Lithuania in the News
23rd September 2018
New Digital Life Given to the Image of Divine Mercy in Vilnius
Divine Mercy 3D © VGTU LinkMenø fabrikas
For the occasion of Pope Francis’ visit to Lithuania, September 22 - 23, 2018, Lithuania’s capital city Vilnius is bringing religion into the digital age with an exciting new virtual reality project - a 3D version of the Shrine of Divine Mercy, complete with the world-famous image of Divine Mercy. Different versions of the painting can be found in Catholic churches throughout the world, although few know it originated in Vilnius. Painted in 1934 in Vilnius, the image of Divine Mercy has become an icon for Catholics around the world and is one of the Catholicism’s most sacred treasures.
Vilnius’ Mayor, Remigijus Ðimaðius, said: “Historically, religion always played a big role in Vilnius. The image of Divine Mercy that originated here has had a huge impact, spreading to churches all over the world. .... Now, with the help of technology, we hope to bring it back to life again so that millions can enjoy it. It’s an example that shows religion and technology can co-exist, and also perfectly represents how Vilnius is moving into the future with creativity and ingenuity without forgetting about our past.”
The project has been the initiative of Go Vilnius (the city’s tourism and business development agency) and carried out by VGTU’s LinkMenø fabrikas, the innovation and creativity centre of Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VGTU) with support of Drone Team, a local 3D scanning and modelling company. VGTU LinkMenø fabrikas team used cutting-edge technology to meticulously scan every millimetre of the painting and all its surroundings in order to create a virtual environment that mirrors the shrine in every way. For last Christmas the team had also created the ground breaking nano-sized nativity scene. (See on this website, News, January 7, 2018 – “The 2017 Vilnius Christmas Festivities Astound the World”).
Boasting picturesque churches and narrow cobbled streets, Vilnius is a vibrant city of contrasts. The city attracts over 1 million tourists every year, with over 30,000 pilgrims. Vilnius has been an important religious destination for over 400 years. With its rich history and unique mosaic of churches, the image of Divine Mercy serves as the ultimate site of pilgrimage in the city, with visitors travelling many thousands of miles to see the painting and ask for blessing.
Vilnius has embraced the digital age, becoming a hi-tech hub and showcasing its use of innovative technologies in different areas, including religion.
Just recently August 24 -26, Melbourne in Australia hosted the 4th Oceania Apostolic Congress of Mercy, which was attended by the Archbishop of Vilnius Gintaras Gruðas and Lithuanian Parliamentarian Rita Tamaðunienë. They encouraged religious tourism to Lithuania, in particular to experience Vilnius as a witness to Divine Mercy. Rita Tamaðunienë also met up with Lithuanian communities in Melbourne and Sydney.

This news item is based in part on a press release by Go Vilnius, September 21, 2018.
CONTACT - Gintarë Kavaliûnaitë, Go Vilnius Public Relations Manager, phone. +370 617 45202, email: gintare.kavaliunaite@vilnius.lt , website: www.govilnius.lt
Further information:
The 3D format of the Shrine of Divine Mercy is available for the whole world to see under www.divinemercy3d.com
Video on how the Divine Mercy image and Divine Mercy Shrine was recreated in 3D: https://youtu.be/Zd-N8jbpPxw
Divine Mercy story and pilgrimage in Vilnius: www.cityofmercy.lt
Vilnius pilgrim route: http://vilnius-tourism.lt/en/what-to-see/latest-tips/experience-a-history-of-your-own-pilgrimage-in-vilnius-2/


