Motiejus Valančius was born February 28, 1801, into a well-to-do peasant family in Nasrėnai [lt] village, Kretinga district. Early in his youth, he had his baptismal records altered to indicate noble birth; the family name was Polonized to Wołonczewski. This practice, not uncommon among prosperous villagers, was a means of providing educational opportunities otherwise denied to peasant children. In 1816 he entered the Dominican school at Žemaičių Kalvarija and six years later began his studies at the Theological Seminary in Varniai. He transferred to the Vilnius Priest Seminary in 1824, from which he graduated in 1828. Ordained a priest that same year, he spent the next six years teaching religion in Belarus. In 1834 he returned to Lithuania to take up a teaching position at the Kražiai College.
In 1840 he was assigned to the Vilnius Theological Seminary, where he lectured in pastoral theology and biblical archaeology and where he earned his doctorate in theology in 1842. That same year on orders of the Tsar, the Academy, its teaching staff and student body, was moved to St. Petersburg, Russia. Valančius came back to Lithuania because of health problems in 1845 and was appointed rector of the Varniai Priest Seminary, serving in this capacity until 1850. Having been absent from Lithuania during the anti-Russian uprising in 1831, Valančius was considered to be relatively apolitical, and thus the Russian government did not object when he was proposed as an Episcopal candidate for the see of Samogitia.
He was consecrated bishop in 1850, the first peasant to head over that diocese. Taking up his duties, he guided the diocese for the next 25 years, years of religious, political and social change not only within Samogitia but in Lithuania as a whole. He expanded and improved the Samogitian parochial school network, wrote many religious books, and in 1858 inaugurated a temperance movement, which grew to encompass nearly a million members, almost half of the county’s population. He also wrote the first Lithuanian language history of the Samogitian diocese, which has not lost its scientific value even nowadays.
His pastoral and educational work was interrupted by the uprising of 1863–1864 and was made extremely difficult as the Russian government tightened its reins after the revolt's defeat. Yet these circumstances did not prevent him from following a course that brought him into direct conflict with the authorities. He made every effort to undermine the government’s scheme of Russification. In 1874 Valančius fell ill and died in Kaunas on May 29, 1875. He was interred in the crypt of the Kaunas Cathedral Basilica.
Legacy
Letter of bishop Motiejus Valančius to prince Ogiński
His services to the Lithuanian cause were lasting and important, including his opposition to the Russian government and the tactics he employed in resisting its policies, particularly the Lithuanian press ban. He sponsored the illegal practice of printing Lithuanian books in East Prussia and smuggling them into Lithuania by knygnešiai, which served to stimulate the emergence of the Lithuanian national movement. As an educator, able Church administrator, historian and ethnographer, and talented writer, Valančius is one of the most versatile and influential figures in 19th century Lithuania.
He left behind a number of written in Polish manuscripts of a memoir and diary nature:[3]
Rozmaite wiadomości zebrane przez ks. Macieja Wołonczewskiego (1839–1843; lit.'Miscellaneous news collected by Rev. Maciej Wołonczewski')
Wiadomości o czynnościach pasterskich biskupa Macieja Wołonczewskiego (1850–1875; lit.'News of the pastoral activities of Bishop Maciej Wołonczewski')
These notes were not intended for publication by the author. However, they were published in the original Polish and Lithuanian translation in 2003 by Lithuanian historian Aldona Prašmantáitė.[4] They are an important source for learning about the situation of the Catholic Church in Samogitia under Russian rule, as well as for learning about the Polish language of the region.[3]
References
^Marians of the Immaculate Conception: Great Figures 2007-11-13 at the Wayback Machine
^. lib.amu.edu.pl. Archived from the original on 2002-09-19.
Sawaniewska-Mochowa, Zofia (2013). ""Zapiski domowe" biskupa Macieja Wołonczewskiego jako przyczynek do poznania sytuacji społecznej i językowej na terenie dawnego Wielkiego Księstwa Litewskiego pod władzą carów". Acta Baltico‑Slavica. 37.
