Algirdas Mykolas Dobrovolskis

Father Stanislovas, OFM Cap.
Father Stanislovas in 2005
Personal life
Born
Algirdas Mykolas Dobrovolskis

(1918-09-29)September 29, 1918
Radviliškis, Lithuania
DiedJune 23, 2005(2005-06-23) (aged 86)
Kaunas, Lithuania
Resting placePaberžė, Lithuania
Alma materKaunas Seminary
Religious life
ReligionCatholic Church
OrdinationMarch 25, 1944

Algirdas Mykolas Dobrovolskis (September 29, 1918 – June 23, 2005), better known as Father Stanislovas (Lithuanian: Tėvas Stanislovas) was a Lithuanian Catholic priest, preacher, and Capuchin friar. He became a prominent figure in the Lithuanian Catholic Church and public life during the second half of the 20th century. A political prisoner under the Soviet regime, he was known for his efforts to defend religious and civil rights and for his pastoral work with socially marginalized individuals. He was widely recognized for his role in promoting compassion, dialogue, and reconciliation within Lithuanian society.

Birth and family background

Algirdas Mykolas Dobrovolskis (Father Stanislovas, OFM Cap.) was born on September 29, 1918, in Radviliškis, Lithuania, shortly after the country regained independence.

His father, Antanas Dobrovolskis (1870-1943), trained as a metalworker in his early youth and spent his entire working life as a railway employee. Eventually, just before World War II, he became the head of the Radviliškis railway depot. At that time, Radviliškis was a major railway junction in Lithuania.[1]

After the death of his first wife, Malvina (née Steponavičiūtė; c. 1875-after 1911), Antanas Dobrovolskis was left with three daughters. In 1911, he married his late wife’s sister, Elena (1878-1920). In December 1912, their daughter Jadvyga (1912-2003) was born, followed later by another daughter who died during the wartime evacuation.[2]

During World War I, Antanas Dobrovolskis fled with his family to the interior of Russia, where he worked as a locomotive driver. After the war, he returned to Lithuania. It was upon this return to Radviliškis that Algirdas Mykolas was born—the only son in the Dobrovolskis family.[2]

The boy was baptized in Dotnuva Church. The parish priest did not allow the child to be baptized solely with the name Algirdas, so he was given a second name, Mykolas. Shortly afterward, his mother, Elena Dobrovolskienė, died in 1920 at the age of 42, a victim of one of the many epidemics that swept through Lithuania in the aftermath of the war.[3]

His father married for a third time, bringing a stepmother, Stefanija (née Kryževičiūtė: 1885 –unknown), into the family. Algirdas Mykolas would later recall: “I never had a mother—she left me when I was a year and a half old. But I had the most wonderful stepmother one could imagine. My childhood was bright.”[4]

Algirdas Mykolas Dobrovolskis came from a family with noble roots—he noted that his mother Elena was a noblewoman,[5] and the family was associated with the Polish-speaking gentry.[6][7] Although they identified with Polish culture, he later reflected that they were in fact Polonized Lithuanians, drawn to the prestige of the Polish language.[8]

Education

Algirdas Mykolas Dobrovolskis attended primary school in Radviliškis. As Polish was spoken at home, he began school without knowing any Lithuanian. While his sister quickly adapted and became “Lithuanianized” through school, he initially struggled with the language.[9]

Concerned about his son's education, his father transferred him in 1931 to the Jesuit Gymnasium in Kaunas. Later, he would recall: “Thanks to my father’s patience and that of my teachers, I soon developed a love for learning—almost to the point of illness. My health even weakened... I became a fanatic for study.”[10]

After graduating in 1936, he entered the Capuchin Friars Minor monastery in Plungė. After four years of study, Dobrovolskis took his monastic vows and became Brother Stanislovas.[11] Supported by the monastery leadership, he had planned to continue his studies in Paris.

"Four years passed, we completed our courses in philosophy and rhetoric. We were taking exams, and [Soviet] tanks were already rolling down the streets. We were still sitting in the classroom. My documents were ready for France—to continue theology studies and to study psychology. The visa was issued, everything was prepared. But the tanks came, and I stayed."

—Father Stanislovas, Pergalė, September 1990

However, after the Soviet occupation of Lithuania in the summer of 1940,[12] those plans were abandoned.[13] Instead, he was sent to study at the Kaunas Priest Seminary and was housed at the Capuchin monastery in Petrašiūnai, Kaunas.[14]

Rescue activities during World War II

During the Nazi occupation of Lithuania from 1941–1944, Dobrovolskis was deeply upset by the tragic fate of Lithuania’s Jews. He took an active part in rescue efforts. He would receive forged documents from Father Bronislovas Paukštys of Kaunas’ Holy Trinity Church and would then pass them on to Bronius Gotautas—an illiterate man who lived near the monastery and had devoted his life to saving Jews.[15][16]

"During the war, I used to issue fictitious birth certificates for Jews. Near our monastery in Petrašiūnai lived a very saintly man. When the persecution of Jews began, I would obtain documents for him. This went on for several years. Eventually, the SS caught wind of it, came to me, and asked: 'Does so-and-so come here?' — 'He does,' I replied. Then they said: 'When he comes again, could you inform us?' — 'Unfortunately not,' I said in German, wondering what would happen next. But the German turned around and left. In those days, that was one step away from Auschwitz..."

—Father Stanislovas, quoted in Tiknevičiūtė 2012, p. 172.

With the forged documents, some of the rescued Jews were able to find employment at a peat bog near Petrašiūnai. Through Gotautas, the monks also delivered aid to Jews imprisoned in the Kaunas Ghetto.[17]

Priesthood and Soviet persecution (1944-1959)

After completing seminary studies, Brother Stanislovas was ordained on March 25, 1944, alongside Vincentas Sladkevičius (later Cardinal of Lithuania), and became Father Stanislovas. He was first assigned to the Capuchin monastery in Petrašiūnai and, in 1945, transferred to the monastery in Plungė. By then, Lithuania was once again under Soviet occupation, and religious activity was strictly monitored and limited by the authorities.[18][19][20]

In 1948, he was sent back to Kaunas. Known for his powerful sermons, Father Stanislovas visited nearly a hundred parishes across Lithuania within five years. In his preaching, he encouraged resilience, expressed solidarity with those resisting Soviet rule, and called for prayers for those deported to Siberia and other remote regions of the Soviet Union as well those otherwise persecuted by Soviet authorities. He openly criticized deportations, advised against joining Soviet organizations, and urged couples to marry in church rather than through civil institutions.[19]

His outspoken stance soon attracted official scrutiny. Public criticism of the Soviet regime brought him under the attention of both Church authorities and Soviet security services, who issued warnings about his activities.[19] His home was searched in 1947, and again on August 10, 1948. He was arrested the following day.[21] During interrogation, he acknowledged encouraging resistance to Soviet policies.[22][23] In December 1948, he was sentenced to 10 years in a labor camp for "anti-Soviet propaganda" and sent to corrective labor camps in Inta (Minlag) and later Vorkuta (Vorkutlag) in the Komi ASSR.[24][25]

According to eyewitness Kęstutis Jokubynas, in labor camp, Father Stanislovas volunteered for the most physically demanding work and was assigned to a brigade in mine construction. Each day, he walked several kilometers to the worksite in harsh conditions. Despite the exhaustion, he continued to pray, study Scripture, and when possible, to celebrate Mass—using a French Bible he had managed to keep hidden from the guards. In the evenings, while others rested, he began learning Spanish. His quiet discipline and resilience left a lasting impression on inmates and guards alike.[26]

Released early in August 1956,[27] he returned to Lithuania and was assigned to the remote parish of Vertimai [lt] in the Jurbarkas district.[28] However, surveillance by Soviet authorities persisted. In March 1957, he was arrested again[29] and returned to Vorkutlag to complete his sentence.[30][31] After his release in August 1957, he was sent to Juodeikiai [lt]in the Joniškis District,[28] where he lived in modest conditions and resumed his pastoral and intellectual work despite continuing restrictions.[32]

Monsignor Kazimieras Vasiliauskas, who was imprisoned alongside Father Stanislovas in Inta,[33][34] later offered this personal reflection:

"There were four thousand prisoners, including about eight hundred Lithuanians, among them around ten priests. Father Dobrovolskis was especially dear and close to all of us. For a time, we not only lived in the same barrack but also worked together in the same mine. Rarely did I meet people like him. He was extraordinarily hardworking and compassionate, always willing to share whatever resources he had. He knew how to get along with everyone. People of all backgrounds understood him... Everyone spoke of him with the greatest respect and sought his company."