Lithuania in the News
2nd September 2018
Important Historic Visit by Israel PM Netanyahu to Lithuania
(L-R) Israel Ambassador to Lithuania Amir Maimon,
Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitë.
Photo courtesy lrp.lt/ Robertas Daèkus
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has completed a historic 4 day visit to Lithuania August 23-26, 2018. He met with Lithuania’s President Dalia Grybauskaitë, Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis and took part in a high level summit with the three prime ministers of the Baltic States. This is the first time that an Israeli Prime Minister has visited Lithuania. The importance of this visit is shown by the fact that, in spite of his undoubtedly very busy schedule and heavy workload, Prime Minister Netanyahu felt it important to spend 4 days in Lithuania.
Lithuania has become an important mediator in the relations between Israel and the European Union. In Lithuania, Netanyahu thanked Lithuania numerous times for its support for Israel in various EU forums. He said Israel is badly misunderstood in the EU, while Israel’s intelligence services are saving European lives, and he stated that “it is time that Europe understood this.”
In Prime Minister Netanyahu’s discussions with Lithuania’s President and Prime Minister, strengthening mutual relations in many areas was raised - in defence, economy, cyber security, science and innovations, culture and tourism. This year, Israel took part in the military exercise “Saber Strike” in Lithuania for the first time. The ties between Israel and Lithuania are expected to get stronger and stronger.
Many Israeli citizens are Litvaks – descendents of Lithuanian Jews – including Yetanyahu himself, who is a Litvak from both sides of his family and also traces descent from the very famous Vilna Gaon, an outstanding rabbi and scholar in 18th Century Vilnius. Israeli Litvaks are now showing great interest to visit their historic homeland. From October there will now be five flights a week between Israel and Lithuania.
During the visit, preserving the memory of Holocaust victims and promoting Litvak culture were high on the agenda. PM Skvernelis stated, that “Holocaust is among the most painful and horrible tragedies in the history of Lithuania”, when most of Lithuania’s Jews were massacred. PM Skvernelis together with PM Netanyahu took part in ceremonies at the Paneriai Memorial in Vilnius to commemorate Holocaust victims and also to honour as “Righteous Among the Nations” Lithuanians who had risked their lives in saving Jews. In Europe, Lithuania has the largest number of its citizens per capita recognised as “Righteous Among the Nations”.
PM Netanyahu thanked the Lithuanian government for its strong stance against anti-Semitism and for the extraordinary love and respect shown to Israel. He left very impressed by what he had seen and experienced in Lithuania.

Further information:
https://www.lrp.lt/en/press-centre/press-releases/lithuania-supports-international-effort-to-secure-peace-in-the-middle-east/30734
http://lrv.lt/en/news/prime-minister-israel-is-our-strategic-partner-in-the-middle-east-region
http://lrv.lt/en/news/prime-minister-all-four-countries-share-regional-security-challenges
https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Netanyahu-It-is-time-for-Europe-to-appreciate-Israels-life-saving-intel-565842
https://www.delfi.lt/news/daily/lithuania/ar-lietuva-taps-izraelio-pleistu-europos-sajungoje-kokia-zinia-natanyahu-siuncia-saviskiams.d?id=78910201
https://www.delfi.lt/news/daily/lithuania/netanyahu-tautieciams-mane-labai-sujaudino-vizitas-i-lietuva.d?id=78914325


Lithuania in the News
10th June 2018
Lithuania Joins the OECD
The signing ceremony.
Photo courtesy lrp.lt/Robertas Daèkus
At the end of May Lithuania was admitted to the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), the 36th member of the organisation which represents highly developed countries.
This body has been the last important international organisation for Lithuania to join, after the UN, NATO and the European Union, to confirm its status as a country ”that punches above its weight” in international affairs.
President Dalia Grybauskaitë signed the OECD accession papers at the OECD headquarters in Paris on May 30. At the accession ceremony President Grybauskiaitë was warmly congratulated French President Emmanuel Macron and the OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria. No other country had managed to go through the OECD application process as speedily as Lithuania has done.
According to President Grybauskaitë, “the OECD is a highly influential organization, as it is de facto secretariat for the Group of Seven powerful states and an idea forum for the G20. Therefore, the membership will provide Lithuania with more possibilities to contribute to shaping global economy”.

