenes reflecting devotion to the Sacred Heart.

During the Soviet occupation of Lithuania, the Church of the Discovery of the Holy Cross was left untouched, although the monastery was closed down.

[4] Built high up on a hill, the Baroque-style Church of the Discovery of the Holy Cross is the centre of the Vilnius Calvary ensemble both physically and conceptually.

Inside the church, the central nave stands out due to its height and width and it passes on to the same-height presbytery, which ends in semicircular apse.

Six Baroque altars, made from the artificial multicoloured marble, pulpit, baptistery and organ make a united ensemble of the interior.