President Valdas Adamkus, Lithuania, foto Henning Høholt

Lithuania celebrated its 1000 years jubilee Monday 6th Juli 20009. The Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus were hosting royalties and celebrities from a large part of the North Western Europe.

The Danish Queen Margrethe II, King Harald V of Norway, King Carl XVI Gustav and Queen Silvia of Sweden, were the prominent royalties who headed the prominent guesting list. In addition Presidents from Iceland, Finland, Poland, Ukraine, Latvia, Estonia, Georgia and Cardinal Angelo Sodano from the Vaticane State representing the Pope .

Many ministers inclusive the Minister of Culture from Russia, and from Azerbadsjan. Carl Bildt the Swedish foreign minister was too present

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The celebration started in front of the Presidential Palace, with Flag Hoisting Ceremony and speech by the Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus. Thousands of citizens and tourists enjoyed the ceremony, which was televiced to the Cathedral Square. This was followed by a Holy Mass in the Cathedral.

Then Unveiling the Monument of the Millenium of Lithuania, the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania and Historical Flag Raising Ceremony, and a visit in to the Palace Court Yard.

The delegation then visited the Palace court yard, leaded by President Valdas Adamkus, who in his presentation said:

“The stones under our feet still remember the first Lithuanian King Mindaugas and the times when Lithuania embarked on its long and difficult path towards life within Europe. It was the Lithuania of King Mindaugas that in 1253 accomplished the aspirations, unfulfilled in 1009, to become part of Christian Europe.

It was then that the foundations of our Christian sanctuaries were laid down and the keystone for the Grand Duchy of Lithuania – still a strong reminder of Lithuania’s greatest moments, victories and prosperity – was put in place. And it was in those times – the times of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania – that King Žygimantas Augustas built the Royal Palace which we have now re-erected as an icon of our national revival and as a symbol of strong and powerful Lithuania that lived as an equal among equals in the Europe of that age.”

President Adamkus continued his speach: “I have to mention yet another dimension of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which even today is described as both noble and phenomenal. It is its cultural diversity and openness to all languages spoken, faiths professed, and views expressed by the people who lived there. Rulers and students, monks and craftsmen who came from far away countries would always find a common language of respect and tolerance. Today, as I stand here among our many high guests, I believe that I feel just like the rulers of the Lithuania of those times must have felt.

And by the way, it was in those times that Vilnius and Krakow, Kyiv, Warsaw, and Lviv became the closest friends and allies of fate. I am delighted that this friendship is confirmed once again here and now. I am very pleased that today Lithuania has even more friends and allies. Thank you Your Majesties and Excellencies for giving us the feeling of togetherness and for the honor you have accorded Lithuania by coming to celebrate its millennium together with us”.

And where he former President Brasauskas introduced how the Palace was being rebuild.

Lunch at the National Museum and visit to a very interesting exhibition of Documents dating back to the first time Lithuania was mentioned in a book in 1009. In that part of the exhibition are shown documents borrowed in from 9 famous libraries around in Europe. It starts in 1009, and ends up to our dates with documents from the Second World War, the papers about ending the USSR period and entering in to EU.

A beautiful exhibition of some of the famous Tapestries with the coat of Arms from King Sigismund Augustus, showing the close relations between Poland and Lithuania. These Tapestry collection are a part of the collection in the Royal Palace of Wawel. Made in Brussel, Belgium around the Years 1550-1560. It was the largest collection of tapestries ever commissioned for a single patron. Originally numbering 160 tapestries, there are current 136 in Wawel
. The items shown in Vilnius includes Tapestries with the Polish and Lithuan Coat of Arms and the signs SA.

The exhibition of Portraits of former novelties and dignitaries of The Grand Duchy of Lithuania, in addition to Wawel Heads and other details from the Castle. These exhibitions are being shown until the beginning of October 2009.

The Jubilee celebration continued in the Vingis Parc, where 42.000 choir singers and dancers were celebrating the 1000 years jubilee and entertained the celebrities and each others in a program called “Song of Thousands Dawns for Lithuania”. This kind of song and dance celebrations started in Lithuania in 1924, inspired by the idea of the popularity

of such kinds of festivals in the Blatics, where it allready 140 years ago started in Estonia. followed by Latvia some years later.

During the Soviet times the festivals continued, although unfortunately some of the traditional songs were replaced with odes to the communism and Stalin. However the forbidden national songs were continued to be sung privately and in many ways found their ways out of hiding during that difficult time.

During all the weekend before the final day arrangement in Vingis Parc. Has been daily full of sung and dance arrangements, and before the last arrangement a nearly two hour long parade was being started by the president from The Cathedral Square. Saturday a big marking with market and where as many as possible was dancing and singing in the park around the new and the old castle.

Gala Reception at the Presidential Palace Court Yard

HM King Carl Gustav XVI, Queen Silvia and President Valdas Adamkus arriving the Galla reception.

In the evening a Galla Reception for app. 3500 guests in the Court Yard of the Presidential Palace, with great big band music, by two different bands.

Speaches by President Adamkus and HM King Carl Gustav XVI of Sweden who reminded the guests about the good relations between Sweden and Lithuania from the time when the Vikings came to Lithuania some 700 years ago, and the period in the history when King Sigsmund III Vasa and later King Ladislav IV Vasa and Queen Cecilie Renata as King and Queen of Poland ad Sweden came to reign in Lithuania. And up to now with a togetherness as members of the EU.

Please enjoy the photo report. Photos by Tomas Bagackas and Henning Høholt.

Copyright Kulturkompasset AS.