Slabada – Miroslavas

ENSlabada (now the name of the place is Miroslavas) was in the district of Seinai before the First World War. The place has an interesting history. The first inhabitants of the territory were Yotvingians who died out or were dispersed. The territory was settled by colonists from present Belarus in the 16th century, dating back to Sigismund I the Old. Most of the settlers belonged to the group of the impoverished gentry, who were given some land and tax exemption for the period of 10 years. There was a manor house in Bendriai and the village Slabada came into existence next to it. The owner of the manor house built a wooden church in 1718-1719. In 1769 Marian monks were brought and settled there. The monastery was closed down after the January Uprising by tsarist authority. The author presents the history of the place up to present times.