Among Vilnius University Birthday Events – The Exhibition of “Catechism” and Presentation of Jesuit Dissertations

This year on 1 April, Vilnius University will celebrate its 443rd birthday. On that occasion, Vilnius University Library will offer special events to the public. The first Lithuanian printed book – Mažvydas "Catechism" – will be traditionally displayed in the newly renovated Franciszek Smuglewicz Hall. Moreover, the other exposition will be presented in Joachim Lelewel Hall and invite guests to see the dissertations of the first graduates of the University – Jesuits and other students – that were prepared in the 16th – 18th century.

"Catechism" by Martynas Mažvydas, the first printed Lithuanian book printed in 1547 in Königsberg, marks a new stage in the history of the Lithuanian language – the beginning and the development of the Lithuanian literary language – a powerful means of the cultural life of the Lithuanian nation.

Although the book, as it is estimated, had a circulation of up to 300 copies, so far, only two copies of it are known in the world. One of the copies is kept in Vilnius, and the other belongs to the holdings of Toruń University Library (Poland). The copy belonging to Vilnius University Library was acquired through book exchange from Maxim Gorky Odessa Scientific Library (Ukraine). The "Catechism" was recovered owing to the efforts of the then director of Vilnius University Library Levas Vladimirovas, who initiated recovery of the books that were lost after the closure of Vilnius University in the 19th century.

"Catechism" by Martynas Mažvydas will be on display on 1 April from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Franciszek Smuglewicz Hall of Vilnius University Library (Universiteto str. 3, 1st floor).

The guests of the University will be invited to see another exposition of the 16th – 18th-century dissertations of Vilnius University that will be on display in Joachim Lelewel Hall.

The establishment and the tradition of higher education in Lithuania are closely related to the Jesuit Order. In 1579, the established by Jesuits Vilnius University started awarding degrees, including the highest doctoral degree that could be obtained after successful preparation and defense of dissertation/theses. Today the procedure is quite similar, however, has anything really changed? How long did it take to prepare a dissertation? In which areas of research dissertations were often defended at the old Vilnius University? By visiting Joachim Lelewel Hall, you will get answers to these and many other questions. There will be two presentations during which the library's guides will give more details on these research papers.

The exhibition of dissertations will be on display from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Guided tours that will last about an hour will be provided in Joachim Lelewel Hall (Universiteto str. 3, 3rd floor) on the following hours: 12 noon and 3.30 p.m.