Further information:
https://www.lrp.lt/en/press-centre/press-releases/oecd-membership-finalizes-lithuanias-establishment-in-global-organizations/30093

Lithuania in the News
8th April 2018
Lithuania’s Diplomatic Triumph in Washington
During the US – Baltic Summit in Washington last Tuesday, 3 April 2018, the Baltic States secured important security guarantees from the United States. The Summit was organised on Lithuania’s initiative. Lithuania’s President Dalia Grybauskaitë met with US President Donald Trump before attending the Summit together with other Baltic leaders. In view of the prevailing geopolitical situation, the US – Baltic Summit generated of a great deal of media attention, despite competing major news stories.

At the US-Baltic Summit. President Grybauskaitë (centre) opposite President Trump, second on the her right –
Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Linas Linkevièius. Photo courtesy lrp.lt / photographer Robertas Daèkus

Lithuania’s Summit initiative had been carefully coordinated with the other Baltic States, as well as Poland and Ukraine. In keeping with Lithuania’s increasing stature as a regional leader, Lithuania was asked, according to sources, to be the spokesperson for Ukraine’s interests.
The US President and the Presidents of Baltic States strongly reaffirmed the core principle of NATO's defence: “All for one, one for all”, enshrined in Article 5 of the Washington Treaty. This joint political declaration, together with other aspects of the Summit, coming ahead of a forthcoming meeting of President Trump with Russia’s President Putin, could be seen as a pointed reference to strong American support for the Baltic States, as part of the deterrence strategy against potential aggressors.

Presidents at the Summit press conference: (L-R) Raimonds Vëjonis (Latvia), Kersti Kaljulaid (Estonia),
Dalia Grybauskaitë (Lithuania), Donald Trump (USA). Photo courtesy lrp.lt / photographer Robertas Daèkus

Other important outcomes of the Summit included United States’ commitment to continue stationing forces in the Baltic States and to seek a solution to air defence. As President Grybauskaitë emphasised “Lithuania heard very concrete US guarantees. It means that the bond uniting us remains strong and that the security of the Baltic countries and the United States is indivisible”.
Cybersecurity, strategic communications, nuclear safety and energy security were other issues on which firm commitments to cooperate were made. United States has committed itself to establish a joint Cybersecurity Centre with Lithuania; this in parallel with an already functioning NATO Cybersecurity Centre in Estonia – again a reflection of Lithuania’s regional leadership.
President Grybauskaitë also visited the US Congress, attended the US-Baltic Business Summit and met up with the US Chamber of Commerce. An important memorandum on the importation of American LNG to Klaipëda was signed and significant trade contacts were made. The Lithuanian port of Klaipëda is more and more valued as the northernmost ice-free port on the Baltic Sea and is becoming a port of choice for America.

Further information:
https://www.lrp.lt/en/press-centre/press-releases/lithuania-has-secured-broad-u.s.-support-for-military-and-energy-security/29722
https://www.lrp.lt/en/press-centre/press-releases/memorandums-signed-in-the-u.s.-will-help-reduce-russias-gas-supply-monopoly/29728
https://www.delfi.lt/news/ringas/politics/zygimantas-pavilionis-dar-viena-svarbi-pergale-si-karta-vasingtone.d?id=77608963
https://www.delfi.lt/news/daily/lithuania/linkevicius-apie-karbauskio-mintis-del-gynybos-mes-lietuva-isliekame-nuoseklus.d?id=77627147


