ANTANAS LESYS THE KNIGHT OF CHURCH * * * Jovita NiūNiavaitė - LesieNė THE SPECIAL MEASURES OF THE KGB The book is dedicated for the 625th anniversary of the Christianisation of Lithuania, in commemoration of priest JUOZAS ZDEBSKIS Vilnius 2014 UDK 23/28(474.5)(092) Le315 A portrait of priest J. Zdebskis of an unknown painter on the first cover of the book (photograph from AJLA). Priest‘s J. Zdebskis automobile after the breakage on the last cover (photograph from AKA). ISBN 978-609-420-357-2 Table of contents Preface / 4 A. Lesys. The Knight of Church 7 Family, childhood and education of priest J. Zdebskis / 8 Years of the priesthood / 10 Personality of the clergyman / 17 Persecution of priest J. Zdebskis and plans of the KGB / 19 The agency of the KGB / 28 Special measures of the KGB / 31 Traffic accident, investigation of the death of the priest / 46 The funeral / 59 Reminiscences of Antanas Grinkevičius / 61 Commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the death of priest J. Zdebskis / 63 Declaration-application / 64 About the publisher and supporter of the book / 89 J. Niūniavaitė-Lesienė. The special measures of the KGB / 95 Photographs / 118 References/ 123 Abbreviations / 125 About the authors / 127 Preface After World War II due to the Soviet occupation, the situation of Catholics in Lithuania was getting worse. The Church was separated from the state, its property was forfeited. In order to destroy the Church, the authority of the clergy was split, persons under the age of 18 years were forbidden to be involved in the liturgical services (to serve in the Holy Mass, to chant in the choir of the Church, to carry the flags during the processions, to strew flowers), any group catechization of children was treated as violation of law. Forced habituation to the atheism was performed and strict control of religious life took place. The majority of residents of the Soviet Lithuania were not satisfied with such situation but only few of them were courageous enough to resist and to fight for the believers’ rights which were often violated. A vivid trail in the history of resistance has been left by priest Juozas Zdebskis. In his book “Menas gyventi. Pamokslų metmenys” (“Art to live. Sketch of the sermons”), priest Robertas Grigas wrote about priest J. Zdebskis: “Next to us, many coevals still live who heard his alive word, the sermons being told by him - not from the records of the tape-recorders which, incidentally, even during the Soviet times, apparently, by realizing their residual value, were copied secretly and which are listened as a resurrection by those who are longing for the freedom of existential truths and the impossible to be bowed spirit. Those who remember the speaker, <…> most probably again in the eyes of the spirit will see that, as to say, timid and that humble his posture for which nothing more alienated, most probably, was 4 than that of the dramatic gesticulation and artificial pose; will hear again a calm, nowhere hurrying voice, sometimes which <…> colours with sadness of sympathy, which sometimes shines with childish humorous cheeriness, but always a deep and a concentrated one…” (Vilnius, 1997). In the article “Who hides the killers of priest J. Zdebskis?”, Rasa Kalinauskaitė stated: “Did the KGB gene prevent the Prosecution Service of the free Lithuania from investigating at least one death of Soviet time dissidents where its trail was left by this structure of repressive regime? Such question arises after having getting acquainted with case of one of the most vivid personalities of resistance - priest Juozas Zdebskis - and with pointless requests of fighters for freedom to investigate his persecution” (Lietuvos žinios /Lithuanian news/, 2012, No. 12-14). Sister (nun - author’s note), Birutė Gučaitė, has saved dia- ry and notebook of recollections of doctor Genutė Drąsutytė (1937-2008). Sister G. Drąsutytė wrote about priest J. Zdebs- kis as follows: “It is difficult to describe in words such a per- son, who, probably, is prepared for the honour of the Saint- hood…” After reading the predictive words of sister G. Drąsutytė, the author of this book, A. Lesys, reminded to readers once again the story of the clergyman’s life, activity and suffering, which he has written with reference to archival documents, narrations of witnesses, articles and books and the created documentary movies. In her recollections about priest J. Zdebskis, sister G. Drąsutytė wrote: “I remember well when he created plans for the future - about an institution among forests where the unhappy ones could find God and custody, and the babies who were doomed for not seeing the sun, would see the daylight, immense beauty and God’s goodness. I believe that some of 5 these children would grow into saints, heroes… Father (priest J. Zdebskis - author’s note) used to say: If God allowed in the eternity I would like