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While managing the fence surrounding the Sisters’ Benedictine monastery, the land was littered with finds, not only old tiles or fragments, but also human bones. Once the quarantine plans are altered, they are expected to be reburied next year.
Created a legend
Every time you visit the Benedictine sisters, there is not only an inexorable curiosity to stick your nose into their cells, but also the feeling of being followed. Spinning the wheels around the territory of the monastery, I remembered a legend that only intensified my senses. It is said that in 1655, during the wars in Sweden and Russia, many monks were killed here and the monastery was destroyed. Since then, ghosts can be found here. Gabrielė Aušra Vasiliauskaitė, doctor of theology, professor and sister, did not deny the legend, but doubted whether the sisters had been killed to such an extent during the aforementioned war. It is true that the Benedictines, according to Sister Gabriel, were previously buried in the cellars of the church.
“After the 1863 uprising, the monasteries were closed throughout Lithuania. The novitiate was closed by order of the Tsarist authorities, which meant that the monastery had to die. However, the sisters outwitted the tsar officials by burying the dead nuns under the church and accepting new members. In the names of the dead sisters, the tsar officials kept wondering how the sisters lived after 100 years: “Sister Gabriel was reassured when she again heard the question about the ghosts.” Anyway, we still haven’t seen ghosts. “
The Sisters Benedictine monastery complex is one of the oldest in Kaunas. In 1624 it was founded by the average nobleman of Kaunas County, Andriejus Skorulskis, and his daughter Ona, his sister Eufemia, became the first abbot of this monastery. Until the 19th century. The monastery was wooden and small. The brick building was erected only in 1825. – a rectangle, two stories high, with a wing connected to the church on the south side. On the first floor there was a searchlight, cells, several utility rooms, on the second floor – cells. After the monastery closed in 1948, the sisters did not return to it until 1990. The altar of Saint Benedict, three from the 18th and 19th centuries, has survived from the equipment of the old church. Paintings and, of course, a 351m brick fence surrounding the ensemble, more than a hundred years old, that has rocked passers-by and the nuns themselves in a state of emergency for a long time.
A treasure was found
2017 After the restoration and repair of the fence of the cemetery with a gate began on the territory of the Benedictine monastery complex, an exploratory archaeological investigation was carried out. At the same time, two shallow underground excavations were excavated with an outlet to the surface. In the absence of a valuable archaeological layer, the excavations were carried out in another area.
“Their goal was to verify the possibility of the presence of layers and archeologically valuable structures in earthworks. Collect possible individual archaeological findings, record the stratigraphy of the exposed layers,” said archaeologist Vismantas Muralis, who led the research.
This is how the old fence wall was discovered.
Archaeological excavations on the territory of the Benedictine monastery complex were not carried out until 2017. Only in 1995 During the repair of the water supply route in March, the workers excavated a valuable 16th century building. the silver treasure, gold coins from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Western European countries, which he appropriated.
“In a hurry to leave the site, they did not even manage to collect all the coins, so later the inhabitants of the surrounding houses found the individual coins excavated. Later, the story was loud in the press at the time. It started an investigation, searches were made. of which only thirteen, eight gold and five silver, entered the Numismatics Department of the current National Museum of Art MKČiurlionis. The estimated date of the hidden treasure is the change of the XVI-XVII centuries ” , the archaeologist had no further knowledge of the treasure.
Find – to the museum
Muralis was able to tell much more about the findings found on the territory of the monastery during the maintenance of the fence. With the discovery of eleven arched niches, archaeologists have discovered here not only the 20th century. the other half of the finds: bottles or motorcycle parts. Archaeologists have found witnesses to history, dating back more than a hundred years. For example, some 17th-18th centuries. Dating tiles: herbal, ledge, with or without colored glaze. Various details of the building were found, at least five brick sizes, a shard from a glass bottle, and shards of flower pots. The non-inventoried findings were buried in the excavated percussion, and 23 inventoried findings were turned over to the Kaunas City Museum. He and the Department of Cultural Heritage also received a copy of each investigative report.