— Monsignor K.Vasiliauskas's interview with Literatūra ir menas [Literature and Art], October 31, 1992




His years in the labor camps left a lasting imprint—deepening his empathy and strengthening his pastoral resolve. Upon returning, he resumed his ministry influenced by the hardships he had endured.[35]

Parishes and intellectual life (1960-1966)

In May 1960, Father Stanislovas was transferred to Žemaitkiemis in the Ukmergė District.[28] Stripped by Soviet authorities of the right to perform priestly duties, he devoted himself to literary work—translating poetry, including that of Rainer Maria Rilke. He considered Rilke’s poetry the pinnacle of theological and philosophical reflection, referring to it as a kind of breviary for the modern individual.[36]

In August 1961, his priestly rights were restored, and he was appointed parish priest of Ugonys and Milašaičiai, in the Raseiniai District.[37] He was later transferred to Butkiškės [lt][28], where he revitalized the church building and cemetery.[38]

In every parish where he served, Father Stanislovas continued to write sermons and pursue studies in theology and philosophy. Although a 1964 KGB report noted that he no longer engaged in “organized anti-Soviet activities,” his earlier record ensured that he remained under constant surveillance. His file was kept open by the KGB and later reclassified as a long-term monitoring case.[19]

Years later, writer Vita Morkūnienė, author of a book on Father Stanislovas, described him as a deeply reflective and multilingual intellectual. He studied philosophers such as Martin Heidegger, Søren Kierkegaard, and Roland Barthes, and often quoted from memory authors like Franz Kafka, Marcel Proust, and Jean-Paul Sartre. He was especially drawn to Rilke's work, which profoundly shaped his worldview. A true polyglot, he considered Latin the most vivid of all languages, spoke fluent German, and had a strong command of French and Spanish. Altogether, he was able to converse in seven languages and read in more than a dozen.[39]

Life and work in Paberžė (1966-1990)

In 1966, Father Stanislovas was transferred to the remote and impoverished parish of Paberžė in the Kėdainiai District.[28] Despite its isolation, he devoted himself to both pastoral and cultural work. He began by repairing the wooden church and restoring the cemetery. New cemetery gates were installed, featuring traditional Lithuanian metal crosses adorned with sun motifs, the moon, and plant symbols. Continuing local woodcarving traditions, he also erected roofed wooden poles (stogastulpiai) on the graves of participants in the 1863 uprising against czarist rule in Lithuania. One of these elements—the metal sun (saulutė[lt]), became a distinctive symbol of Paberžė. Over the years, Father Stanislovas crafted and distributed an estimated 30,000 saulutės, offering them as gifts and souvenirs to visitors.[40][41]

Influenced by Rilke's writings, Father Stanislovas began collecting old household items, which he restored together with visitors who sought refuge from hardship, addiction, or personal crises. He also preserved and repaired liturgical vestments, prayer books, and processional lanterns.[42] Before long, the remote village of Paberžė became a pilgrimage destination not only for Lithuanian intellectuals and cultural figures but also for visitors from across the Soviet Union.[43][44]

As Monsignor Kazimieras Vasiliauskas noted, “At that time, Paberžė had already become Lithuania’s Mecca and Medina — a place of pilgrimage for both sinners and intellectuals alike.”[45] Father Stanislovas’s home was widely known as a welcoming place for individuals facing personal or social challenges.[46][47][48]

During these years, Father Stanislovas continued his opposition to the Soviet regime’s restrictions on religious and cultural life. He preserved and distributed prohibited publications such as The Chronicle of the Catholic Church in Lithuania, Aušra (The Dawn), and Dievas ir Tėvynė (God and Homeland), along with interwar Lithuanian publications and works by authors such as Boris Pasternak and Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. He also translated works by Western philosophers and theologians, which circulated via underground self-publishing networks.[49][50]

The KGB regarded his activities as subversive. In 1972, a new file on him was opened under the codename The Collector. His home was searched multiple times, and thousands of pages of writings, notes, and translations were confiscated. In 1976, KGB reports acknowledged the difficulty of prosecuting him due to lack of formal evidence, though covert surveillance, wiretapping, and informant recruitment continued.[51][52]

Among those who visited Father Stanislovas in Paberžė were Russian writer and dissident Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn,[19][53][54] Russian Orthodox theologian Father Alexander Men[55], and other cultural and religious figures closely monitored by Soviet authorities.[56]

Continued KGB surveillance and dissent (1976-1990)

In 1976, Father Stanislovas received a formal warning from the KGB for “ideologically harmful” actions. Despite mounting pressure, he continued his activities. That same year, covert listening devices were installed in his home. In 1978, the KGB opened a joint operational case entitled Accomplices targeting Father Stanislovas and his associates. He was summoned for questioning, threatened with public discreditation, and urged to collaborate with the security services—proposals he rejected.[19]

According to KGB operational plans from 1979, Father Stanislovas was considered an ideological figure for what the authorities classified as "hostile activity" because he maintained contact with Russian dissidents, religious leaders, and other individuals under surveillance, and was alleged to regularly distribute illegal anti-Soviet publications.[57]

Although a 1981 KGB report claimed that Father Stanislovas had largely ceased distributing prohibited literature, subsequent documents contradicted this. Surveillance continued: at least three KGB agents monitored his activities, observed his sermons, and recorded his contacts.[19]

Despite constant surveillance, Father Stanislovas continued to voice his convictions. In 1978, he joined other clergy in signing a public statement opposing the new Constitution of the Lithuanian SSR, which curtailed religious freedoms. In 1983, he co-signed a petition calling for the release of imprisoned priests Alfonsas Svarinskas and Sigitas Tamkevičius.[19] He also maintained moral and spiritual support for members of the Lithuanian Helsinki Group and other dissidents.[58]

Post-Independence (1990-2005)

After Lithuania regained its independence, in 1990 Cardinal Vincentas Sladkevičius entrusted Father Stanislovas with overseeing the restoration of the former Bernardine monastery in Dotnuva (Kėdainiai District). At the time, Father Stanislovas was already 72 years old. Over the next twelve years, despite Lithuania’s difficult post-Soviet economic conditions, he successfully led the restoration of the ruined monastery and the adjacent church.[49][19]

From the beginning of his pastoral career in the mid-1940's, Father Stanislovas was widely recognized for his sermons.[59] Between 1992 and 1994, his homilies were published in the daily newspaper Tiesa (later renamed Diena),[60] which had formerly been the official publication of the Lithuanian Communist Party during Soviet rule.

In 1994, a collection titled Father Stanislovas’s Sermons[61] was released, followed in 1997 by an expanded edition On Love and Service.[62] These sermons appeared during a period of significant social tension in Lithuania. His message, rooted in the Gospel spirit, emphasized compassion and understanding, and sought to foster reconciliation within a society facing political and economic transition.[49][63]

Through his words and example, he advocated for the grytelnikai—rural inhabitants who had lost their livelihoods during the dissolution of collective farms and redistribution of formerly collectivized property.[49]

In 1999, Father Stanislovas was awarded the Santarvė Foundation Award in recognition of his contributions to fostering tolerance, compassion, and reconciliation in Lithuanian society.[64]

"The three of us — Cardinal Sladkevičius, Monsignor Vasiliauskas, and, I’m not ashamed to say, myself — were deeply concerned about the hatred that had persisted in Lithuania for twelve years. I call this phenomenon a 'witch hunt.' We made countless statements — the Cardinal, the Monsignor, and I — all intended to help bring that atmosphere of hostility to an end."

— Father Stanislovas's interview with Lithuanian Radio in 2003, Tiknevičiūtė 2012, p. 250.

