Varniai

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Varniai
Coat of arms
Varniai Location of Varniai
Coordinates: 55°44′0″N 22°22′0″E / 55.73333, 22.36667
Country	Lithuania
Ethnographic region	Samogitia
County	Telšiai County
Municipality	Telšiai district municipality
Capital of	Varniai rural elderate
First mentioned	1314
Granted city rights	1950
Population (2005)
- Total	1,310
- Rank	90th
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
- Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)

Varniai Polish: Wornie is a city in Telšiai County, western Lithuania. In the middle ages the city was known as Medininkai.

It was established in the 14th century, on the bank of the Varnelė River, near the important Samogitian castle. It was the center of Samogitian Catholic church: after the baptism of Samogitia, the Samogitian Bishop resided in the town. Around 1414-1416 the first church was built, and circa 1464 the first Cathedral.

It was center of Samogitian episcopate until the middle of the 19th century, when authorities of the Russian Empire moved to it Kaunas.

With support of Merkelis Giedraitis, Mikalojus Daukša translated and made ready for print Katechizmas, first Lithuanian language book printed in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

It was also residence of Motiejus Valančius.

[edit] Notable residents

• Merkelis Giedraitis
• Mikalojus Daukša
• Motiejus Valančius

[edit] External links

• (Lithuanian) Varniai – A Resourceful Renaissance Center of 16th Century Cultural and National Ideology
• (Lithuanian) Park of Varniai and history of Varniai
• (Lithuanian) Museum of Samogitian episcopate