Veiveriai
Encyclopedia
Veiveriai is a town in Lithuania
. According to the 2001 census, its population was 1,100. It is located about 18 kilometres (11.2 mi) southwest of Kaunas
on the road to Marijampolė
.
The town was first mentioned in written sources in 1744, but began growing a century later when a large postal station was established on the Kaunas
–Suwałki road, part of a longer Berlin
– St. Petersburg route, in 1838–1839. Mail coaches would stop here to change horses and pick up passengers. The office was closed after the postal route was superseded by the Warsaw – Saint Petersburg Railway
, built in 1859–1861. During the Uprising of 1863
, a battle occurred between local rebels (some 620 men) and Russians army on August 21, 1863. Poorly armed rebels were defeated and lost about 80 men before retreating. After establishment of the teachers' seminary, Veiveriai grew as a center of education and culture. In the 1930s, during an economic crisis, the town was part of fierce protests against the government of Antanas Smetona
. Two protesters were killed. After World War II, Veiveriai supported armed anti-Soviet resistance
. In 1989 Skausmo kalnelis (Hill of Sorrows) was created were bodies of killed resistance fighters were buried. The hill was incorporated into the town's coat of arms, adopted in 2004.
ist authorities established teachers' courses (in 1872 reorganized into the Veiveriai Teachers' Seminary
) in the old post office building. The seminary trained teachers for elementary schools in the Suwałki Governorate and became and important center of the Lithuanian National Revival
. During World War I, the seminary was evacuated into Russia, but never returned. Its former building was used to establish a secondary school in 1919. The school was named after Tomas Žilinkas, who taught at the teachers' seminary for 37 years and encouraged his students to read banned Lithuanian books
. As of May 2008, the school had 458 students and 45 teachers. In 1989 a music school was established in Veiveriai. In 1994 it was renamed after opera singer Antanas Kučingis and expanded to included non-musical specialties. The school has 120 students and 17 teachers.
s from Zapyškis
. Since 1846 Veiveriai, as a center of a parish, had its own priests. In 1853 Józef Godlewski built a brick Neo-Renaissance
church, named after Saint Louis
. The church was reconstructed in 1930s when Mykolas Krupavičius
, alumni of the teachers' seminary, briefly served in Veiveriai.
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
. According to the 2001 census, its population was 1,100. It is located about 18 kilometres (11.2 mi) southwest of Kaunas
Kaunas
Kaunas is the second-largest city in Lithuania and has historically been a leading centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas was the biggest city and the center of a powiat in Trakai Voivodeship of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since 1413. During Russian Empire occupation...
on the road to Marijampolė
Marijampole
Marijampolė is an industrial city and the capital of the Marijampolė County in the south of Lithuania, bordering Poland and Russian Kaliningrad oblast, and Lake Vištytis. The population of Marijampolė is 48,700...
.
History
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1827 | 249 |
| 1897 | 921 |
| 1923 | 813 |
| 1959 | 693 |
| 1970 | 775 |
| 1979 | 859 |
| 1987 | 902 |
The town was first mentioned in written sources in 1744, but began growing a century later when a large postal station was established on the Kaunas
Kaunas
Kaunas is the second-largest city in Lithuania and has historically been a leading centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas was the biggest city and the center of a powiat in Trakai Voivodeship of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since 1413. During Russian Empire occupation...
–Suwałki road, part of a longer Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
– St. Petersburg route, in 1838–1839. Mail coaches would stop here to change horses and pick up passengers. The office was closed after the postal route was superseded by the Warsaw – Saint Petersburg Railway
Warsaw – Saint Petersburg Railway
The Saint Petersburg – Warsaw Railway, Russian "Санкт-Петербурго-Варшавская железная дорога" is a long railway, built in the 19th century by the Russian Empire to connect Russia with Central Europe. At the time the entire railway was within Russia, as Warsaw was under a Russian partition of Poland...
, built in 1859–1861. During the Uprising of 1863
January Uprising
The January Uprising was an uprising in the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth against the Russian Empire...