In 2002, Father Stanislovas returned to Paberžė, where he resumed pastoral duties despite declining health. He remained active, performing baptisms, marriages, funerals and offering counsel to those in need. As in earlier years, Paberžė remained a place of refuge for individuals facing personal hardships, people recovering from addiction, children with disabilities, and many visitors and pilgrims.[65]

Father Stanislovas died on June 23, 2005, and was buried in the churchyard of Paberžė Church [lt].[60]

Criticism and polemics in public life

Father Stanislovas was widely revered for his pastoral dedication and moral authority, yet his public engagement during Lithuania’s post-Soviet transition drew criticism from some clergy and politicians.

Philosopher Arvydas Juozaitis, one of the founders of Sąjūdis,[66] observed:

“During those transitional years, the majority of the clergy aligned themselves with right-wing political forces. A visible political alliance emerged between right-wing politicians and the Church—evident in the press and other media—which sought to ‘revoke the right’ to serve Lithuania from ideologically reformed politicians. This stance quickly gained ground: anyone who did not support the authoritarianism promoted by the right was increasingly branded as ideologically or morally suspect. In some cases, even violence was used.”



Father Stanislovas became perhaps the most prominent Lithuanian clergyman to refuse participation in what he called the “holy crusade against communists.” While he had suffered under the Soviet regime, he differentiated in his approach between opposition to the system from the individuals who had been part of it. He chose to see people—not ideologies—and grounded his approach with the Gospel.[66][67]

He consistently advocated reconciliation over retribution, urging forgiveness and healing. Citing the Lord’s Prayer and the parable of the Prodigal Son, he called for unity—a stance that led some clergy and laypeople to question his political loyalties.[67]

His support for the Farmers’ Union (Lietuvos žemdirbių sąjunga) and the Lithuanian Future Forum (Lietuvos ateities forumas [lt]), both considered more left-leaning, deepened this divide. He also took a critical position on the Roman Catholic Church's efforts to reclaim previously nationalized property.[68]

At one point, some parishioners were reportedly urged during Mass by more conservative leaning priests not to read the Saturday edition of Tiesa, which published his sermons[69], and some of his writings were removed from a religious bookstore in Kaunas.[70]

In September 1993, coinciding with his 75th birthday, 153 Lithuanian priests issued a public letter condemning Father Stanislovas.[71] The letter was in part a response to an interview he had given to Lietuvos rytas,[72] published shortly before Pope John Paul II's historic visit to Lithuania. Father Stanislovas's interview had quickly drawn criticism from Vytautas Landsbergis, then chairman of the Homeland Union (Lithuanian Conservatives).[73] He wrote:

“Even one well-known and formerly influential clergyman greeted the Holy Father’s visit on that very September 4 with fresh, bitter attacks against the 'right-wing'—several of whom, according to him, are crippled by fanatical hatred, wounded, and without a trace of love... Was it really necessary, on such an occasion, to once again divide, provoke, and attack?"

Landsbergis's remarks reflected broader tensions between Church leadership and more left leaning political factions at the time. The priests’ public letter followed on September 29,[71] concluding:

“There are many who love Lithuania. But... how many people in Lithuania today love the leftist government? We urge Father Stanislovas Dobrovolskis to weigh his words more carefully and not so lightly compromise himself or the Church.”

Although many of the priests later privately apologized to Father Stanislovas, the incident exposed a deep rift within the Lithuanian clergy.[74] Both his defenders and Father Stanislovas himself described his views as morally grounded rather than politically ideological.[75]

Some, like Česlovas Kavaliauskas [lt]—a prominent Catholic priest, theologian, Bible translator, and former political prisoner, remarked in 1994 that accusations against Father Stanislovas revealed a deeper illness in society. He recalled Stanislovas’s fearless criticism of Soviet repression during the Stalinist era and his unwavering support for Lithuanian identity from the pulpit. “That’s why he ended up in the labor camps,” he noted. Kavaliauskas dismissed claims that Father Stanislovas sympathized with leftist populism, emphasizing instead the Capuchin vow of poverty: “How could a Capuchin not support the poor? That is his position.” He concluded by criticizing many amongst the clergy who attacked Stanislovas, as having been silent during the Soviet era, as opposed to Stanislovas who had been vocal in his criticisms of the Soviet system.[76]

Some of his other actions also intersected with political matters. In 2002 his signature on a petition supporting a referendum on Lithuania’s NATO accession also sparked criticism from Church authorities, who argued that clergy should not intervene in matters of national security.[77] Father Stanislovas defended his action as a personal moral decision, shaped by memories of ideological manipulation under totalitarism.[78]

Likewise, in 2003, he offered a blessing and brief remarks at the founding congress of the Labor Party, led by a controversial entrepreneur and politician Viktor Uspaskich. In his remarks, Father Stanislovas urged the party to prioritize public welfare.[79] The following year, a party-sponsored newspaper ad featured his earlier praise for a local candidate, prompting renewed criticism. Archbishop Sigitas Tamkevičius accused him of disobedience and political partiality but imposed no disciplinary action.[80]

Years later, historian Arūnas Streikus cited a Soviet KGB document alleging that Father Stanislovas had been coerced into collaboration in 1980.[81] The claim—based on wiretaps and unverified reports—was widely challenged.[82][83] In 2024, Lithuania’s official vetting commission declared it had found no evidence of collaboration.[84] Prominent intellectuals, including Krescencijus Stoškus [lt][85] and Arvydas Juozaitis[86], spoke out in his defense and condemned efforts to tarnish his legacy.[87]

Recognition and legacy

During his lifetime, Father Stanislovas received wide recognition for his contributions to Lithuanian society, pastoral care, and humanitarian efforts, including:

  • The Officer’s Cross of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas (1996) – awarded by presidential decree for his service to the nation.
  • Honorary Citizen of the Kėdainiai Region (1997).
  • The Life Saving Cross (1999) – awarded for his efforts to rescue Jews during the Holocaust.
  • The Santarvė Foundation Award (1999) – in recognition of his work promoting tolerance, compassion, and reconciliation in Lithuanian society.

In 2009, Father Stanislovas's name was inscribed on the Tree of Unity [lt], a monument by sculptor Tadas Gutauskas, recognizing him as one of Lithuania's 100 most prominent personalities whose lives had a lasting impact on national history and culture.

To mark the centenary of his birth, the Lithuanian Parliament declared 2018 as Father Stanislovas Year (Tėvo Stanislovo metai). His life and work continue to be honored through conferences, exhibitions, books, and documentaries that explore his enduring influence on Lithuanian spiritual, social, and cultural life.[39][88]

That same year, the Lithuanian Special Archives launched a virtual exhibition dedicated to Father Stanislovas’s life and legacy,[19] which continues to this day. This exhibition includes original KGB surveillance documents, handwritten sermons, diary excerpts, criminal case files, and interrogation records. Also featured are internal reports from Soviet institutions assessing his activities as subversive. The exhibition offers a rare look at how the Soviet regime viewed and monitored his work.[89]

Quotes

“Father Stanislovas fought the Soviet regime through creation. Just imagine what would have happened to Lithuania’s intellectuals if there had been no Father Stanislovas’s Paberžė! He played an immensely important role: he showed educated people a very beautiful face of religion. Through him, God spoke beautifully…” — Monsignor Kazimieras Vasiliauskas[45]

"Tolerance is an active state. It is not indifference. For me, the true apostle of tolerance and the greatest authority is Father Stanislovas, whom I would call the apostle of tolerance in Lithuania..." — Philosopher Arvydas Juozaitis[90]

"There probably has never been, nor will there be, another priest like him. His incredible erudition, deep knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, and dedicated pastoral service marked his entire life. We priests — generation after generation — learned from him..." — Prelate, Monsignor Vincas Algirdas Pranckietis [lt][91]

The poet Justinas Marcinkevičius called Father Stanislovas “walking love.” “He took only as much land as he needed, and took nothing from anyone. In him, I saw a man — a teacher in the truest sense of the word. That is why all of Lithuania was drawn to him.”[92]

