Giesmių giedojimo tradicijos Varnių apylinkėse

ENThe author dedicated this article to the memory of the famous Samogitia priests Jonas Aleksiūnas, Antanas Augustis, Petras Palšis, Jonas Paliukas. They were the guiding stars, who brought back from the past and preserved religious music and customs of Samogitia. The religious historic sources confirm, that from the very beginning of Christianity in Lithuania, to worship the Blessed Virgin Mary there were many prayers and hymns, among which were the public prayers „Cursus B. V. Marie", called „kurstąs" in Samogitian. From way back, among the public people and in the popular, folk piety, they were called „Gadzinkos" (Polish godzinki - hours) or „Adynos“. Until the II World War in Varniai Russian Orthodox Brotherhood promoted them, after the war Lithuanian Brotherhood of the Immaculate Conception of Mary took over. These hymns were sung on Saturdays, on the feast of Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, December 8th and in Advent at the Matens Mass. This is living testimony of our earlier Catholic generation which we must preserve, promote and hand down to future generations. [p. 269].