Vievis
Encyclopedia
Vievis is a small city in Elektrėnai municipality
, Lithuania
. It is located 14 km east of Elektrėnai
. The city is surrounded by Lake Vievis.
In 1522 year the Vievis manor, in 1539 year - town, which belonged to Ogiński family
, was mentioned. In the first half of 16th century the first Catholic
church was built there.
About 1600 Ogiński family built a Uniate church and founded the Abbey
of the Holy Spirit
(Lithuanian: Šventosios dvasios). At the beginning of the 17th century a printing press
was established near the abbey, notable for printing books by various Protestant
Calvinist
scholars.
In 1794 and 1812 the church burned down and was rebuilt in 1816. In 1837 an Orthodox
church was built.
In the period between World War I
and World War II
, Vievis was near the dividing line between Lithuania
and Poland
. The town is currently among those with the largest Polish population
, with roughly 77% inhabitants identifying themselves as Poles.
The 17th century printing press became the reason why a 1970s samizdat
journal "Lustra dzion" edited by Vincuk Viačorka
cited "Jewie" as the place of its publishing (even though it was in fact published in Minsk). The printing press is also featured on the modern coat of arms of the city, adopted in 1999.
Elektrenai municipality
Elektrėnai municipality is one of 60 municipalities in Lithuania....
, Lithuania
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...
. It is located 14 km east of Elektrėnai
Elektrenai
Elektrėnai is a city of about 14,000 inhabitants in Lithuania; since 2000 it is the capital of the Elektrėnai municipality. It is situated between the two largest cities in Lithuania – Vilnius and Kaunas.-Name:Elektrėnai is the Lithuanian name of the city...
. The city is surrounded by Lake Vievis.
In 1522 year the Vievis manor, in 1539 year - town, which belonged to Ogiński family
Oginski family
Ogiński was a noble family of Lithuania and Poland , member of The Princely Houses of Poland.They were most likely of Rurikid stock, related to Chernihiv Knyaz family, and originated from the Smolensk region, incorporated into the Grand Duchy of Lithuania around 14th century...
, was mentioned. In the first half of 16th century the first Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
church was built there.
About 1600 Ogiński family built a Uniate church and founded the Abbey
Abbey
An abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...
of the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
(Lithuanian: Šventosios dvasios). At the beginning of the 17th century a printing press
Printing press
A printing press is a device for applying pressure to an inked surface resting upon a print medium , thereby transferring the ink...
was established near the abbey, notable for printing books by various Protestant
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
Calvinist
Calvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
scholars.
In 1794 and 1812 the church burned down and was rebuilt in 1816. In 1837 an Orthodox
Eastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
church was built.
In the period between World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Vievis was near the dividing line between Lithuania
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...
and Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. The town is currently among those with the largest Polish population
Polish minority in Lithuania
The Polish minority in Lithuania numbered 234,989 persons, according to the Lithuanian census of 2001, or 6.74% of the total population of Lithuania. It is the largest ethnic minority in the country and the second largest Polish diaspora group among the post-Soviet states...
, with roughly 77% inhabitants identifying themselves as Poles.
The 17th century printing press became the reason why a 1970s samizdat
Samizdat
Samizdat was a key form of dissident activity across the Soviet bloc in which individuals reproduced censored publications by hand and passed the documents from reader to reader...
journal "Lustra dzion" edited by Vincuk Viačorka
Vincuk Viacorka
Vincuk Viačorka is a Belarusian linguist, politician and the former leader of the Belarusian National Front , a Belarusian opposition party.Vincuk Viačorka was born on July 7, 1961 in Brest in the family of a Soviet bureaucrat....
cited "Jewie" as the place of its publishing (even though it was in fact published in Minsk). The printing press is also featured on the modern coat of arms of the city, adopted in 1999.