Lithuania in the News
18th March 2018
Lithuania Celebrates a Century since Independence Restoration
A huge Lithuanian flag, larger than a
basketball court, hung from the TV Tower
in Vilnius for the Centenary celebrations.
Photo courtesy madeinvilnius.lt
, photo Telecentras
One hundred years ago, on February 16th in 1918, Lithuania declared restoration of its independence, after a century of Russian occupation. The Centenary of this historic event this year is commemorated and celebrated with pride by all Lithuanian communities, in Lithuania and around the world. Many festive events have already taken place with many more scheduled throughout the year. The spirit with which Lithuanians are responding to the anniversary amply manifests itself in this video clip: “RestoredLithuania100 – Labas!”
“100 Years” sign in front of the Presidential Palace in Vilnius.
Photo courtesy lrp.lt , photo Robertas Daèkus
Lithuania’s history of statehood 1253-1795 temporarily came to an end in 1795, to be restored in 1918. In the 15th century Lithuania had been the largest state in Europe. Even after its conquest by Russia in 1795, Vilnius was still the third largest city in the then Russian empire. Vilnius University at that time not only was the oldest in North-eastern Europe, but had more students than the universities of St. Petersburg and Moscow combined. So the tradition of independence in Lithuania remained strong even under Russian rule. This led to Lithuania to be the first among the Baltic States to declare independence in 1918, to be the first to declare independence from the Soviet Union in 1990 and to be the first to be free of Soviet army in 1993, ahead even of Poland and Eastern Germany.
For the actual February 16th anniversary, Lithuania was honoured by the presence of many international guests, presidents and crowned heads. Donald Tusk, President of the EU Council, declared that the closing words of Lithuania’s national anthem – “Let unity flower” - could be suitable for an EU anthem. Of interest to Australians, Australian-born Crown Princess Margaret of Denmark was due to attend the festivities, but the unexpected death of her father-in-law prevented her from coming. Greetings from very many countries were also received – from Pope Francis, US President Donald Trump, Queen Elizabeth II, Japanese Emperor Akihito, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Australia’s Governor-General Peter Cosgrove, NZ Prime Minster Jacinta Ardern among many others.
Lithuania’s Centenary was noted by international media. The British journal “The Economist”, introduced Lithuania’s centenary with the headline as “100 not out”, a term familiar to cricket enthusiasts. The article stated “Lithuania has a history of statehood stretching back to the Middle Ages. ..... It was the first Baltic state to assert its independence in 1918. ..... It also inspired Lithuania’s audacious declaration of independence in 1990, the first in the crumbling Soviet Union, which initially shocked its Baltic neighbours and unsettled some outsiders. ..... The long struggle has left Lithuanians with a singular sense of European purpose.”
Australian Lithuanians were honoured by a delegation from Lithuania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) for their celebrations. The delegation was led by Darius Skusevièius (Vice-Minister) and included Gediminas Varvuolis (Lithuania’s Ambassador-Designate to Australia), and MFA officials Marijus Gudynas, Asta Slavinskaitë and Diana Mickevièienë. The delegation met with Australian Lithuanians and Australian government and parliament officials and business leaders.

Celebrations in Sydney. Photo courtesy “Mûsø Pastogë”

Further information:
https://www.lrp.lt
http://jp.mfa.lt
https://www.economist.com/news/europe/21737051-100-years-independence-punctuated-nazi-and-soviet-occupation-lithuania-hopes-next

Lithuanians in the News
14th January 2018
International Recognition for Australian Lithuanian Philosopher Prof. Vytautas Doniela
Prof. Vytautas Doniela.
The outstanding work of Prof. Vytautas Doniela, a philosopher from the University of Newcastle, has recently been acknowledged internationally. A letter to the editor to the Lithuanian weekly “Mûsø Pastogë” introduces the work of Prof. Doniela to Lithuanian readers. It is reproduced below, courtesy of “Mûsø Pastogë”.