References

  1. ^ Juozaitis, Arvydas (1995). Tėvas Stanislovas: pasakojimų knyga [Father Stanislovas: A Book of Stories]. Vilnius: Džiugas. p. 5. ISBN 9789986290186.
  2. ^ a b "Father Stanislovas". Kėdainiai Mikalojus Daukša Public Library. Retrieved 2025-06-16.
  3. ^ Juozaitis 1995, p. 6.
  4. ^ Gervytė, Danguolė; Laimutytė, Ingrida (October 1994). "Giedantis būčiai" [Singing for Existence]. Katalikų pasaulis (9): 21. Motinos aš neturėjau, ji paliko mane pusantrų metų. Bet aš turėjau nuostabiausią, kokia tik gali būti, pamotė. Vaikystė buvo šviesi [I never had a mother—she left me when I was a year and a half old. But I had the most wonderful stepmother one could imagine. My childhood was bright.]
  5. ^ Kubilienė, Rita (September 1990). "Tenežino tavo kairė, ką daro dešinė (Mt 6, 2–4): Pasakoja Tėvas Stanislovas" [Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing (Matthew 6:2–4): As told by Father Stanislovas]. Pergalė (9): 142 – via Klaipėda County Ieva Simonaitytė Public Library. Mano mama amžinatilsį dvarininkaitė buvo... [My late mother was a noblewoman...]
  6. ^ Chodakiewicz, Marek Jan (2017). Intermarium: The Land Between the Black and Baltic Seas. Routledge. p. 493. ISBN 978-1-351-51195-7.
  7. ^ Applebaum, Anne (2017). Between East and West: across the borderlands of Europe (1st ed.). New York: Anchor Books, a division of Penguin Random House, LCC. pp. 72–73. ISBN 978-0-525-43319-4.
  8. ^ Applebaum 2017, p. 73.
  9. ^ Kubilienė 1990, p.143. "Namuose kalbėjome lenkiškai. Mes jokie lenkai – bobutė iš tėvo pusės lenkiškai nemokėjo nė žodžio. Sesutė atlietuvėjo mokykloje, o aš dar buvau neatlietuvėjęs... Kai ėjau į pradžios mokyklą, nė žodžio lietuviškai nemokėjau." [At home, we spoke Polish. But we weren’t Polish at all—my grandmother on my father’s side didn’t know a single word of Polish. My sister became Lithuanianized at school, but I hadn’t yet... When I started primary school, I didn’t know a word of Lithuanian.]
  10. ^ Kubilienė 1990, p. 143.
  11. ^ Juozaitis 1995, p. 9.
  12. ^ Misiunas, Romuald J.; Taagepera, Rein (1993). The Baltic States, years of dependence, 1940-1990 (Expanded and updated ed.). Berkeley, Calif.: Univ. of California Press. pp. 38–39. ISBN 978-0-520-08228-1.
  13. ^ Kubilienė 1990, p. 144.
  14. ^ Juozaitis 1995, p. 12-13.
  15. ^ Gutmanas, Eduardas. "Rescuers of Jews: Dobrovolskis Algirdas Mykolas". Rescued Lithuanian Jewish Child Tells about Shoah. Retrieved 2025-06-03 – via The Vilna Gaon State Jewish Museum. All of our family was hiding in different places, but we always met at my mother's at 11 Parodos Street. We even had a hideout in the attic there. Bronius Gotautas, with whom I often met, would also come... He kept close contact with priest Algirdas-Mykolas Dobrovolskis, who would provide fictitious passports or baptism certificates...
  16. ^ Epšteinaitė, Dalija, ed. (1999), Gyvybę ir duoną nešančios rankos [Hands bringing life and bread], vol. 2, Vilnius: Valstybinis Vilniaus Gaono žydų muziejus, p. 27, ISBN 978-9986-9019-7-6, retrieved 2025-06-04
  17. ^ Tiknevičiūtė, Birutė (2012). Tėvas Stanislovas mažutėlių tarnas [Father Stanislovas – Servant of the Little Ones]. Kaunas: Morkūnas & Ko. p. 172. ISBN 978-9955-415-64-0. Karo metu aš išrašydavau žydams fiktyvų gimimo liudijimą. Prie mūsų vienuolyno Petrašiūnuose gyveno toks labai šventas žmogus. Prasidėjus žydų persekiojimui, jam parūpindavau dokumentų. Taip tęsėsi kelerius metus. Galiausiai SS užuodė, atėjo pas mane ir klausia: Ar toks ir toks čia ateina?" – „Ateina", - atsakau. Jie ir sako: „Kai dar kartą ateis, ar galėsi mums pranešti?" – „Deja", - sakau vokiškai ir galvoju, kas dabar bus. Bet vokietis apsisuko ir nuėjo. Tais laikais tai buvo vienas žingsnis iki Osvencimo... [During the war, I used to issue fictitious birth certificates for Jews. Near our monastery in Petrašiūnai lived a very saintly man. When the persecution of Jews began, I would obtain documents for him. This went on for several years. Eventually, the SS caught wind of it, came to me, and asked: 'Does so-and-so come here?' — 'He does,' I replied. Then they said: 'When he comes again, could you inform us?' — 'Unfortunately not,' I said in German, wondering what would happen next. But the German turned around and left. In those days, that was one step away from Auschwitz...]
  18. ^ Juozaitis 1995, p. 21-22.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i j ""O aš esu vadovėlis be viršelio, viskas, kas yra manyje, visur ir visada atvira" (LYA): Pratarmė" [“I am a textbook without a cover — everything within me is open, always and everywhere” (Lithuanian Special Archives): Foreword]. virtualios-parodos.archyvai.lt. 2018. Retrieved 2025-06-16.
  20. ^ Misiunas 1993, p. 124-125.
  21. ^ Juozaitis 1995, p. 42.
  22. ^ Kubilienė 1990, p. 144.
  23. ^ "Lietuvos SSR valstybės saugumo ministerijos (MGB) Kauno valdybos Mykolui Algirdui Dobrovolskiui iškeltos baudžiamosios bylos viršelis. 1948 m. Dokumentas rusų kalba" [Cover of the criminal case file opened by the Kaunas Department of the Ministry of State Security (MGB) of the Lithuanian SSR against Mykolas Algirdas Dobrovolskis. 1948. Document in Russian]. Lithuanian Special Archives. Retrieved 2025-06-04.
  24. ^ "Išrašas iš Ypatingojo pasitarimo prie SSRS valstybės saugumo ministerijos (MGB) protokolo dėl bausmės Mykolui Algirdui Dobrovolskiui skyrimo. 1948 m. gruodžio 25 d. Dokumentas rusų kalba" [Excerpt from the minutes of the Special Council under the Ministry of State Security (MGB) of the USSR regarding the sentencing of Mykolas Algirdas Dobrovolskis. December 25, 1948. Document in Russian.]. Lithuanian Special Archives. Retrieved 2025-06-05. Tėvas Stanislovas už antisovietinę agitaciją buvo nuteistas 10 m. laisvės atėmimu, bausmę atliekant pataisos darbų lageriuose. [Father Stanislovas was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment in corrective labor camps for anti-Soviet agitation.]
  25. ^ Juozaitis 1995, p. 44.
  26. ^ Jokubynas, Kęstutis (1982). "Непобеждённые" [The Unconquered] (PDF). Kontinent (31). Kontinent Verlag GmbH: 306–307.
  27. ^ "Išrašas iš SSRS Aukščiausiosios Tarybos Prezidiumo Komisijos protokolo dėl Mykolo Algirdo Dobrovolskio paleidimo iš įkalinimo vietos sumažinant bausmės atlikimo laiką ir teistumo panaikinimo. 1956 m. rugpjūčio 10 d. Dokumentas rusų kalba" [Excerpt from the minutes of the Commission of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR regarding the early release of Mykolas Algirdas Dobrovolskis and the expungement of his criminal record. August 10, 1956. Document in Russian]. Lithuanian Special Archives. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
  28. ^ a b c d e Beliauskienė Z.; Grigorjevienė V.; Lysenkienė B., eds. (1999). Kėdainių krašto Garbės pilietis Tėvas Stanislovas [Honorary Citizen of the Kėdainiai Region: Father Stanislovas] (PDF). Kėdainiai District Municipality Mikalojus Daukša Public Library. p. 29. ISBN 9986-9235-1-4. Retrieved 2025-06-24.
  29. ^ Juozaitis 1995, p. 65-66.
