Day of the Lithuanian State (06/07)

Every year on July 6, Lithuania celebrates the national holiday — State Day (lit. Valstybės diena, dedicated to the coronation day of Prince Mindaugas (Lith. Lietuvos karaliaus Mindaugo karūnavimo diena) in 1253. From this event, according to modern Lithuanian historians, Lithuania dates back its statehood and the beginning of the country’s orientation towards Western democracy.

A solemn ceremony of raising the national flag takes place on the square near the presidential palace, a solemn mass is held in the Vilnius Cathedral —, and in the evening there is an official reception in honor of the holiday. Throughout the country, in addition to ceremonies, many different cultural and educational events are taking place, reminiscent of the origins of the Lithuanian state and its history.

The coronation day of Prince Mindaugas is now given special significance as the first self-determination of Lithuania and integration into the Western world. Mindaugas has an outstanding role in the unification of Lithuania.

True, few of the Lithuanians celebrating today remember that in the 13th century, when the prince was crowned, Europe had no time for democracy — the gloomy period of the Inquisition began there. According to historians, from 30 to 300 thousand people were killed at the fires and in torture dungeons. Already in our time, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, John Paul II, publicly repented for the times of violence, religious wars and the fires of the Inquisition.

Historical background The Grand Duke of Lithuania Mindaugas (Mindovg) (approximately the end of the 1230s — 1263) united the Lithuanian lands (Aukstaitia, Samogitia and others) under his rule and subjugated the cities of Novogrudok, Slonim, Volkovysk. In 1244 he undertook a campaign against the Livonian Order in the land of the Curonians and Semigallians. The order allied with Lithuanian feudal lords hostile to Mindovgu and defeated him.

Mindaugas reached a compromise agreement with the order (in 1250), converted to Catholicism in 1251, and was crowned on behalf of the Pope, however, he was preparing for a new battle with the order. Around 1253, he entered into an agreement with the Galician prince Daniel and married his daughter to his son Shvarna, renewed and strengthened ties with the Vladimir-Suzdal Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky.

In 1260, the Lithuanian army at Lake Durbe defeated the combined army of the Livonian and Teutonic Orders and their allies. Mindovg renounced Catholicism. He was killed as a result of a conspiracy of feudal nobility.

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