Announcement of Kaunas Cathedral as Small Basilica in 1921

Abstract

The article discusses the emergence of the first small basilica in the territory of Lithuania as well as the circumstances of the awarding of this title to the Samogitian (Kaunas) Cathedral of Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul in 1921. It was found out that the initiative to award the title originated in the Samogitian chapter, it was supported by the then Samogitian bishop Pranciškus Karevičius. The Lithuanian Apostolic Nuncio to the Holy See, dr. Jurgis Narjauskas contributed a lot to the implementation of this initiative. The awarding of the title of the Small Basilica in honor of the 500th anniversary of the Samogitian diocese in 1921 is perceived as the exclusive attention of Pope Benedict XV to the young state of Lithuania and to its main shrine the Samogitian (Kaunas) Cathedral.