  30. ^ "Išrašas iš SSRS Aukščiausiosios Tarybos Prezidiumo nutarimo panaikinti 1956 m. rugpjūčio 10 d. nutarimą dėl malonės suteikimo Mykolui Algirdui Dobrovolskiui ir atleidimo nuo tolesnio bausmės atlikimo. 1957 m. vasario 25 d.Dokumentas rusų kalba" [Excerpt from the resolution of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR revoking the August 10, 1956 resolution on granting clemency to Mykolas Algirdas Dobrovolskis and releasing him from further imprisonment. February 25, 1957. Document in Russian]. Lithuanian Special Archives. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
  31. ^ "Lietuvos SSR vidaus reikalų ministerijos (MVD) 1 spec. skyriaus nutarimas suimti Mykolą Algirdą Dobrovolskį ir išsiųsti jį į laisvės atėmimo vietą baigti atlikti Ypatingojo pasitarimo prie SSRS valstybės saugumo ministerijos (MGB) 1948 m. gruodžio 25 d. paskirtą bausmę. 1957 m. kovo 14 d. Dokumentas rusų kalba" [Resolution of the 1st Special Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) of the Lithuanian SSR to arrest Mykolas Algirdas Dobrovolskis and send him to a place of detention to complete the sentence imposed by the Special Council under the USSR Ministry of State Security (MGB) on December 25, 1948. March 14, 1957. Document in Russian]. Lithuanian Special Archives. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
  32. ^ Juozaitis 1995, p. 67-68.
  33. ^ Braziūnas, Vladas (1992-10-31). "Ištakos: Su Vilniaus Arkikatedros bazilikos klebonu monsinjoru Kazimieru Vasiliausku kalbasi..." [An interview with Monsignor Kazimieras Vasiliauskas]. Literatūra ir menas [Literature and Art] (44): 12. Keturi tūkstančiai buvo kalinių, iš jų – apie aštuonis šimtus lietuvių, iš jų – apie dešimt kunigų. Ypač mums visiems brangus ir artimas buvo kunigas Dobrovolskis. Mes kiek laiko ne tik vienam barake gyvenom, bet ir vienoj šachtoje dirbom. Tokių kaip jis žmonių retai teko sutikti. Jis ir nepaprastai būdavo darbštus, ir gailestingas, savo turimais ištekliais pasidalindavo su visais, mokėjo su visais sugyventi. Jį suprato visi: ne tiktai katalikai, ne tik lietuviai, bet ir svetimtaučiai, ir vagys, net žmogžudžiai. Su didžiausia pagarba apie jį atsiliepdavo ir su juo norėdavo bendrauti. Man dabar labai keista, kad žmogžudžiai suprato jo sielos grožį, o šiandien Lietuvoje yra žmonių, kurie jo didelio taurumo ir dvasios turtingumo visiškai nevertina. Jis yra gilus teologas, daug kalbų moka ir sugeba parašyti. Jis, žinoma, reto sielos turtingumo. Nepaprastai mane žavėjo jo humanizmas… [There were four thousand prisoners, including about eight hundred Lithuanians, among them around ten priests. Father Dobrovolskis was especially dear and close to all of us. For a time, we not only lived in the same barrack but also worked together in the same mine. Rarely did I meet people like him. He was extraordinarily hardworking and compassionate, always willing to share whatever resources he had. He knew how to get along with everyone. People of all backgrounds understood him—not only Catholics or Lithuanians, but also foreigners, thieves, even murderers. Everyone spoke of him with the greatest respect and sought his company. What strikes me today is that even murderers could grasp the beauty of his soul, while in today’s Lithuania there are some who fail to appreciate his nobility and spiritual richness. He is a profound theologian, speaks many languages, and is an accomplished writer. Above all, his soul possesses a rare depth. His humanism has always deeply impressed me.]
  34. ^ Juozaitis 1995, p. 47.
  35. ^ Grysa, Bartłomiej (2022-01-17). "Pater z Podbrzezia" [The Father from Paberžė]. Miłujcie się!. Archived from the original on January 19, 2022. Ojciec Stanisław był przekonany, że dzięki jego osadzeniu w obozach Pan Bóg wybawił go od „młodzieńczych mrzonek i romantycznych, pustych marzeń". Potrafił widzieć w tych strasznych doświadczeniach Boży dar. [Father Stanisław was convinced that through his imprisonment in the camps, God had saved him from “youthful illusions and romantic, empty dreams.” He was able to see a divine gift in those terrible experiences.]
  36. ^ Juozaitis 1995, p. 152.
  37. ^ Juozaitis 1995, p. 93.
  38. ^ Juozaitis 1995, p. 104-106
  39. ^ a b Morkūnienė, Vita (2019-01-25). "Tėvas Stanislovas: Žmogus ant amžių slenksčio" [Father Stanislovas: A Man on the Threshold of Ages]. Šiaulių kraštas. Retrieved 2025-06-17. Jis studijavo M. Heidegerį, S. Kierkegorą, R. Bartą. Skaitė ir iš atminties citavo F. Kafką, M. Prustą, Ž.P. Sartrą. Jo gyvenimas buvo persmelktas R.M. Rilkės filosofijos ir poezijos. Jis buvo poliglotas. Lotynų kalba jam buvo gyviausia iš visų kalbų. Jis puikiai mokėjo vokiečių kalbą, neblogai – prancūzų, ispanų. Galėjo kalbėtis septyniomis kalbomis, o skaityti – keliolika kalbų. [He studied M. Heidegger, S. Kierkegaard, and R. Barthes. He read and quoted from memory F. Kafka, M. Proust, and J.-P. Sartre. His life was deeply imbued with the philosophy and poetry of R. M. Rilke. He was a polyglot. Latin was the most vivid of all languages for him. He spoke German fluently and had a good command of French and Spanish. He could converse in seven languages and read in more than a dozen.]
  40. ^ Jakubynas 1982, p. 307.
  41. ^ Juozaitis 1995, p. 146-150.
  42. ^ Kubilienė 1990, p. 148-150.
  43. ^ Jokubynas 1982, p. 308.
  44. ^ Yerokhina, Olga (November 2018). "Раздавал мир и крепость: Памяти о. С. Добровольскиса" [He Shared Peace and Strength: In Memory of Fr. S. Dobrovolskis] (PDF). Приходская Газета (125): 10. Отец Станислав Добровольскис — это целая эпоха. В глухие брежневские годы мы ездили к нему по благословению отца Александра Меня. Патер Станислав просиял в сонме святых. Труженик, монах-капуцин, многолетняя жертва ГУЛАГа. Был наделен даром раздавать мир душевный и крепость в смятенном житейском море. [Father Stanislovas Dobrovolskis is an entire era. During the oppressive Brezhnev years, we would visit him with the blessing of Father Alexander Men. Father Stanislovas shone brightly among the assembly of saints. A tireless worker, a Capuchin monk, and a long-time victim of the GULAG, he was endowed with the gift of spreading inner peace and strength amidst the stormy sea of life.]
  45. ^ a b Juozaitis 1995, p. 177.
  46. ^ Catholics in Soviet-occupied Lithuania: Faith under persecution. Brooklyn, NY: Aid to the Church in Need. 1981. p. 64. ...Dobrovolskis is known throughout the Soviet Union. The KGB knows that many tourists visit his church and fears that Father Dobrovolskis might infect them with his anti-Soviet ideas.
  47. ^ Švedas, Aurimas (2020). Life Should Be Transparent: Conversations about Lithuania and Europe in the Twentieth Century and Today. Irena Veisaitė, Karla Gruodis. Budapest: Central European University Press. p. 194. ISBN 978-963-386-359-6. It is perhaps enough to mention Father Stanislovas's home in Paberžė, which attracted people from accross the Soviet Union...
