Women Against the Evil Empire? Lithuanian Catholic Nuns and Anti-Soviet Activities of the 1970s–1980s

Abstract

This article addresses the question: What was the role of Lithuanian nuns in anti-Soviet Catholic activities and in dissident networks of the 1970s and 1980s? We analyse examples of nun communities and individuals involved in anti-Soviet activities. We also reveal how women chose the path of resistance, the difficulties and risks they faced, including Soviet persecution and repression. Several factors encouraged and helped sustain the nuns’ underground
activities in the 70s and 80s. First, nuns were already used to operating in underground conditions due to Soviet anti-Catholic policy; because of Soviet repressions against monastic life in the 1940s and 1950s, they were living in tiny convents or alone, working lay jobs and hiding the fact that they were nuns. Second, nuns had the required skills to publish, print, and disseminate underground press and were encouraged by the Second Vatican Council to lead an apostolic lifestyle and engage in underground work.