The first printed Lithuanian book:
Mikalojus Daukša’s Catechism
Vilnius, 1595
Mikalojus Daukša’s Catechism
Vilnius, 1595
Mikalojus Daukša’s Catechism (Vilnius, 1595) could be described as a truly unique book—the first printed Lithuanian book in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, of which only a single copy survives in the world—that happened to travel quite a lot. It was “evacuated” from Vilnius Public Library in 1915, along with other most valuable books. After many years in exile at the Vladimir Lenin State Library in Moscow, Daukša’s Catechism was returned home in 1956 or 1957, thanks to the efforts of Levas Vladimirovas (1912–1999), the then director of Vilnius University Library. Daukša’s small Catechism fitting in a palm travelled to Vilnius by train overnight, safely tucked away in the sewn-up jacket pocket of Nojus Feigelmanas (1918–2002), a librarian at the Rare Books Department of Vilnius University Library.
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The greatest value of the original and translated texts of the Catechism lies in the Lithuanian language—just as vivid and fluent, and brimming with new Lithuanian words and suggested synonyms as the famous Postilla (Vilnius, 1599) by Jakub Wujek (1541–1597), which was translated by Mikalojus Daukša. It is also the first book written in standard Lithuanian, understandable to both the people of Aukštaitija and Samogitia, with lexical parallels from various Lithuanian dialects provided in the margins.
The Catechism consists of two parts: Christian Doctrine and A Brief Guide to a Confession of Sins, as well as translations of Thomas Aquinas’ hymn Adoro te devote and Salve Regina. These are the earliest surviving Catholic hymns in Lithuanian language printed in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.
Another important fact hidden on the title page of Daukša’s Catechism—the name of the capital of Lithuania is recorded in the locative case in Lithuanian for the first time: “Išspaustas Wilniuie” (printed in Vilnius).
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Postilla translated by Mikalojus Daukša can also be found in Vilnius University Library’s Digital Collections.