Zakon Marianów w życiu narodowym i społecznym Litwy w XVIII i XIX wieku

ENThe objective of this article is to show the role of the Marians in the Lithuanian national, religious, and social life in 1750-1864. The year 1750 marks the date of the Marians' arrival in Lithuania, for that year Fr. Wojciech Strach, a Marian of Czech origin, came the settlement called Staropole. Later, the village took the name of Marijampole, after the Marians and begun to grow intensively. Today, the city of Marijampole has approximately 50000 residents. The Marians opened an important pastoral center there along with a monastery and the novitiate, a church, and a school. They established close relations with important families in Lithuania with whose support the Marians soon opened four new houses in Lithuania: in Miroslav, in Iglaikai, in Volpa, and in Janov. During the 18th and 19thh centuries, the Marians participated in the important Lithuanian national and social events. They played a significant role in the country's fight for sovereignty, for awakening of the Polish and Lithuanian national consciousness. They promoted patriotic literature and took active part in the uprisings. They served the public by opening almshouses, parish schools, and underground Polish and Lithuanian schools at each of their monasteries; they ran missions and retreats and taught in secret. Their school in Marijampole enjoyed an exceptional respect.