Justinas Staugaitis – Bishop and Politician
Justinas Staugaitis – Bishop and Politician

Summary/Abstract: The aim of the article is to present three important stages of the life andwork of Bishop Justinas Staugaitis: 1) education, 2) pastoral, social, culturaland political activity, 3) holding the office of bishop of the Telšiai diocese.Bishop Staugaitis was a student of the Junior High School in Marijampolė andthe Theological Seminary in Sejny, where he took part in the secret activities ofLithuanian seminarians and developed strong national attitudes. The most im-portant contribution he made to Lithuanian culture and education was thefounding of the “Žiburys” Benevolent and Educational Society, which operatedin the then Suwałki Voivodeship and contributed to raising the level of culturein society. He also edited the magazine “Vadovas” addressed to priests. DuringWorld War I, Bishop Staugaitis became involved in the political life of Lithua-nia and was elected a member of the Lithuanian Council. It was then that hesigned the Act of Independence of Lithuania. He was elected to the LithuanianConstituent Assembly of the first and second terms, in which he served aschairman. After the establishment of the Ecclesiastical Province of Lithuania,J. Staugaitis was appointed ordinary bishop of the Telšiai diocese.

• Details
• Contents