July 6th - Statehood Day

(the day of the coronation of Mindaugas as the first and

only King of Lithuania)

By Dominykas Rudelis 5 eGvidas Jonavičius 8b

July 6, we celebrate the Statehood Day, the crowning celebration first ruler of the united state of Lithuania Duke Mindaugas. On this occasion, we would like to look back into the controversial turns of history to remember the first and only king of Lithuania Mindaugas - the personality who surpassed his epoch in political strategy, mentality and spiritual power ... So there is a few controversial fragments of Lithuania’s history.

Historians suppose that the Lithuanian state has been created and united by one ruler before the first king of Lithuania Mindaugas. Unfortunately, only about Mindaugas is historical data available. In the historical sources, he is called Mindaugas the Wisest.

It is not difficult to guess why the Lithuanians gave him such an honorable name. In that time (XIII c.) he was able to pursue such a flexible policy which stultified the dozens of Teutonic Knights’ plans. It was very significant step of Mindaugas policy to take Christianity in March 1st, 1251 (date is disputed).

Then the Master of the Livonian Order solemnly baptized Mindaugas with his wife Morta and their two sons Ruklis and Rupeikis and a number of soldiers. Mindaugas' baptism in 1251, according to some historians is the beginning of Christianity in Lithuania.

So Mindaugas is not only the unifier of the state, but also the Baptist. School textbooks claim that the Lithuanian Baptist is the Grand Duke Jogaila and the date of baptism is 1387. After baptizing Mindaugas built the first Cathedral in the capital Vilnius, which remains were found in the basement of the present Vilnius Cathedral a few years ago.

In those days only the pope could give the king's crown to the Heads of a State. Mindaugas received pope’s permission to be crowned as King of Lithuania, July 6, 1253, he and the duchess Morta were crowned.

It was a huge victory for Lithuania, because the pope established the Lithuanian diocese, which was directly subordinated to the Holy See. The first Bishop of Lithuania Kristijonas also obtained the right to establish a high school. Thus, even in the Middle Ages Lithuania has the opportunity to integrate into the European Christian culture, along with the development of its Baltic nation's culture.

These bright hopes and great opportunities were cut off by killing the King Mindaugas and his sons in 1263. It has changed the further fate of the Lithuanian state.

Celebrations echoes now

The day of Mindaugas coronation as European recognition of the State of Lithuania, has already been mentioned in the independent Lithuania before Soviet occupation. For fifty years of Soviet occupation there were victimized and suppressed everything what was national, what evoke patriotic feelings, its historical memory. It has blurred memory of the coronation of Mindaugas.After the restoration of independence, we are trying to find out about the ancient history of our nation. In 1990, the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania July 6th, Mindaugas Coronation Day, declared a national holiday.

Festivities

State holiday, resembling a majestic past of Lithuania, its long-lived tradition of statehood, is being celebrated both in the capital and in other cities of Lithuania. Every year a solemn event in honor of Mindaugas is happening on Medininkai Juozapinė Hill. It held Mindaugas Silver Ring archery tournaments and military oaths. Vilnius festivities also take place on Gediminas pr., Old Town courtyards, squares and concert halls.

http://day.lt/straipsniai/valstybes_dienahttp://lt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mindaugas