Cardinal
Vincentas Sladkevicius Memorial Exposition
On June 2, 2001, in commemoration of the first anniversary of
death of His Eminence Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church Vincentas
Sladkevicius, the memorial museum (memorial exposition) was opened. The
solemnity was participated by Sigitas Tamkevicius, the Kaunas Archbishop,
and Gintautas Kevisas, the then Minister of Culture of the Republic of
Lithuania.
From 1990 to 2000 Cardinal Vincentas Sladkevicius lived in the Kaunas
Palace of Bishops (M. Valanciaus str. 6). Being the
greatest spiritual authority of Lithuania, the Cardinal constantly
received in his apartments not only clergymen, but also politicians,
artists, public figures. It is obvious that the Cardinal’s house in
Kaunas was the unique center of spiritual culture, the place for
elaboration and consolidation of strategies needed for renewal of the
Church, for discussion of humanistic problems, for indefatigable search of
spiritual and civil incentives related to the to-be Lithuanian State. The
Cardinal’s apartments, once a symbol of wisdom, concord, spiritual
light, noble humanism, now became the Cardinal’s museum and the center
of spiritual and cultural meetings. On the occasion of Cardinal’s first anniversary of death, on June 2 of
2001, the memorial exhibition “Cardinal Vincentas Sladkevicius” was
opened in his former apartment. (The exhibition will be open until 2003.
Later it will be included into the general exposition of the Kaunas
Archdiocesan Museum, which will occupy the whole building after
development.). The exhibition, dedicated to Cardinal Vincentas
Sladkevicius, consists of memorial and literary sections. The memorial
section contains three authentically restored rooms of Cardinal Vincentas
Sladkevicius’ apartment. Restored pieces of memorial furniture are
exposed in the workroom and the sleeping room. In the library visitors can
see restored bookcases. The big parlor is also furnished by restored
memorial furniture. On the occasion of the Museum’s opening, the Kaunas
Archdiocese had a portrait of Cardinal Vincentas Sladkevicius made by
painter A. Vaitkunas. The literary section reflects the Cardinal’s race
and spiritual activities (photos, documents, personal belongings etc.). In
the vicinity of this exhibition, in the Cardinal’s parlor, the program
of national and international meetings will be realized (with Priest Dr.
A. Zygas in capacity of moderator).
The Museum’s exposition was developed by joint efforts of the Kaunas
Archdiocesan Curia and the Ministry of Culture. Valdas Adamkus, the
President of the Republic of Lithuania, spared no effort in origination of
the Museum.
Cardinal
Vincentas Sladkevicius Memorial Exposition
On the occasion of Cardinal’s first anniversary of death, on June 2 of
2001, the memorial exhibition “Cardinal Vincentas Sladkevicius” was
opened in his former apartment. (The exhibition will be open until 2003.
Later it will be included into the general exposition of the Kaunas
Archdiocesan Museum, which will occupy the whole building after
development.). The exhibition, dedicated to Cardinal Vincentas
Sladkevicius, consists of memorial and literary sections. The memorial
section contains three authentically restored rooms of Cardinal Vincentas
Sladkevicius’ apartment. Restored pieces of memorial furniture are
exposed in the workroom and the sleeping room. In the library visitors can
see restored bookcases. The big parlor is also furnished by restored
memorial furniture. On the occasion of the Museum’s opening, the Kaunas
Archdiocese had a portrait of Cardinal Vincentas Sladkevicius made by
painter A. Vaitkunas. The literary section reflects the Cardinal’s race
and spiritual activities (photos, documents, personal belongings etc.). In
the vicinity of this exhibition, in the Cardinal’s parlor, the program
of national and international meetings will be realized (with Priest Dr.
A. Zygas in capacity of moderator).