  48. ^ "Algirdas Mykolas Dobrovolskis (Tėvas Stanislovas) 1918 09 29–2005 06 23" (PDF). Genocide and Resistance Research Centre of Lithuania. Retrieved 2025-06-04. Norėdama populiarų kunigą kuo labiau atskirti nuo visuomenės, valdžia jį 1966 m. vasarą perkėlė į vieną vargingiausių užkampio parapijų Kėdainių r. pakraštyje – Paberžę. Tačiau netrukus Tėvo Stanislovo dėka Paberžės vardas tapo žinomas ne tik Lietuvos, bet ir Rusijos, Ukrainos, Estijos ir kitų kraštų intelektualams. [In an effort to isolate the popular priest from society as much as possible, the authorities transferred him in the summer of 1966 to one of the most impoverished and remote parishes on the outskirts of the Kėdainiai District—Paberžė. However, thanks to Father Stanislovas, the name of Paberžė soon became known not only in Lithuania but also among intellectuals in Russia, Ukraine, Estonia, and other countries.]
  49. ^ a b c d Butkuvienė, Anelė (2015-06-21). "Tėvo Stanislovo gyvenimo kelias" [The Life Journey of Father Stanislovas]. Bernardinai.lt. Retrieved 2025-06-14.
  50. ^ Juozaitis 1995, p. 179-181.
  51. ^ Juozaitis 1995, p. 202-204.
  52. ^ Trauberg, Natalya (November 2018). "Из статьи «Радостоскорбие отца Станислава»" [From the article “The Joyful Sorrow of Father Stanislavas”] (PDF). Приходская Газета (125): 12. Советская власть его тоже не забывала — к нему регулярно наведывались. Обыски, допросы, слежка — весь набор. Но патер с ними спокойно разговаривал, многих обратил. Вместо обращенных приезжали новые. [The Soviet authorities did not forget about him either — they visited him regularly. Searches, interrogations, surveillance — the full package. But Father Stanislovas spoke with them calmly and converted many. When some were converted, new ones would take their place.]
  53. ^ Tiknevičiūtė 2012, p. 172-173.
  54. ^ Šereikienė, Valentina (2016). Tėvo Stanislovo saulė [The Sun of Father Stanislovas]. Kaunas: Obuolys. p. 33. ISBN 978-609-403-991-1.
  55. ^ Juozaitis 1995, p. 180.
  56. ^ Scatena, Silvia; Sagert, Dietrich; Alois, eds. (2023). Through the Iron Curtain: the Taizé ecumenical experience in Eastern Europe (1960–1989). Fscire research and papers. Göttingen: V&R unipress. p. 354. ISBN 978-3-8470-1626-7. … we sometimes stopped in the village of Paberžė in Lithuania, where a Capuchin monk, Brother Stanislovas Dobrovolskis, lived. The Capuchin had spent many years in a prison camp in Russia. In the eyes of the authorities, organizing these Christian camps was a crime. One night, the camp was surrounded by bikers with all their headlights on; it was a kind of psychological attack on the participants. The Lutheran pastor in charge of the camp was interrogated by the secret police all night…
  57. ^ "Lietuvos SSR valstybės saugumo komiteto (KGB) Kėdainių r. skyriaus pažymos apie 1979 m. agentūrinės-operatyvinės veiklos rezultatus ištrauka. 1979 m. gruodžio 12 d. Dokumentas rusų kalba" [Excerpt from a report by the Kėdainiai District Department of the State Security Committee (KGB) of the Lithuanian SSR on the results of agent-operational activities in 1979. December 12, 1979. Document in Russian]. Lithuanian Special Archives. Retrieved 2025-06-05. Saugumas „Kolekcionieriaus" – Tėvo Stanislovo atžvilgiu ėmėsi aktyvių agentūrinių-operatyvinių priemonių: bute įrengė pasiklausymo aparatūrą, aktyviau dirbo su agentūra. [The security services took active agent-operational measures against “The Collector” – Father Stanislovas: surveillance equipment was installed in his apartment, and collaboration with informants was intensified.]
  58. ^ Venclova, Tomas; Hinsey, Ellen (2017). Magnetic north: conversations with Tomas Venclova. Rochester studies in East and Central Europe. Rochester, NY: University of Rochester Press. p. 331. ISBN 978-1-58046-586-1.
  59. ^ "Tėvas Stanislovas OFMCap (1918-2005)". Broliai kapucinai. Retrieved 2025-06-18. Viename iš karo meto pamokslų tėvas Stanislovas kalbėjo: „Būkime labai atsargūs teisdami. Blogų žmonių nėra tiek daug, kaip mums atrodo. Net jei žmogus visiškai suakmenėjo, jo širdies gilumoje teberusena gėrio kibirkštis, paprasčiausiai ji ne visada matoma... [In one of his wartime sermons, Father Stanislovas said: “Let us be very careful in judging. There are not as many bad people as we think. Even if a person has become completely hardened, deep in their heart a spark of goodness still smolders—it’s just not always visible...”]
  60. ^ a b "Tėvas Stanislovas" [Father Stanislovas]. vle.lt, Universal Lithuanian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
  61. ^ Stanislovas, Tėvas (1994). Pažūsienė, Teresė (ed.). Tėvo Stanislovo pamokslai [Father Stanislovas’s Sermons]. Vilnius: Diena. ISBN 9986-424-03-8.
  62. ^ Stanislovas, Tėvas (1997). Pažūsienė, Teresė (ed.). Apie meile̜ ir tarnyste̜ [On Love and Service]. Vilnius: Margi raštai.
  63. ^ Morkūnienė, Vita (2018). Pokalbiai Tėvo Stanislovo celėje [Conversations in Father Stanislovas’s Cell]. Vilnius: Baltos lankos. p. 26. ISBN 9786094790607.
  64. ^ Guiga, Vytautas (1999-12-27). "Santarvės premija- Tėvui Stanislovui" [The Santarvė Foundation Award – to Father Stanislovas]. Lietuvos rytas. No. 301. p. 3. Antrąja Kalėdų dieną Dotnuvos bažnyčios klebonui vienuoliui kapucinui Algirdui Mykolui Dobrovolskiui, Lietuvos žmonėms labiau žinomam Tėvo Stanislovo vardu, Panevėžio dailės galerijoje buvo iškilmingai įteikta šių metų Santarvės fondo premija ir balta angelo sargo skulptūrėlė... Į Santarvės fondo premijos įteikimo ceremoniją atėjo gana daug panevėžiečių, tarp jų miesto meras Vitas Matuzas. Tačiau ceremonijoje nedalyvavo vietos dvasininkai... [On the second day of Christmas, the Santarvė Foundation Award was ceremoniously presented at the Panevėžys Art Gallery to Capuchin friar and parish priest of Dotnuva Church, Algirdas Mykolas Dobrovolskis—better known to the Lithuanian public as Father Stanislovas. Along with the award, he received a white figurine of a guardian angel. A considerable number of Panevėžys residents attended the ceremony, including the city’s mayor, Vitas Matuzas. However, local clergy did not take part in the event...]
  65. ^ Paškevičienė, Zina (2002-04-05). "Tėvas Stanislovas grįžo į Paberžę" [Father Stanislovas Returned to Paberžė]. Delfi. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
  66. ^ a b Juozaitis 1995, p. 227.
  67. ^ a b Šereikienė 2016, p. 35.
  68. ^ Juozaitis 1995, p. 227-228.
  69. ^ Juozaitis 1995, p. 228.
  70. ^ Tiknevičiūtė 2012, p. 84.
  71. ^ a b "Tėvui Stanislovui: Mylinčių Lietuvą yra labai daug" [To Father Stanislovas: There Are Many Who Love Lithuania]. Lietuvos aidas. No. 189. 1993-09-29. p. 5.
  72. ^ Stankevičius, Rimantas (1993-09-04). "Valstybė turi būti globojama ją mylinčių žmonių": Pokalbis su Dotnuvos-Paberžės klebonu Tėvu Stanislovu nacionalinio saugumo koncepcijos klausimu" [“The State Must Be Cared For by Those Who Love It”: A Conversation with Father Stanislovas, Parish Priest of Dotnuva–Paberžė, on the Concept of National Security]. Lietuvos rytas. No. 171. p. 9. ... Juo krikščioniškesnis dešiniųjų laikraštis, tuo piktesnis. Ir kaip per išpažintį Jums pasakysiu, jog kai kurie krikščioniškieji laikraščiai man dvokte dvokia neapykanta. Ne visi skaitytojai teologai, todėl jiems priminsiu Jėzaus sakinį: Jie pasiima raktą į dangaus karalyste ir patys neįeina, ir kitų neleidžia". Tuo tarpu Biblijoje pasakyta, kad teismas tik Dievui priklauso. Tad neapykanta užtemdo bet kokį sprendimą, bet kokią logiką... [...The more ‘Christian’ a right-wing newspaper claims to be, the more bitter its tone. And, as if in confession, I’ll tell you—some of these so-called Christian newspapers reek of hatred. Not all readers are theologians, so let me remind them of Jesus’s words: ‘They take away the key to the kingdom of heaven. They do not enter themselves, and they hinder those who are trying to enter.’ Meanwhile, the Bible says that judgment belongs to God alone. So hatred clouds any judgment, any logic...]
