By K. Paul Žygas Those Magnificent Men in Their Winged Armor OF ALL THE ARMOR DISPLAYED IN THE ART ! Institute of Chicago, the “Half-armor for a hussar” invariably catches and holds the attention of every Lithuanian history buff. Worn by the crack hussar units of the Polish and Lithuanian …
Read More »The Noble Beasts of Lithuania
Lithuania’s vast forest tracts were some of the last havens for two species of spectacular wildlife, the European bison and the aurochs, or stumbras and tauras respectively in Lithuanian. Archeologists have found images of these animals in cave paintings, clay figures, and carvings from the Stone Age. Similarly, the stumbras …
Read More »Lithuanian History Highlights: the Noble Beasts of Lithuania Part I- Stumbras
By: William J. Morrison THE NOBLE BEASTS OF THE LITHUANIA In 1517 Maciej from Miechow, Master of the Krakow Academy included the following in a description h of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania: “There are large territories covered with primeval forest, completely unpopulated, spreading for 10,15 and 25 miles. Only …
Read More »Beautiful Lithuania: Northern Exposure, Lithuania’s Liquid Amber
BY VAL RAMONIS The Biržai and Rokiškis regions of northeast Lithuania offer the visitor beautiful sights and long-lasting memories. MOST TOURISTS VISITING LITHUANIA FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME usually travel in groups organized by travel agencies or tour operators. They are taken to Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, Trakai, Neringa, and perhaps …
Read More »Lithuanian History Highlights: “Battle of Žalgiris” the Memory of the Nation On Display
The arrival of a painting on loan from a Polish museum has become one of the biggest events in Vilnius. FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY, LITHUANIA HAS BEEN WAITing for a nearly 50-square-meter painting. It has never been exhibited in Lithuania before, but every Lithuanian has seen copies of …
Read More »Lithuanian Profiles: Saint Casimir in the Context of His Time
By Tomas Michalskis, PH.D Saint Casimir ( Šventas Kazi ieras), Lithuania’s PATRON AND ONLY CANONIZED SAINT, WAS BORN INTO THE ILLUSTRIOUS LITHUANIAN DYNASTY OF GEDIMINAS in Cracow, Poland in 1458. He was the grandson of Jogaila, Grand Duke of Lithuania, who accepted Christianity and ascended the Polish throne in …
Read More »Lithuanian History Highlights: Bells & Bellringers Varpas and the ‘Varpininkai’
BY TOMAS MICHALSKIS, PH.D. In Janury , 1889, th e first issue of Varpas (The Bell) appeared. With it began a new stage in the history of the developm ent of the Lithuanian press. Varpas lasted until 1905, much longer than any other periodical in Lithuania at that time. With …
Read More »Beautiful Lithuania: Palanga Yesterday… and Today
BY VYTAS KERNIUS PALANGA Yesterday ….. and Today Lithuania’s most popular beach resort is probably the finest in the Baltics. With its long history intertwined with legends, it looks to a bright future. PALANGA, Situated a few miles north of the port city of Klaipe da, is the most famous …
Read More »Our Immigrant Heritage: …Up, Up, But Not Quite Away! the Saga of a Lithuanian Flying Machine
The Saga of a Lithuanian Flying Machine Edward V. Gillis (Gylys) is the author of the still unpublished book, Growing Up Lithuanian in Old Lithuanian Town of Grand Rapids, Michigan. The book of over 500 manuscript pages deals with Lithuanian life in Grand Rapids from 1885 to 1940 and …
Read More »Lithuanian History Highlights: the Lithuanian Women in Legend and History
THE LITHUANIAN WOMAN IN LEGEND AND HISTORY No one has contributed more to the preservation o f Lithuania’s national identity — and perhaps its very existence — than the Lithuanian woman. Throughout all the turbulent times o f Lithuanian history; the Lithuanian woman played an important role and often assumed …
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