Published the photo: the controversial gift to Kaunas has already been poured in the Ukrainian workshop

“On May 6, Lithuanian Ambassador to Ukraine Valdemaras Sarapinas and embassy staff visited the workshops of Ukrainian sculptors Borys Krylovs and Oles Sydoruks.

During the visit, the representatives of the embassy were presented with the work of the workshop and the latest work of the sculptors – an impressive sculpture of the Grand Duke of Lithuania and the King of Poland Alexander Jogailaitis, which will soon decorate the center of Kaunas,” the Lithuanian Embassy in Ukraine announced, sharing a photo of the already cast sculpture.

Famous sculptors

The Kaunas City Municipality announced last November that the sculpture of this fosterer of Lithuanian statehood will be erected in Kaunas Ramybės Park in 2024.

This monument is donated to Kaunas free of charge by patron Prof. Pranas Kiznis.

It is indicated that the sculpture is created by sculptors from Ukraine already known to the people of Kaunas, the same ones who cast “Warrior of Freedom” in a very short time, in 2018. built near Kaunas Castle.

The people of Kaunas themselves chose the place where the monument will be built.

Criticized

It is true that there were those who opposed this idea and insisted that such sculptures do not have a place in Ramybės Park and should not appear. They tried to bite Kaunas by saying that he accepts whatever is given to him – he doesn’t need it, and it seems that the city already has enough monuments, especially such massive ones.

“We did not build monuments to our history for one and a half hundred years. More precisely, they erected alien idols for us, which had nothing to do with the spirit of the nation. I find it strange the position of those who say that we have already “remembered” too much. I am afraid that this is what those who are not proud of our language and rich culture are saying.

Those people reject the traditions and customs of our families and, in principle, do not read our history books. We came to Kaunas because there is the least amount of such negativity here,” said businessman and patron of culture prof. Mr. Kiznis.

The patron is convinced that Kaunas will inevitably become a “royal city”. “Freedom Warrior” sculptures – a success story. According to Mr. Kiznis, the people of Kaunas and the city communities consider this monument their own and are proud of it.

According to him, people usually mention Vytautas, Žygimantas Augustas, who established the Renaissance in Lithuania, but other historical figures and their works are forgotten.

Aleksandras Jogailaitis allegedly loved Lithuania very much, so he did not move there even after becoming the king of Poland.

Kaunas Cathedral took care

According to historians, this personality is famous not only for warfare, but also for the ideas of humanism brought to Lithuania, the systematic filling of the state archive – Lithuanian Metrics.

It is believed that the duke himself headed the country’s clerical and diplomatic service and nurtured the Lithuanian language.

According to historical sources, Aleksandras Jogailaitis took care of Kaunas St. the archcathedral basilica of the apostles Peter and Paul and the city parish. in 1503 on July 13, at the request of pastor Jonas Zaluskis, he granted the church foundational privileges, estates and land in the city and its surroundings. The ruler encouraged that at least part of the services be held in Lithuanian.

“We are honored to receive such a gift. I believe that it will become another point of attraction in the city, which will allow you to get to know our history and outstanding personalities better”, – the mayor of Kaunas, Visvaldas Matijošaitis, also expressed this opinion.

It is not yet clear when exactly the monument will be unveiled. May 9 public presentation of project proposals is planned. Further processes will depend on its progress.

Design proposals were prepared by MB “ARCHPLIUS”.

As previously announced by Kaunas City Municipality, it is planned to do this during a state or city holiday, which will take place at the end of May.