The Rebellion of Youth (1964–1991)
THE CATHOLIC MOVEMENT
Every morning before class, seven or eight of us would go to serve at Mass, and that, of course, attracted the attention of the authorities. Our persecution soon began – one time a few Volgas drove up to school and took us all away.
Member of the resistance, teacher Kęstutis Subačius
Not afraid of persecution, some young people turned to the search for God, which was attacked in every way by the atheistic system. Young people assisted the clergy during Mass and read religious and historical literature; some of them became members of the Friends of the Holy Eucharist movement, collaborators and distributors of the underground publication Chronicle of the Catholic Church in Lithuania, which came out in 1972, or participants in cross restoration campaigns and pilgrimages to Šiluva and the Hill of Crosses. Despite some of them being minors, young people who professed their faith publicly were interrogated by teachers and KGB operatives. Those who assisted the clergy during Mass often ended up being expelled from school.
A processions from Tytuvėnai to Šiluva organised by the Friends of the Holy Eucharist.
Occupied Lithuania, 21 August 1977. Photo author unknown (Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights)
Friends of the Holy Eucharist after a clean-up day on the Hill of Crosses.
Šiauliai District, 1981. Photo author unknown (Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights)
Young people on the Friends of the Holy Eucharist penitential procession from Meškuičiai to the Hill of Crosses. At the front of the procession, bent and staggering under the burden of the cross, is Father Algirdas Mocius, who left his health in the hell of the Gulag. The procession was accompanied the entire way by KGB and militia cars. The KGB photographed and filmed the pilgrims. Several men were arrested, but they were quickly released. One man had his camera film roll taken away from him. People who met the pilgrims along the way raised their hats to them – many with tears in their eyes.
Occupied Lithuania, 22 July 1979. Photo author unknown (personal archive of Gerarda Šuliauskaitė)
Rebellious youths on a pilgrimage organized by the Friends of the Holy Eucharist from Tytuvėnai to Šiluva. In the procession, first is Vytautas Bogušis, second – Algirdas Masiulionis, third – Julius Sasnauskas, fourth – an unidentified young man.
Occupied Lithuania, 21 August 1977. Photo author unknown (Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights)
Children participating in a religious procession.
Veisiejai, Lazdijai District, 1970s. Photo author unknown (Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights)
A processions from Tytuvėnai to Šiluva organised by the Friends of the Holy Eucharist.
Occupied Lithuania, 21 August 1977. Photo author unknown (Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights)
A processions from Tytuvėnai to Šiluva organised by the Friends of the Holy Eucharist.
Occupied Lithuania, 21 August 1977. Photo author unknown (Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights)