Russians are the second largest ethnic community in Lithuania after Poles. Global 2011 According to the population and housing census of the Republic of Lithuania, there were about 176,913 Russians living in Lithuania. 2016 At the beginning of the year, according to Statistics Lithuania, there were fewer Russian people in Lithuania – 134 610. They live throughout the territory, but mostly in the largest cities: Vilnius, Klaipėda and Kaunas. The Russian community of Visaginas is abundant.
HISTORICAL INTERFACES. The Russians traveled to Lithuania at different times and in several stages. 1350 For the second time, the Grand Duke of Lithuania Algirdas married Duke Julijon of Tver, who was a zealous Christian and promoted Orthodoxy in Lithuania. With its support, a church was built in Trakai, Blessed Virgin Mary. Trinity Church in Vilnius. During the reign of Algirdas, St. Transfiguration of the remains of Nicholas the Miracle, St. the martyrdom of the Paraskeve Martyr, Our Lady of the Blessed Virgin.
The Duchess of LKD Elena also promoted orthodoxy. Her will built the Church of the Annunciation and, according to some sources, the Holy See. Spirit Monastery in Vilnius. 15th-16th centuries At the beginning of the 19th century, some ethnic Russian lands and their inhabitants were part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Politically dependent on the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Russian lands maintained their cultural traditions. In the second half of the 16th century. Many noble princes, Orthodox religious opponents, Freemasonry, peasants emigrated from Russia to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the 18th and 18th centuries. – townspeople, craftsmen, merchants. 15th century Russian merchants often visited Vilnius, where they had their own warehouses. Until the 17th century Russian migration to Lithuania was not massive, but continuous.
After the reform of the Orthodox Church in the 17th century, the Old Believers started to massively migrate to Lithuania. 18th century In the northwestern and southeastern parts of the GDL, large and well-organized communities of unpopular and popist Old Believers formed. After 1772. The Republic of Both Nations had up to 180 thousand. Russian Believers of all factions, who formed one of the largest ethno-confessional minorities. In the noble Republic of Both Nations, the Old Believers were considered free people, Russian refugees seeking asylum, and religious dissidents. 18th century The Old Believers developed writing and literary creation very easily. Modernist orientations began to emerge in the Old Believers’ culture, and new literary genres were born: public sermons, historical narration, biography, eyewitness accounts, and more. Historical circumstances have established that Lithuania has been part of Russia for the last three centuries even 170 years. 19th century The tsarist state policy led to another wave of Russians moving to Lithuania. After 1831. and in 1863. During the uprisings of Lithuania, active Russification was started. Participants in the uprisings were deported and Russian colonists were brought to their homes. Following the Bolshevik coup in Russia in 1917 Russian aristocracy, officers, officials, wealthy people emigrated to various countries, including Lithuania. During the Soviet period, Lithuania became a target country for immigrants from the eastern republics of the Soviet Union, as well as from Russia. After the restoration of Lithuania’s independence, minor immigration remained. The Russian national minority has preserved its authentic culture and language, and is actively involved in the cultural, social and political life of the country.
PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS. 58 Russian organizations are active and comprehensive in Lithuania. They operate throughout the country and are engaged in culture, education, sports, children and youth, charity and other affairs. Through their activities, the organizations seek to preserve Russian culture as a part of Lithuanian culture, which is characterized by professional contemporary forms of urban culture – theater, author’s music, art. Many cultural and educational events were organized by the oldest Russian non-governmental organization in Lithuania – the Russian Cultural Center, which has been operating since 1988. It is well known for its activities since 1989. Mstislav Dobuzhinsky’s Center for Russian Cultural and Aesthetic Education, operating in Kaunas. 2016 The 16th International Summer Creative Camp took place on the 13th of May. Each year, a camp for folklore collectives and educators, dedicated to people interested in folklore and national traditions, is gaining popularity, with more and more participants coming from Lithuania and abroad. In many cities and districts there are Russian cultural centers. Their main goal is to preserve the Russian spirit, preserve the Russian language, foster cultural traditions, customs and introduce them to the public. The centers provide an opportunity to communicate in the mother tongue, celebrate religious holidays, organize dinners and literary evenings. They actively participate in general events in the country.
DISHES. Russian cuisine is characterized by a variety of baked goods: cakes and pastries, bread rolls, cookies, flour pancakes, etc. Puff pastry is used to make pancakes, rolls, and pancakes. I love tea in the national Russian cuisine. In Russia, tea drinking has evolved into a distinct culture that uses specific vessels such as samovars. Tea is sweetened and sometimes jam is added. In the past, it was common practice to pour and pump tea from a cup into a dish.