Most of the findings went to the Kaunas City Museum.
When asked how she reacted to the findings and whether the archaeologists who circled the courtyard did not disturb the monks’ lives, Sister Gabriel laughed. The process, she said, went smoothly, and due to her employment with archaeologists working in the monastery area, the sisters were rarely found.
“We have always suspected that there may be unexpected finds in the territory. We can only imagine how many of them are left,” Sister Gabrielė A. Vasiliauskaitė smiled.
We have always suspected that there may be unexpected findings in the area. We can only imagine how many are left.
The consignment remains
Bones of individual people were found during the works. The latter were handed over to specialists from the Department of Anatomy, Histology and Anthropology of the Vilnius University School of Medicine for detailed anthropological research.
“The pathology was evaluated in detail by compiling data in special osteological forms. Gender was determined using qualitative indicators of skeletal sexual dimorphism, age using cranial sutures, ossification of epiphyses of long bones, dental germination, changes in the surface of the pelvic ear and bone pubic. “Minimum survival of identifiable anatomical elements of bone. The minimum number of individuals in the destroyed graves, based on the survival of the left femur, is 21. Sex and age have been determined for eighteen people, “said the archaeologist.
Archaeological research at the Benedictine monastery was led by V. Muralis.
After extensive anthropological research, the bones found returned to the monastery. Here they will be buried. Just not as fast as the Benedictine sisters would like.
“Quarantine has stopped all our preparations, but it will certainly be done as it should be: solemnly with the liturgy, honoring the remains of the people. We will definitely inform the townspeople of this in advance. Of course, we will have to wait, perhaps Even next spring or even summer, no one does not know how God will provide opportunities, “Sister Gabrielė desired patience, strength, and God’s blessing.”
Invite benefactors
Although part of the fence is neat and delights sisters and passersby, the rest is still in poor condition. The bricks continue to fall, in some places it turns onto the path that many people walk on every day. Therefore, work continues on the restoration of the fence, and the sisters invite them to contribute their sacrifices. The names of all the benefactors, according to Sister Gabrielė, appear in the Book of benefactors and are included in the history of the monastery, which opens on the altar of Blessed Theophilus Matulionis every Friday of the month, when Holy Mass is offered for benefactors. The sisters pray for them daily.
“Every victim is important to us, because not all of the fence has been repaired. Most of it is still in an emergency condition and continues to skate on the slope, especially on St. Gertrude and P. Eimutis streets. Restoration is in progress. It’s going, and it’s accompanied by unforeseen investigations. Yes, every job. “There’s always unforeseen work and extra expenses, so it’s very difficult to predict how much money will be needed. Especially when we talk about two 200-year-old monastery fences, “said Sister Gabriel, there were many surprises. There is no base underneath them, and the fence sways due to the walking sand.”
Anyone who wants to contribute to the fence repair can take the donations, transfer them through the bank, or allocate 1.2 percent. personal taxes. The nuns note that with the advent of the benefactors, there is hope that other historical objects in the monastery complex, which have not been cared for for a long time, will be resurrected from the state of emergency.
“This support of hers allows us to share our faith with the laity. The funds received are used to adapt the facilities for educational pastoral activities, raise the qualifications of the sisters, support the needy and preserve the architectural heritage,” invited the sister to donate. .
You can help the Benedictine sisters
If you want to donate to the monastery, you can transfer the money to this account by writing “Donation to the monastery” for the purpose of payment.
Benedictine Monastery of Kaunas of the Sisters
Monastery Code: 192064479
Address: Benediktinių st. 10, KAUNAS, LT-44261
Account: Swedbank LT397300010002264595
If you want to donate to the monastery church, thus contributing to its maintenance, you can transfer your donation to the following account by entering “Sacrifice to the church” for the purpose of payment:
Benedictine Monastery of Kaunas of the Sisters
Monastery Code: 192064479
Address: Benediktinių st. 10, KAUNAS, LT-44261
Account: AB SEB bankas LT987044060002920556
Photo of V. Muralis, Vilmantas Raupelis
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