1794 M. SUKILĖLIŲ VIEŠIEJI RENGINIAI VILNIUJE

A public event, whichever kind it may be – entertaining, educational, educative, and formative, strengthens and rallies individuals into community, amplifying mutual ties, shaping and engrafting common values. Such events allow each and every one to feel a part of a larger common action or undertaking. First public events after the insurgence of 1794 took place right after the capital fell under control of the rebels. In three and a half months Vilnius saw at least ten public events of the rebels. All these events could be divided into secular and religious. Seven of those event could be considered secular: solemn pronouncements of the government – 1 (announcement of the Act of Insurgence and a public oath); military parades – 2 (Vilnius Guards and armed forces of Vilnius voivodeship); commemorations – 1 (commemoration of the Constitution of 3 May 1791); public punishments (three times). Secular events by the rebels were quite closely linked to the church, since often they were concluded with some religious note, usually a mass. Speaking of religious events it is important to note that the Curia of Vilnius bishopric supported the insurgence, and commissioned clergy to attend events organized by the leadership of the insurgence, initiating such events as well. Roman Catholic Church held two solemn burials of the rebels and a one solemn mass with a procession. Most (i.e. half ) of the secular and religious events of the rebels took place in May. In the most important events, such as announcement of the Act of Insurgence or solemn burial of rebels, in addition to the crowds from all social levels members of the Council of Lithuania, clergy of all ranks, members of the Senate of Vilnius University and professors, and army officers participated as well. Members of the city magistrates are mentioned less frequently, and it might be the case that most of them also belonged to other institutions of the rebels. Smaller events were attended by representatives of all aforementioned institutions. Secular events were held under open sky – city hall square and the square of military campus, possibly not far from Pohulianka, whereas major church events took place in the Church of St Johns. Keywords: 1794 insurgence, insurgence of Tadeusz Kościuszko, public events, Church of St Johns, city hall square, Pohulianka.