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This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations November 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message Motiejus Kazimieras Valancius Polish Maciej Kazimierz Wolonczewski help info 1 also known by his pen name Joteika and Ksiadz Maciek 2 1801 1875 was a Catholic Bishop of Samogitia historian and one of the best known Lithuanian Samogitian writers of the 19th century Motiejus ValanciusBishop of SamogitiaDioceseDiocese of SamogitiaIn office1850 1875Personal detailsBorn28 February 1801Nasrenai Lithuania Governorate Russian EmpireDied29 May 1875Kaunas Kaunas Governorate Russian EmpireDenominationRoman Catholic Contents 1 Biography 2 Bishop 3 Legacy 4 References 5 Sources 6 External linksBiography EditMotiejus Valancius was born February 28 1801 into a well to do peasant family in Nasrenai lt village Kretinga district Early in his youth he had his baptismal records altered to indicate noble birth the family name was Polonized to Wolonczewski This practice not uncommon among prosperous villagers was a means of providing educational opportunities otherwise denied to peasant children In 1816 he entered the Dominican school at Zemaiciu Kalvarija and six years later began his studies at the Theological Seminary in Varniai He transferred to the Vilnius Priest Seminary in 1824 from which he graduated in 1828 Ordained a priest that same year he spent the next six years teaching religion in Belarus In 1834 he returned to Lithuania to take up a teaching position at the Kraziai College In 1840 he was assigned to the Vilnius Theological Seminary where he lectured in pastoral theology and biblical archaeology and where he earned his doctorate in theology in 1842 That same year on orders of the Tsar the Academy its teaching staff and student body was moved to St Petersburg Russia Valancius came back to Lithuania because of health problems in 1845 and was appointed rector of the Varniai Priest Seminary serving in this capacity until 1850 Having been absent from Lithuania during the anti Russian uprising in 1831 Valancius was considered to be relatively apolitical and thus the Russian government did not object when he was proposed as an Episcopal candidate for the see of Samogitia Bishop Edit Litas commemorative coin dedicated to the 200th birth anniversary of Motiejus Valancius He was consecrated bishop in 1850 the first peasant to head over that diocese Taking up his duties he guided the diocese for the next 25 years years of religious political and social change not only within Samogitia but in Lithuania as a whole He expanded and improved the Samogitian parochial school network wrote many religious books and in 1858 inaugurated a temperance movement which grew to encompass nearly a million members almost half of the county s population He also wrote the first Lithuanian language history of the Samogitian diocese which has not lost its scientific value even nowadays His pastoral and educational work was interrupted by the uprising of 1863 1864 and was made extremely difficult as the Russian government tightened its reins after the revolt s defeat Yet these circumstances did not prevent him from following a course that brought him into direct conflict with the authorities He made every effort to undermine the government s scheme of Russification In 1874 Valancius fell ill and died in Kaunas on May 29 1875 He was interred in the crypt of the Kaunas Cathedral Basilica Legacy Edit Letter of bishop Motiejus Valancius to prince Oginski His services to the Lithuanian cause were lasting and important including his opposition to the Russian government and the tactics he employed in resisting its policies particularly the Lithuanian press ban He sponsored the illegal practice of printing Lithuanian books in East Prussia and smuggling them into Lithuania by knygnesiai which served to stimulate the emergence of the Lithuanian national movement As an educator able Church administrator historian and ethnographer and talented writer Valancius is one of the most versatile and influential figures in 19th century Lithuania He left behind a number of written in Polish manuscripts of a memoir and diary nature 3 Rozmaite wiadomosci zebrane przez ks Macieja Wolonczewskiego 1839 1843 lit Miscellaneous news collected by Rev Maciej Wolonczewski Rozmaite wiadomosci zebrane 1843 1857 lit Miscellaneous collected news Rozmaite wiadomosci 1858 1859 lit Miscellaneous news Diariusz zdrowia mego 1856 1871 lit Diary of my health Pamietnik domowy 1858 1873 lit Domestic Diary Wiadomosci o czynnosciach pasterskich biskupa Macieja Wolonczewskiego 1850 1875 lit News of the pastoral activities of Bishop Maciej Wolonczewski These notes were not intended for publication by the author However they were published in the original Polish and Lithuanian translation in 2003 by Lithuanian historian Aldona Prasmantaite 4 They are an important source for learning about the situation of the Catholic Church in Samogitia under Russian rule as well as for learning about the Polish language of the region 3 References Edit Marians of the Immaculate Conception Great Figures Archived 2007 11 13 at the Wayback Machine Zeszyty Naukowe Biblioteki Uniwersyteckiej w Poznaniu lib amu edu pl Archived from the original on 2002 09 19 a b Sawaniewska Mochowa 2013 p 66 Valancius Motiejus 2003 Namu uzrasai Sources EditSawaniewska Mochowa Zofia 2013 Zapiski domowe biskupa Macieja Wolonczewskiego jako przyczynek do poznania sytuacji spolecznej i jezykowej na terenie dawnego Wielkiego Ksiestwa Litewskiego pod wladza carow Acta Baltico Slavica 37 Suziedelis Simas 1978 Encyclopedia Lituanica vol VI Boston Juozas Kapocius External links Edit Media related to Motiejus Valancius at Wikimedia CommonsCatholic Church titlesPreceded bySzymon Mikolaj Giedroyc Bishop of Samogitia1849 1875 Succeeded byAleksandras Beresnevicius Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Motiejus Valancius amp oldid 1099542547, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