  73. ^ Landsbergis, Vytautas (September 11, 1993). "Popiežiui išvykus" [After the Pope’s Departure]. Lietuvos aidas. No. 177 (6388). p. 5. ... O štai net vienas žinomas ir praeity įtakingas dvasininkas pasitiko Šventojo Tėvo vizitą tą pačią rugsėjo 4-ąją naujais piktais puolimais prieš "dešiniuosius", kurių ne vienas, anot jo, fanatiškos neapykantos suluošintas, sužalotas, be kruopelytes meilės… Nejau taip reikėjo ta proga vėl skirstyti, skaldyti ir pulti? [...And so, even one well-known and formerly influential clergyman greeted the Holy Father’s visit on that very September 4 with fresh, bitter attacks against the 'right-wing'—several of whom, according to him, are crippled by fanatical hatred, wounded, and without a trace of love... Was it really necessary, on such an occasion, to once again divide, provoke, and attack?]
  74. ^ Juozaitis 1995, p. 239-240
  75. ^ Morkūnienė 2018, p. 23.
  76. ^ Vanagienė, Virginija (1994-04-02). "Tik šlovindami moterį, galime ją padaryti karaliene". Tiesa. No. 64 (15326). p. 8. Tai tik vienas argumentas, kad mūsų visuomenė rimtai serga. Tėvą Stanislovą aš gerai pažįstu – mes tuo pat metu mokėmės Kunigų seminarijoje... Tegu tie mūsų didieji kritikai prisimena, ką juodžiausio stalinizmo metais kalbėjo Tėvas Stanislovas, kaip jis tuomet nieko nebijodamas kritikavo valdžios ydas... Jis visą laiką rėmė lietuvybės idėją, nebijojo jos aukštinti iš Vytauto bažnyčios sakyklos, kritikuoti tuometinių suėmimų. Dėl to ir pakliuvo į lagerį. Tik naivūs žmonės gali priekaištauti, kad Tėvas Stanislovas palaiko grytelninkus, kadangi kapucinai yra pranciškonų vienuoliu atšaka, kuri teigė ir išlaikė neturtą... Tik kapucinai išlaikė pirmykštį švarumą, neturtą ir savęs išsižadėjimą. Tai kaipgi kapucinas gali neremti neturtėlių? Tai yra jo pozicija... Tai šitokios dvasios žmogų šiandien smerkia visokie prisitaikėliai, tie, kurie buvo lojalūs, mėgo gardžiai valgyti ir ramiai miegoti. [This is just one argument showing that our society is seriously ill. I know Father Stanislovas well—we studied at the Seminary at the same time…Let our great critics recall what Father Stanislovas said during the darkest years of Stalinism—how he fearlessly criticized the flaws of the regime… He consistently upheld the idea of Lithuanian identity and wasn’t afraid to promote it from the pulpit of Vytautas Church, to denounce the arrests happening at the time. That’s why he ended up in the labor camps. Only naive people can accuse Father Stanislovas of supporting the poor (grytelninkai), since the Capuchins are a branch of the Franciscan order that affirms and upholds poverty… Only the Capuchins preserved the original purity, poverty, and self-denial. So how could a Capuchin not support the poor? That is his position… And now, such a man of spirit is being condemned by all sorts of conformists—those who were loyal [to the regime], who liked to eat well and sleep peacefully.]
  77. ^ Savičiūnaitė, Vida (2002-07-20). "Arkivyskupas išbarė vienuolį: Į ginčą dėl NATO stojo ir šalies dvasininkai" [Archbishop scolds monk: Clergy join the debate over NATO]. Lietuvos rytas. pp. 1–2. Buvau priblokštas, kai sužinojau, kad referendumo dėl Lietuvos stojimo į NATO idėją savo parašu parėmė ir Tėvas Stanislovas, — pareiškė Kauno arkivyskupas Sigitas Tamkevičius. — Jei nebūčiau vyskupas, šį faktą pakomentuočiau labai aštriais ir skaudžiais žodžiais." ... dėl stojimo į NATO pasiektas visų — kairiųjų ir dešiniųjų — Lietuvos partijų susitarimas ir jis jau nebediskutuotinas. ["I was shocked to learn that Father Stanislovas had supported the idea of a referendum on Lithuania’s accession to NATO with his signature," stated Archbishop of Kaunas Sigitas Tamkevičius. "If I weren’t a bishop, I would comment on this fact in very harsh and painful terms." ... An agreement had already been reached among all Lithuanian political parties — both left and right — on joining NATO, and this matter is no longer up for debate.]
  78. ^ "Į ginčą dėl NATO stojo ir šalies dvasininkai" [Clergy Join the Debate over NATO]. Delfi. 2002-07-20. Retrieved 2025-06-19.
  79. ^ Makaraitytė, Indrė (2003-10-22). "Kaip vertinti tėvo Stanislovo palaiminimą?" [How should Father Stanislovas's blessing be interpreted?]. Delfi. Retrieved 2025-06-19.
  80. ^ "Arkivyskupas S.Tamkevičius nebaus Tėvo Stanislovo" [Archbishop S. Tamkevičius will not punish Father Stanislovas]. Delfi. 2004-09-23. Retrieved 2025-06-19.
  81. ^ Streikus, Arūnas (March 2024). "Dvasininkija sovietmečiu" [Clergy During the Soviet Era]. Artuma (3).
  82. ^ Andriukaitis, Vytenis (2024-05-25). "Kai istorikas ir redaktorius suklumpa, užkliuvę už KGB šaltinio" [When a historian and editor stumble over a KGB source]. Facebook, Tėvas Stanislovas. Pamokslai. Retrieved 2025-06-21.
  83. ^ "Dr. Krescencijus Stoškus "Tėvo Stanislovo rūpesčiai"" [Dr. Krescencijus Stoškus, “The Concerns of Father Stanislovas”]. stanislovas.lt. 2024-10-08. Retrieved 2025-06-21. Žaidimai KGB kortomis... šiandien ypač įžūliai atrodo primesti kaltinimai apie jo tariamus patarnavimus KGB. Kas tie naujieji kaltintojai? Ir kodėl jie išeina į viešumą tuo metu, kai pradėtos akcijos už vienuolio paskelbimą šventuoju? Už kagėbistinio kabliuko yra užkibę dvejopi žmonės. Vieni – aiškiai per daug jauni, todėl aiškiai nenutuokia nei apie Lietuvai gerai žinomą asmenybę, nei apie KGB tarnybų paliktas provokacijas. Kiti net patys yra nukentėję nuo KGB pinklių, tačiau nėra deramai supratę, ką reiškia pranciškoniškas gyvenimo būdas. Bet gėdingiausia, kad ir vieni, ir kiti nutyli seniai atidengtas kortas. Jau 2020 m., remiantis KGB archyvo duomenimis, buvo paskelbtas A. Augo darbas "Tėvas Stanislovas KGB gniaužtuose". O 2018 m. "L.ryte" jau pasirodė Lietuvos ypatingojo archyvo KGB dokumentų skyriaus ... dokumentas, publikuotas pavadinimu "KGB agentų persekiojamas Tėvas Stanislovas atsikvėpė tik Lietuvai atgavus nepriklausomybę." [The use of KGB accusations has become particularly brazen in recent times—especially those leveled against Father Stanislovas, alleging his supposed cooperation with Soviet security services. Who are these new accusers? And why are they stepping into the public sphere now, just as efforts are beginning to promote the monk’s canonization? Those who have latched onto the KGB narrative tend to fall into two groups. The first are clearly too young to understand either the well-known figure of Father Stanislovas or the nature of provocations left behind by the KGB. The second group includes individuals who themselves were harmed by the entrapments of the KGB, yet who seem not to fully grasp the meaning of a Franciscan way of life. Most shamefully, both groups remain silent about long-revealed truths. Already in 2020, a scholarly study titled "Father Stanislovas in the Clutches of the KGB", based on archival documents, was published by A. Augas. And back in 2018, the Lithuanian daily Lietuvos rytas printed a document from the Lithuanian Special Archives (KGB Documents Division) under the headline: "Persecuted by KGB Agents, Father Stanislovas Found Relief Only After Lithuania Regained Independence".]