“Letter to the Editor, Your Lithuanian readers, unless they are astronomers by profession or hobby, might not have noticed a Lithuanian name in a recent work about the nature of the cosmos. Debates about, say, the origins and composition of the universe are not new. In fact they have become increasingly complex through the growing power of optical instruments on the one hand, and of mathematics and logic on the other. More precisely, when optical investigations tend to run into dead ends or self-contradictions or apparent limits, it is high level mathematics and logic that may offer new approaches and possibly new break-throughs.
Vytautas at Heidelberg.
The work on the foundations of logic by a Lithuanian, Prof. Vytautas Doniela, formerly of the University of Newcastle, is referred to in the latest of several volumes by Dr. David Seargent (in the series “Astronomers’ Universe”, Springer Internat. Publishers). In a chapter of his volume “Astronomical Theories of the Solar System and Beyond” Dr. Seargent compares and discusses the views on logic of Prof. Doniela and of Prof. Max Tegmark (Massachusetts Institute of Technology).
With a soft spot for mathematics and especially for some of its strange problems, Prof. Doniela had naturally gravitated to philosophy and logic, and his early Ph.D. thesis at the German university of Freiburg was written on the relation of logic to ontology. As Prof. Doniela in his advanced lectures and papers at internat. conferences used to go into the logical problems arising re continuum, change, infinity and the like, it is not surprising that Dr. Seargent says that Prof. Doniela’s views “held a great fascination for [him]”, p.232.
It is interesting that Dr. Seargent’s career followed a somewhat similar path. After starting off as a young ardent astronomer (while a uni student he had discovered an unlisted cosmic body which now bears his name), his Ph.D. thesis was much more philosophical/logical, “Plurality and Continuity”. Moreover, when his thesis was published in book form it was dedicated to “Bill” – and Bill is short for Prof. Vytautas Doniela in the context of the friendly and productive company of lecturer and his senior and postgraduate students. And so, Professor Vytautas (Bill) Doniela, a Lithuanian, who probably does not care for the alleged beauty of heavenly bodies is a logician relevant to problems about the cosmos.

 A mutual colleague, ex-Newcastle”

For further information:
Please refer to an interview with Prof. Doniela on this website - Community/ People/ Vytautas Doniela


Lithuania in the News
7th January 2018
The 2017 Vilnius Christmas Festivities Astound the World
The Vilnius Christmas Tree in the Cathedral Square.
Photo courtesy vilnius.lt
Some cities compete with each other for the best New Year fireworks, while others in the spirit of Christmas compete for the best Christmas tree. For Christmas 2017 Vilnius again amazed the world with a stunning Christmas tree. With a height of 27 meters and an amazing 70 thousand light bulbs illuminating it, it covers a surface area of more than 2500 sq. m. at its base. The Christmas tree makes an impressive sight situated in the Vilnius Cathedral Square, in front of the Cathedral and the Cathedral Bell Tower.
Internationally the Vilnius Christmas tree has received extensive media coverage in print, internet, radio & TV, and social media - described variously as the most beautiful in Europe, inimitable etc. “Now that really is a Christmas tree”, according to the British website www.mirror.co.uk. The popular German magazine “Bild” also points out that the Vilnius Christmas tree is set off by the city of Vilnius, strikingly beautiful itself. With more than 50 churches in Vilnius, it compares Vilnius to Rome. The designer of the Christmas tree was Dominykas Koncevièius.
On the other extreme end of size magnitude, that at the level of nanotechnology, Vilnius again astounds. Vilnius scientists have made a very small three-dimensional exact copy of the traditional Nativity Scene in the Cathedral Square, on scale 10,000 times smaller, making it the smallest in the world and smaller than a human cell, visible only through a microscope.
The microscopic scale Vilnius Nativity Scene.
Photo courtesy nanojesus.com
Vilnius Mayor Remigijus Ðimaðius said: “This is truly a unique initiative, which playfully brings a message to the world about Vilnius’ creative potential and speaks to the talent of our scientists and their ability to understand and implement modern technologies”. Lithuania has for a long time been a global leader in lasers and has again shown its mastery of high technology processes: those of 3D scanning, 3D modelling and 3D laser nanoprinting. Religious art has always employed the best technologies available at the time. In this case nanotechnology has raised Christmas art to a unique new level.
It took three months to execute this project. It involved a team from Vilnius Gediminas Technical University and the University’s “LinkMenø Factory” Innovation Centre, together with the Vilnius University Laser Research Centre and the industrial companies “Femtika” and “Idea 3D.” The project was supported by the Vilnius Archdiocese, “Go Vilnius” and “Invest Lithuania”.
In total, five copies of the nano-Nativity Scene were made. One copy was presented to Pope Francis by Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitë as a gift from Lithuanian people, who eagerly await his visit to Lithuania in 2018. Other copies will remain with the Lithuanian Presidential Palace, the Vilnius Archdiocese, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University and Vilnius Municipality.
In passing it is also interesting to note that the Archbishop of Vilnius, Gintaras Gruðas, is no stranger to high technology. Earlier in his life he had worked as a computer scientist with IBM.

