Polishness and Lithuanianness in Kaunas Benedictine Convent 1905–1924

Abstract

The study aims to reveal the factors that caused Kaunas Benedictine convent to become a supporter of national Polish state and a cradle of Polish culture while being in the middle of ethnic Lithuanian lands, in Kaunas. It ap­peared that the greatest impact on the development of pro-Polish attitudes was made by the chaplain of the con­vent Pranciskus Kriskijonas (since 1907), a Pole who originated from Latvia, and by the prioress Cecilija Kolumba Baranauskaitė (since 1911), a Warsaw citizen. When selecting candidates, she used to choose only those girls who were the most favourable and obedient, whereas others were not allowed for further advancement towards eternal vows. Lithuanian society, however, rebelled against formation of the Polish orientated convent in the temporary capital of the state. The conflict was resolved by changing leaders of the convent and by sending Polish sisters to Kolainiai (1924).