The Invincible Heart: The Story of the Lithuanian Heart of a Mother, A Daughter, And a Country

By Phyllis J. Edwards

Lithuania amazed the world when it stood up against the great might of the Soviet Union and won its independence during the twentieth century. A revolutionary country with a colorful history, Lithuania defended and preserved its language and culture even as it suffered relentless transformations by external forces. The country was changed from an empire extending from the Baltic to the Black Sea into a nation that vanished from the maps of Europe under the iron rule of Russia. With exceptional courage her people fought back and eventually claimed their independence. Today Lithuania is recognized as an equal partner among the world’s nations.

The young Lithuanian in this story epitomizes the steadfast character and life-sustaining values of the heart of her homeland. This stirring historical novel is based on the true story of a girl and her country on the road to freedom. It is a story of perseverance, compassion, loyalty, determination, and love for a country that for several hundred years existed only in the hearts of its people. This is a story of the invincible heart.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Apr 18, 2016
• ISBN: 9781483563299

Book preview

References

Chapter 1

The Beginning

The endless glaciers of the Ice Age are beginning to retreat in the territory later known as Lithuania. The pink hue on the horizon is a promise that another day is dawning after the bitterly cold night. Vicious winds howl, proclaiming their supremacy over the icy terrain. The silhouettes of several men appear above the crest of a distant hill.

We must keep moving. If we don’t find food, we will die, a brave pioneer shouts above the sound of the gale-force wind.

Coming from the Jutland Peninsula, he and his companions endure sub-zero temperatures as they trudge across the treacherous terrain. Others like him are migrating to this icy wilderness from the land that is present-day Poland. They represent two different cultures as evidenced by the tools they use.

Those coming from the Baltic Kunda culture located to the south used stone tools that featured a tang at one end of the projectile. A tang is made by retouching edges to create a point that is thinner than the width of the blank in order to facilitate attachment to a shaft.

The Jutland Peninsula pioneers come from northwestern Germany and Denmark. They use bone and ivory for various implements such as spearheads, harpoons, borers, hooks, and needles. Both groups are hunters, keeping on the move without forming stable settlements.

Many generations later the climate becomes warmer and forests develop. Indomitable pioneers survive much over the years and are finally able to settle in one place.

There’s plenty of food where we are. We can hunt and fish right here. We don’t need to travel. Let’s build better dwellings for our families. We can even build pens to house the animals that we domesticate, states one pioneer. The others agree, and the first Lithuanian settlement is created.

Eventually agriculture begins because the climate and terrain are not as demanding and because suitable tools to cultivate the land are developed. Crafts and trade also start to emerge at this time. The first recorded use of the term Lithuanian dates back to at least 1009 AD.

Lithuanians, a strong and determined people, later conquer neighboring lands, establishing the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. It is a successful and enduring warrior state. The Duchy remains fiercely independent and is one of the last areas of Europe to embrace Christianity.

In the year 1569 a vegetable vendor is discussing politics in the marketplace. Villagers gather around him as he begins by saying, Even though Lithuania has become the largest state in Europe through its conquests, I’m troubled because our Grand Duchy formed a union with Poland through the Union of Lublin. They created the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

I don’t like it, adds another villager. I fear that this will increase Poland’s influence on our Lithuanian life. If we don’t do something, our language and culture will disappear.

Someone else replies, Don’t worry, my friend. The Commonwealth is made up of the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. It’s ruled by Polish and Lithuanian nobility together with kings. Its foreign policy, customs, and currency may be the same, but they have separate Polish and Lithuanian armies in addition to separate central offices, so there should be no problems.

We shall see, replies the vendor. We shall see.

Soon the resolve of the Lithuanian people is tested. For years uncertainty, distrust, and fear fill the land. The thunder of guns and the sound of horses charging into battle echo through the air. Smoke obscures the distant horizon as castles and houses are burned to the ground. Cries of lamentation are heard in the villages when families receive news of the deaths of loved ones.

During the 17th century the Commonwealth experiences devastating wars and falls into disorder and then anarchy. The once powerful Commonwealth becomes vulnerable to domestic conflict and foreign intervention. Subjected to almost constant warfare until 1720, it suffers devastating population losses and massive damage to its economy and social structure. The government becomes ineffective in the face of manipulation by foreign interests. The nobility falls under the control of a few powerful families with established territorial domains. The urban population and infrastructure fall into ruin, together with most peasant farms. The heart of the Lithuanian people is tested but remains resilient.

Families do what they can to survive. Living during these times requires faith, courage, and strong resolve. Neighbors reach out to help one another. Fear and despair assault the people, but encouragement from fellow countrymen restores hope.