  84. ^ Kupčinskaitė, Akvilė (2024-09-25). "Pagaliau dėmė nuplauta – įrodyta, kad Tėvas Stanislovas nebendradarbiavo su KGB" [The Stain Finally Removed – It Has Been Proven That Father Stanislovas Did Not Collaborate with the KGB]. Bernardinai.lt. Retrieved 2025-06-19.
  85. ^ Stoškus, Krescencijus (2025-01-21). "Nemalonu, bet pasakyti reikia" [Unpleasant, But It Must Be Said]. Laikmetis. Retrieved 2025-06-19. ...Rodos, jau neteko prasmės visi pikti įtarinėjimai ir pavydūs žvilgsniai. O svarbiausia lengvabūdiški kaltinimai tariamu Tėvo Stanislovo bendradarbiavimu (kolaboravimu) su KGB. Įvyko reikšmingas lūžis. Asmenų veiklos vertinimo komisija, ištyrusi bendradarbiavimu su KGB įtarinėjamą kunigą, 2024 09 03 d. pranešė, kad neturi informacijos apie Tėvo Stanislovo Dobrovolskio bendradarbiavimą su buvusios SSRS specialiosiomis tarnybomis... [...It seems that all the malicious suspicions and envious glances have finally lost their meaning. Most importantly, the frivolous accusations of Father Stanislovas’s alleged collaboration with the KGB have also been put to rest. A significant turning point has occurred: on September 3, 2024, the Commission for the Assessment of the Activities of Individuals, after investigating the priest suspected of KGB collaboration, announced that it had no information indicating that Father Stanislovas Dobrovolskis collaborated with the former USSR’s special services...]
  86. ^ "Filosofo dr. Arvydo Juozaičio liudijimas" [Testimony of philosopher Dr. Arvydas Juozaitis]. stanislovas.lt. 2025-01-15. Retrieved 2025-06-19. ...liudiju, kad be galo gėdingai skamba kaltinimai, kurie Tėvą Stanislovą ženklina stigma: "buvęs KGB agentas". Ši gėdinga stigma daugiau pasako apie ją naudojančius negu apie patį Tėvą Stanislovą... Kaip galima pažeisti civilizuoto pasaulio pripažintą "nekaltumo prezumpciją"? Ir reikalauti iš numatytos aukos, Tėvo Stanislovo, jau ATA, "paneigti" KGB fabrikacijas? [...I testify that the accusations branding Father Stanislovas with the stigma of “former KGB agent” sound profoundly shameful. This disgraceful stigma says more about those who use it than about Father Stanislovas himself... How can one violate the presumption of innocence, recognized by the civilized world? And demand from the designated victim—Father Stanislovas, already deceased—that he “refute” KGB fabrications?]
  87. ^ Laukaitytė, Regina (2025-03-13). "Dr. Regina Laukaitytė. Dėl t. Stanislovo Dobrovolskio ryšių su KGB" [Dr. Regina Laukaitytė. On Father Stanislovas Dobrovolskis’s Ties with the KGB]. Laikmetis. Retrieved 2025-06-28. ...Galima konstatuoti, kad Kėdainių raj. KGB skyrius nuolat stebėjo t. Stanislovą. To skyriaus darbuotojai tvirtino, kad su juo dirba patyrusi kelių rajonų ir KGB 5-osios valdybos agentūra, pranešinėjanti apie jo veiklą platinant nelegalią literatūrą, Paberžėje vykstančius Eucharistijos bičiulių susitikimus, kunigų ir vienuolių rekolekcijas, t. y. KGB ir toliau vertėsi agentų pagalba, jiems padedant rinko t. Stanislovą kompromituojančią medžiagą. Išlikusiuose to skyriaus dokumentuose nėra jokių užuominų, kad būtų įvykusi „Kolekcininko"–stebimo objekto metamorfozė į kokiu nors slapyvardžiu pavadintą agentą, vykdantį KGB užduotis... [...It can be stated that the KGB branch in the Kėdainiai district continuously monitored Father Stanislovas. The officers of that branch claimed that an experienced network of agents from several districts and the 5th Directorate of the KGB was working on him, reporting on his activities related to the distribution of illegal literature, meetings of the Friends of the Eucharist in Paberžė, and retreats held for priests and monks—in other words, the KGB continued to operate with the help of informants, using them to gather compromising material about Father Stanislovas. In the surviving documents from that branch, there is no indication whatsoever that the observed subject 'The Collector' ever underwent a transformation into an agent—under any codename—carrying out KGB tasks...]
  88. ^ Savickienė, Daiva (2022-10-24). "Tėvas Stanislovas. Bebaimis sielų gydytojas" [Father Stanislovas: A Fearless Healer of Souls]. Panevėžio balsas. Retrieved 2025-06-19. ...Paberžėje tebėra 30 nakvynės vietų atvykėliams. Ir nors prabėgo septyniolika metų, kai Tėvas Stanislovas iškeliavo į Amžinybę, čia tebegydomi priklausomybių turintys asmenys – kaip ir buvo Tėveliui pažadėta... [...There are still 30 overnight accommodations for visitors in Paberžė. And although seventeen years have passed since Father Stanislovas departed for Eternity, people struggling with addictions are still being treated here—just as was promised to the Father...]
  89. ^ "KGB agentų persekiojamas Tėvas Stanislovas atsikvėpė tik Lietuvai atgavus nepriklausomybę" [Father Stanislovas, Persecuted by KGB Agents, Could Breathe Freely Only After Lithuania Regained Independence]. lrytas.lt. 2018-09-26. Retrieved 2025-06-21.
  90. ^ Janauskaitė, Daiva (2010-01-09). "A.Juozaitis apie drakoną, sportą ir Tėvynę" [A. Juozaitis on the Dragon, Sports, and the Homeland]. klaipeda.diena.lt. Retrieved 2025-06-04. Tolerancija – aktyvi būsena. Tai nėra abejingumas. Man tikras tolerancijos apaštalas ir didžiausiais autoritetas - tėvas Stanislovas, kurį vadinčiau tolerancijos apaštalu Lietuvoje. Apie jį rašiau knygą ir kūriau filmą. Jaučiuosi esąs jo mokinys. Kaip kunigas ir vienuolis jis neturėjo kištis į visuomenės gyvenimą, bet kišosi. Laikas nuplukdys visus trumpalaikius dalykus ir liks tik apaštališkieji. [Tolerance is an active state. It is not indifference. For me, the true apostle of tolerance and the greatest authority is Father Stanislovas, whom I would call the apostle of tolerance in Lithuania. I wrote a book and made a film about him. I consider myself his student. As a priest and a monk, he was not supposed to interfere in public life, but he did. Time will wash away all that is temporary, and only what is apostolic will remain.]
  91. ^ Šereikienė 2016, p. 233.
  92. ^ Šereikienė 2016, p.233-234

Further reading

  • Juozaitis, Arvydas (1995). Tėvas Stanislovas. Pasakojimų knyga – A biographical narrative blending personal testimony with broader reflections on his spiritual legacy. Vilnius: Džiugas. ISBN 9986-29-018-X
  • Tėvas Stanislovas; edited by Teresė Pažūsienė (2003). Apie meilę ir tarnystę – A collection of his sermons reflecting core themes of love and service. Vilnius: Margi raštai. ISBN 9986-09-166-7
  • Morkūnienė, Vita (2006). Pokalbiai Tėvo Stanislovo celėje – Essays and conversations offering insight into his pastoral approach and outreach in Paberžė. Vilnius: Baltos lankos. ISBN 9955-23-030-4
  • Tiknevičiūtė, Birutė (2012). Tėvas Stanislovas – mažutėlių tarnas – Reminiscences by his niece, capturing intimate and everyday aspects of his life. Kaunas: Morkūnas & Ko. ISBN 978-9955-415-64-0
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.