to be a patron of girls, and especially of the unhappy ones… I pray for this everyday…” We hope that prays of priest J. Zdebskis have been heard and the unhappy ones - outcasts, seduced, rejected, humiliated, great with children and those who cancelled the pregnancy - may pray for patronage of priest Juozas… The author of the book did not try to comment on the activity of priest J. Zdebskis, his persecution, the special measures used against him by the KGB and the tragic circumstances of the death of the priest. The provided information will help to readers themselves to investigate the burning and the death of the priest Juozas. The author is thankful for a comrade-in-arms of priest J. Zdebskis, for supporter and the publisher of this book for Canon of Honour, Vytautas Juozas Vaičiūnas. This book is a summary of the book written in the Lithuanian language - A. Lesys “Bažnyčios riteris” (“The Knight of Church”) (Vilnius, 2012). The photographs and the documents from the archive of priest Algimantas Keina (AKA) which have not been published anywhere are presented in it and a new photo document (application-request) from the archive of Canon of Honour, V. J. Vaičiūnas (VJVA). Jovita Niūniavaitė-Lesienė 6 ANTANAS LESYS THE KNIGHT OF CHURCH 7 Family, childhood and education of priest Juozas Zdebskis Priest, state prisoner, fighter for the rights of the believers, Juozapas Antanas Zdebskis was born on the 10th of May in 1929, in Marijampolė district, Krosna parish (later “Mindaugai”), Naujiena village, in the family of farmers. Not far away from the village - there is a famous Kalniškės forest where the great battles of Lithuanian partisans took place during the resistance years. Father of the future priest, Vincas Zdebskis (1877-1955), was raised in a family consisting of many members, mother Ieva Slavėnaitė-Zdebskienė (1897-1979) came from famous and rich Slavėnai family (astronomer Paulius Slavėnas - uncle of J. Zdebskis). In a religious family of Ieva and Vincas Zdebskis, 4 children were born. Not all of them were destined to live: Zuzana died as she nearly was five months old, Zita sank in a pond, Juozas was raised with a firstly-born Marytė. Later on, after Juozas became a priest, sister supported her brother during the years of slings and arrows, when he was under hatches and persecuted. Brother was taking care of spiritual matters of his sister and her family. The future priest accepted the Christening, the First Communion and the Confirmation in Krosna Church. Juozas was learning in primary schools of villages Naujiena and Krosna from 1936 to 1941, he completed four years with very good marks, and in 1948 he graduated from Kalvarija gymnasium. While he was studying there he lived at his father’s brother. During the period of German occupation, he organized the Catholic people and he lead them. In 1947, after forbidding the lessons of Religion, Juozas used to provide his friends with religious literature. On the same year, he was arrested for his participation in national underground, but due to lack of evidences he was released. After graduating from the gymnasium Juozas decided firmly to be a priest and from 1948 to 1953 he was studying at the Kaunas Interdiocesan Priests’ Seminary. On the 21st of September in 1952 from hands of bishop Kazimieras Paltarokas, at the age of 23, received consecration of the priesthood. 9 Years of the priesthood In July 1953, priest J. Zdebskis was appointed as a vicar in Šiluva Church, Raseiniai region. In October of the same year, he was transferred to Raseiniai Church as a vicar where he worked from October 1953 to October 1955. Later on, he was appointed as a parish priest in Šiupyliai Church, Šiauliai region. In September 1956, priest Juozas in Kaunas continued his studies in theology - he was attending courses of the licentiate in the seminary and worked as a vicar in Kaunas Vilijampolė Church. Later on priest J. Zdebskis became a vicar of Šakiai Church. From October 1961 to November 1964, he was engaged as a parish priest of Gudeliai Church, Kapsukas District (currently - Marijampolė District), and at the beginning of the year 1962 he also had to service the parish of Naujoji Uta. After working for one month in Alytus, in August 1965 priest J. Zdebskis was appointed as a vicar of Leipalingis Church, Lazdijai District, and in November 1966 he was appointed as a parish priest of Kapčiamiestis Church, Lazdijai District. While rendering his service in Kapčiamiestis parish, priest Juozas started organizing closed recollections, catholic conferences. In November 1968, priest J. Zdebskis was appointed as a parish priest of Valakbūdis Church, Šakiai District. At the end of 1968, together with priest Sigitas Tamkevičius, he started to collect signatures under the application regarding the situation which formed after the war and which was getting worse in Kaunas Priest Seminary.