Maironis

Maironis (born Jonas Mačiulis, 2 November [O.S. 21 October] 1862 – 28 June 1932) is one of the most famous Lithuanian poets and was also a Catholic priest and educator.

Jonas Mačiulis
Born(1862-11-02)2 November 1862
Pasandravys manor, Šiluva county, Raseiniai district, Kaunas Governorate, Russian Empire (modern-day Lithuania).
Died28 June 1932(1932-06-28) (aged 69)
Kaunas, Republic of Lithuania
Resting placeKaunas Cathedral Basilica
Pen nameMaironis
OccupationPriest, Poet, Playwright
GenreRomanticism

Born in Pasandravys, Raseiniai district municipality, Lithuania, Maironis graduated from Kaunas high school. He went to Russia to study Literature at Kiev University.

Life

Early years

After one year of studies at the university, in 1884 Maironis returned to his home city and entered Kaunas Spiritual Seminary. While at the seminary, he became an active member of the Lithuanian National Revival. This movement sought to revive the use of the Lithuanian language and the culture, while part of the Russian Empire.

Most famous work

Maironis wrote numerous poems. Some of them are contained in his most famous collection of poems, Pavasario Balsai (The Voices of Spring). Later Maironis went to Russia again, where he studied at St. Petersburg Catholic Theological Academy.

In the Seminary and University

In the later years of his life, Maironis worked as a rector of Kaunas Priest Seminary and as a professor at the University of Lithuania, where he taught literature. He is considered responsible for leading efforts to restore the use of the Lithuanian language and replaced the use of Polish with Lithuanian at the seminary in 1909.

Death and Legacy

He died in Kaunas in 1932, aged 69. He was interred in a tomb monument constructed outside the cathedral. (See photo below). His former house in Kaunas is now used as the Lithuanian literature Museum.[1]

Works

Musical interpretations
  • Ludger Stühlmeyer, Du religiniai eilėraščiai: Malda and Dievo meilė for vocals solo and piano/organ, 2020.

References
  1. Lithuanian literature Museum


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