Paskutinė Valančiaus knyga
The last work by Motiejus Valančius

Summary/Abstract: Along with other multiple activities, the Bishop of Samogitia Motiejus III Valančius (1801–1875) devoted significant attention to writing, editing and publication of religious and didactic reading. In the middle of the 19th century Lithuania, he was among the most active and productive workers of this field. Yet Valančius did not live to see publications of all the books he had written or edited: some were printed posthumously, while others remained in manuscripts. Some of the unpublished works by Valančius were only scantily referred to in Lithuanian literary history. The manuscript of Broma atverta ing viečnastį [“The Gate Open to Eternity”] by Mykolas Olševskis constituted probably the most unexpected discovery: this book was scorned by many since the first half of the 19th century up till the present day, nevertheless having enjoyed enormous popularity. Once having proscribed its reprinting, towards the end of his life, in 1874–1875 Valančius set out to remaking, editing and supplementing Broma with additional didactic illustrations and exhortations, thus turning it into a useful spiritual reading, in line with his other books, such as Živatas Jėzaus Kristaus Viešpaties mūsų [“Life of Jesus Christ Our Lord”] or Paaugusių Žomonių knygelė [“Short Book for the Grown Ups”]. Still, this work did not see publication. The manuscript of Broma by Valančius constitutes magnificent material for those studying literary work by the bishop, the old Lithuanian literature and that of the 19th century, the history of the book, etc. It makes the subject of the present article.

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