The Great Northern War and Swedish invasion critically weaken the Polish-Lithuanian state. The Kingdom of Prussia becomes a strong regional power. Soon the reform movement emerges with the beginnings of the Polish Enlightenment.

In 1795 the Grand Duchy of Lithuania is erased from the political map with the partitioning of the Commonwealth. Subsequently Lithuanians live under the rule of the Russian Empire until the 20th century.

A resolute heart cannot be defeated, however. The Lithuanian people become unified in spirit and protective of their culture, even as a father protects his family against all that threatens harm. They stand as one in a divided land.

Chapter 2

The Lithuanian Book Ban

Jadvyga Vaitkutė is born at a time of suppression in a land flooded with terror. Farms are forfeited. People are exiled to Siberia. The Lithuanian script is banned. Schools are closed. The Russian language is imposed. Catholics are persecuted, and churches are prohibited.

Years earlier Jadvyga’s grandparents, Sylvester Tamašauskas and Eva Novilavičiūtė, married during a time of great unrest. In 1864 they become distraught when they hear about the governor’s decree forbidding any Lithuanian characters in the Cyrillic alphabet. All printed material or school instruction henceforth must be in Russian. The Lithuanian language is banned.

Grandfather Sylvester is visibly troubled as he says, I’m confused. Why is there a willingness to accept books of a religious nature transcribed into the Russian alphabet? I’m upset to hear about our own Bishop Valančius. Under Russian pressure he approved the first four Lithuanian religious books printed in the Russian alphabet. I can’t understand why he would do that.

What does this mean? asks Grandmother Eva. Have we been betrayed by our Catholic Church?

We’ll refuse to accept and use those books, her husband firmly states. Russia may oppress us and attempt to abolish our culture, but they will fail because they cannot abolish our heart.

Sylvester and Eva struggle with the complexity of the situation. Their strongly negative reaction to the Russianized texts mirrors that of most of the common people.

In June 1866 Bishop Valančius finally takes a stand and writes to Governor Muravev, stating that the Russian alphabet is completely improper for the Lithuanian language and that it is impossible to print translations of Holy Scripture in the Russian characters.

Back in Gruzdžiai there is much talk among the villagers. One local farmer speaks up, Have you heard that the bishop withdrew his previous consent. The word is that he’s starting an underground movement to protect us from Russification by organizing the printing of Lithuanian literature in East Prussia and smuggling it into the country.

The villagers gather around as Sylvester speaks. I read one of Valančius’ leaflets, he states. He’s a good writer. He instructs us to boycott Russian churches and schools and to refrain from learning the Russian language.

Another villager quickly responds, What are we going to do? How will our children be educated and raised in our Catholic faith?

The discussion continues until someone remarks, "Well, I recently heard that book carriers or smugglers are working as a network to aid Bishop Valančius and his assistants. I think that a book carrier who smuggles books and newspapers across the border is called a knvgnesys. Has anyone else heard anything about this?"

If that is true, it is great news. We must learn more, responds Grandfather Sylvester.

Relief and anticipation fill the homes in the small community of Gruzdžiai in the days that follow as the villagers wait to learn more of the book smugglers.

The Tamašauskas family is at home after a busy day. It is almost dusk, the sun hovering over the horizon, as Sylvester and Eva are eating dinner. Suddenly someone knocks on the door. Their immediate response is fear, for they are not expecting a visitor. Grandfather slowly opens the door. On the step stands a middle-aged man in a well-worn coat. His complexion is ruddy from frequent exposure to nature’s elements. Over his shoulder hangs a bulging burlap sack.

I am weary, the stranger says. My journey has been difficult. May I rest with you a bit?

Yes, please come in and have a seat at our table.

Grandmother immediately gets extra eating utensils for the visitor. He appears to be famished as he devours the smoked meat, cabbage, and potatoes.

"My name is Darius. I am a knygnesys. I smuggle publications printed in East Prussia across the heavily guarded Russian-German border into Lithuania. There are several groups of us."

What happens to the books after you smuggle them into Lithuania? asks Sylvester.

Once the books are transported across the border, they are distributed by a variety of people—traveling salesmen, organists, devout women, poor widows, beggars, farmers, students, large estate owners, housekeepers, young girls, physicians and their patients. These people are very brave because their activity can be dangerous. Sometimes we are chased by soldiers with guns and dogs, but that doesn’t discourage us. Our heart is determined. We will continue. We won’t allow our language to disappear.

Sylvester and Eva are thrilled to have a knygnesys as their guest.

Take a look at the books in my sack, says Darius. "See if one or two would be of benefit to