The victims of mass deportations will be honored in Šiauliai

In 2024 June 14 The Day of Mourning and Hope is commemorated to remember the people of the Lithuanian nation who were exiled and suffered during the Soviet occupation. On this day, events are organized in the city of Šiauliai. Residents and guests of the city will be invited to exhibitions, lectures, St. Masses and concerts. The names of the deportees will be read in the square near the Šiauliai city municipality, and the main commemoration of June 14 will traditionally take place at the railway ramp. The organizers hope that the events organized in Šiauliai will contribute to the preservation of historical memory and the nurturing of the values ​​on which our free and democratic state is based.
Organizer - Šiauliai City Municipality, organizer - Šiauliai Culture Center. Events are free.

June 14th is a day that fills the hearts of compatriots with sadness every year and reminds us of the painful side of Lithuanian history - the mass deportations of the population. More than 80 years ago, during the Soviet occupation, thousands of people suffered loss, cruelty and unimaginable suffering. The aggressors did not choose victims, they deported everyone - women, men and children.

"Despite the tragedy, our nation has not lost hope. A day of mourning and hope reminds us that even in the darkest moments we must believe in a brighter tomorrow. We must preserve the memory of our nation and cherish freedom. On this day, we invite you to honor the victims of deportations and celebrate the freedom of Lithuania at events," says Daina Kinčinaitienė, head of the Culture Department of the Šiauliai City Municipality Administration.

Events dedicated to the Day of Mourning and Hope will begin in Šiauliai on June 12. 2 p.m. in the Venclauskiu House-Museum of Šiauliai "Aušros" Museum. the presentation of the publication-photo album "Deported From Their Homeland" will take place, and at 5 p.m. In the Povilas Višinskis public library of Šiauliai County, it will be possible to listen to the historian Lectures by Darius Juodis "The beginning of partisan struggle in Lithuania: 1944 summer-autumn".

On the main day of commemoration - June 14 - the commemoration and honoring action of exiles and political prisoners "Memory will not be banished" will be held in the square near the municipality of Šiauliai. The event will start at 11:59. a general moment of silence, after which the names of the deportees will be read. 3:30 p.m. The Day of Mourning and Hope will traditionally be celebrated at the railway ramp. The program will feature military historical songs interspersed with love and family songs so that the listener feels not only the joy of life, but also the sounds of loss and pain. Folk songs will be embellished and subtle musical colors will be created by the sound of kankles. All this is a gift of performer Rasa Serra and chanter Ingrida Spalinskaitė-Kurienė, choir of the Šiauliai Cultural Center "Tremtinys" (artistic director R. Pečeliūnas). The event will be hosted by actress Virginija Kochanskytė.

5 p.m. Šiauliai St. in the Cathedral of the Apostles Peter and Paul, St. Mass to honor victims of mass deportations. Immediately after St. At the Mass, at 6 p.m., those gathered will be treated to the "Mother's Prayer" concert by the "Saulė" concert institution in the city of Šiauliai.

Šiauliai Saulius Sondeckis Gymnasium of the Arts at 7 p.m. will invite to a concert Šiauliai St. In the Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. The young performers of the 7th International Saulius Sondeckis Competition for Violinists and Cellists, Zakhar Bronas (violin, Germany / Switzerland), Davidas Gering (cello, Lithuania / Germany) will take part in the concert.

The organizers inform that it will be possible to get to the events in different places by booked bus. It will be waiting at the municipality of Šiauliai and people will be taken to the event at the ramp, then to Šiauliai St. Cathedral of the Apostles Peter and Paul.

More events will be organized in Šiauliai to give meaning to the day of mourning and hope. The entire program of events can be found on the websites of Šiauliai City Municipality (www.siauliai.lt) and Šiauliai Culture Center (www.siauliukc.lt).

The information is provided by Asta Vaitkienė, Head of the Event Organization Department of the Šiauliai Cultural Center, mobile. +370 671 42 901, e-mail asta.vaitkiene@siauliukc.lt.

R. Parafinavičiaus, L. Yarmoshenko, Ž. Plečkaitienė, Rasa Serra and Ingrida Spalinskaitė-Kurienė archive photo.