Merkelis Giedraitis

Merkelis Giedraitis ( pl, Melchior Giedroyć; – 6 April 1609) was Bishop of Samogitia from 1576 to 1609. Educated at Protestant universities in the Duchy of Prussia and Germany, he actively combated the Reformation implementing resolutions of the Council of Trent in Samogitia. Born into the princely Giedraičiai family, he inherited a much neglected diocese that was reduced to only about 20 priests. He became known for his devotion and work to end clerical abuses, strengthen churches and schools, and increase the number of priests. Giedraitis invited the Jesuits to Kražiai where the Kražiai College was established already after his death and the Bernadines to Kretinga where they established the first monastery in Samogitia. He sponsored Mikalojus Daukša, who translated and published ''Catechism'' (1595) and ''Postil'' (1599) in the Lithuanian language—the first Lithuanian books printed within the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. He also supported Maciej Stryjkowski, author of the first printed history of Lithuania. In recognition of his efforts, Giedraitis is often referred to as the second baptist of Samogitia (the first official baptism of Samogitia took place in 1413–1417).

Early life and education

Giedraitis was born into the Giedraičiai family of the Lithuanian nobility. His father was a Court Marshall of Lithuania and was sent on a diplomatic mission to the Grand Duchy of Moscow in 1551. The family's main estate was in Videniškiai and it is likely that Merkelis Giedraitis was born there. His date of birth is unknown, but estimated to be as of his appointment as bishop he was around 40-years old. His portrait completed in 1585 recorded that he was 48-years old at the time (i.e. born in 1537).

In February 1551, together with his brother Kasparas, he enrolled into the University of Königsberg. He then disappears from written records for a decade. In February 1560, he enrolled into the Universities of Wittenberg. Six months later, he was the first among eight Lithuanian students who were brought by their tutor Jurgis Zablockis to the University of Tübingen. The group was initiated by Pier Paolo Vergerio who visited Vilnius twice and Mikołaj "the Black" Radziwiłł. With short breaks, Giedraitis studied in Tübingen for about three years. There, in 1561, he published his only known work – a 16-page Latin eulogy to commemorate the death of Katarzyna, the mother of , a fellow Lithuanian student in Tübingen. She was a Protestant. The 244-line eulogy shows Giedraitis' mastery of the Latin language as well as familiarity with classical authors (Theocritus, Virgil) and Greek mythology (Philomela, Niobe, Nestor, etc.). At the end of 1563, together with two relatives of Grand Chancellor and , Giedraitis enrolled into the University of Leipzig. As it was quite common at the time, Giedraitis did not earn an academic degree.

Giedraitis studied at four Protestant universities and was close with some Protestant activists, but there is no evidence that he converted to Protestantism – documents related to his appointment as bishop are silent on the issue. After his studies, Giedraitis worked as a secretary at the Grand Duke's chancellery. Together with his brother Kasparas, he signed the Union of Lublin in 1569 which established the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. In Vilnius, Giedraitis was noticed by Bishop of Vilnius Walerian Protasewicz who offered him a teaching position and likely encouraged to become a priest. Giedraitis was ordained as a priest in 1571. In February 1572, Protasewicz raised Giedraitis to members of the cathedral chapter and put him in charge of church property (''custos'').

When Bishop of Samogitia Jurgis Petkūnas died in July 1574, Jakub Uchański, Primate of Poland

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