Further information:
http://www.vilnius.lt/kalbos/?p=6738&lang=en
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/one-europes-brightest-christmas-trees-11624243
http://www.bild.de/reise/europa/lettland/advent-baltikum-54251758.bild.html
http://www.vilnius.lt/kalbos/?p=6773&lang=en
https://www.nanojesus.com/


In Memoriam
17th December 2017
Gabrielius Þemkalnis - Landsbergis 1929.01.31 – 2017.12.10
An Australian Lithuanian Who Was a Leader in the Lithuanian Community Worldwide
Australian Lithuanians and the whole Lithuanian world community have been saddened by recent death in Melbourne of Gabrielius Þemkalnis – Landsbergis, an eminent Australian Lithuanian and a distinguished member of the Lithuanian community worldwide. The President of Lithuania, Dalia Grybauskaitë, has expressed her condolences on his passing.
Gabrielius Þemkalnis has served in many posts, including as President of the World Lithuanian Community (WLC), for many years as of the representative of WLC in Lithuania and more recently in 2013-2014 as President of the Federal Executive of the Lithuanian Community in Australia. He has been involved with Australia’s SBS Lithuanian radio program, both as coordinator and as a presenter with eagerly awaited interesting reports from Lithuania. In 1998 he was awarded Lithuania’s Commander Cross of the Order of Gediminas for his efforts in unifying world Lithuanians and in 2009 Lithuania’s Millennium Star for his many years of service to Lithuania.
His brother Vytautas Landsbergis was Lithuania’s de-facto President in the years immediately after the restoration of Lithuania’s independence in 1990. One of his grandfathers was the distinguished linguist Jonas Jablonskis, father of the standardised modern Lithuanian language.

Gabrielius, we all remember your wonderful and uplifting words. Rest in peace!

Further information: https://lt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabrielius_%C5%BDemkalnis-Landsbergis

Lithuania in the News
24th September 2017
Lithuania’s Voice Prominent at UN General Assembly
President Grybauskaitë & UN Secretary-General Guterres.
Photo courtesy lrp.lt/Robertas Daèkus
This week on September 18-19 Lithuania’s President Dalia Grybauskaitë attended the UN General Assembly in New York, where she met with world leaders and addressed the General Assembly on September 19.
She met António Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, on September 18 and invited him to attend the Centenary celebrations for Lithuania’s Independence Restoration in 2018. On the Secretary-General’s invitation, President Grybauskaitë attended a working lunch on September 19. The world leaders she met included President Donald Trump of the United States, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan, President Moon Jae-in of South Korea, President Racep Tayyip Erdo?an of Turkey, all currently faced with and trying to solve grave world crises.
During her annual statement to the UN General Assembly and in her talks with world leaders President Grybauskaitë drew attention to Russia’s aggressive actions and in particular to threats posed by the Russian current military exercise “Zapad 2017”. President Grybauskaitë thanked the US President for his firm stance to guarantee Lithuania’s security and to implement NATO’s deterrence measures.
Lithuania signed the declaration on reforming the United Nations, drafted on the initiative of US President Donald Trump. The declaration was supported by all EU and NATO members and over 120 UN members and it commits the signatories to support the UN Secretary-General António Guterres in reforming the UN, to make it effective and transparent. Further information: www.lrp.lt


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