, a battle occurred between local rebels (some 620 men) and Russians army on August 21, 1863. Poorly armed rebels were defeated and lost about 80 men before retreating. After establishment of the teachers' seminary, Veiveriai grew as a center of education and culture. In the 1930s, during an economic crisis, the town was part of fierce protests against the government of Antanas Smetona
Antanas Smetona
Antanas Smetona was one of the most important Lithuanian political figures between World War I and World War II. He served as the first President of Lithuania from April 4, 1919 to June 19, 1920. He again served as the last President of the country from December 19, 1926 to June 15, 1940, before...
. Two protesters were killed. After World War II, Veiveriai supported armed anti-Soviet resistance
Lithuanian partisans (1944–1953)
The Lithuanian partisans were partisans who waged uniformed guerrilla warfare against Soviet rule during the Soviet invasion and occupation of Lithuania during and after World War II...
. In 1989 Skausmo kalnelis (Hill of Sorrows) was created were bodies of killed resistance fighters were buried. The hill was incorporated into the town's coat of arms, adopted in 2004.
Education
In 1866 TsarTsar
Tsar is a title used to designate certain European Slavic monarchs or supreme rulers. As a system of government in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire, it is known as Tsarist autocracy, or Tsarism...
ist authorities established teachers' courses (in 1872 reorganized into the Veiveriai Teachers' Seminary
Veiveriai Teachers' Seminary
Veiveriai Teachers' Seminary was a seminary in Veiveriai, Suwałki Governorate, Congress Poland . It was established as teachers' courses in 1866 and reorganized into a seminary in 1872. It prepared teachers for elementary schools in the Suwałki Governorate. During World War I, the seminary was...
) in the old post office building. The seminary trained teachers for elementary schools in the Suwałki Governorate and became and important center of the Lithuanian National Revival
Lithuanian National Revival
Lithuanian National Revival, alternatively Lithuanian National Awakening , was a period of the history of Lithuania in the 19th century at the time when a major part of Lithuanian inhabited areas belonged to the Russian Empire...
. During World War I, the seminary was evacuated into Russia, but never returned. Its former building was used to establish a secondary school in 1919. The school was named after Tomas Žilinkas, who taught at the teachers' seminary for 37 years and encouraged his students to read banned Lithuanian books
Lithuanian press ban
The Lithuanian press ban was a ban on all Lithuanian language publications printed in the Latin alphabet within the Russian Empire, which controlled Lithuania at the time. Lithuanian-language publications that used the Cyrillic alphabet were allowed and even encouraged...
. As of May 2008, the school had 458 students and 45 teachers. In 1989 a music school was established in Veiveriai. In 1994 it was renamed after opera singer Antanas Kučingis and expanded to included non-musical specialties. The school has 120 students and 17 teachers.
Religion
The first chapel in Veiveriai was built in the second half of the 18th century. In 1818 nobles of the Godlewski family built a wooden church, staffed by vicarVicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
s from Zapyškis
Zapyškis
Zapyškis is a small town in Kaunas County in central Lithuania on the right bank of the Neman River. As of 2001 it had a population of 254. The town is famous for its old early Gothic church , which is also depicted in town's coat of arms. A new church was built in 1942.-References:*This article...
. Since 1846 Veiveriai, as a center of a parish, had its own priests. In 1853 Józef Godlewski built a brick Neo-Renaissance
Neo-Renaissance
Renaissance Revival is an all-encompassing designation that covers many 19th century architectural revival styles which were neither Grecian nor Gothic but which instead drew inspiration from a wide range of classicizing Italian modes...
church, named after Saint Louis
Louis IX of France
Louis IX , commonly Saint Louis, was King of France from 1226 until his death. He was also styled Louis II, Count of Artois from 1226 to 1237. Born at Poissy, near Paris, he was an eighth-generation descendant of Hugh Capet, and thus a member of the House of Capet, and the son of Louis VIII and...
. The church was reconstructed in 1930s when Mykolas Krupavičius
Mykolas Krupavičius
Mykolas Krupavičius was a Lithuanian priest and politician. He is best remembered for his involvement with the land reform in the interwar Lithuania....
, alumni of the teachers' seminary, briefly served in Veiveriai.