Bishop Sipovich new file

15 The young clerics who came to Vilna in 1935 and had had nothing to do with the diamond necklace affair were: Ceslaus Sipovich, Felix Zhurnia, Anthony Tsviachkouski, Anthony Padziava and Casimir Aniskowicz, a Pole. There was also a sixth young man, the lay brother Joseph Gaidziel, a talented musician who enrolled in the School of Organists. They were joined the following year by Casimir Sarul, and in 1937 by three more, namely the latter’s Br Boniface, Francis Apiachonak and Uladyslau Iashuk. All the Druia clerics took courses in Philosophy and Theology at the university. They also attended additional courses in Latin, Liturgy and Liturgical chant, Oriental Theology etc. at the local diocesan seminary. Early in 1936 the students decided to keep a chronicle. Tsviachkouski was entrusted with the task of official chronicler, but Sipovich soon took over from him. The chronicle is a precious record of everyday life in a small community of young men training for the priesthood. Some events may seem insignificant, but nonetheless they help to give a realistic picture of this life. Thus e.g. on 6 March 1936 Father Superior bought for clerics (or, as they were called, brothers) Felix Zhurnia and Ceslaus Sipovich new hats at seven Polish zlotys each. The chronicler adds: "The future will tell whether those two are worthy of such an expense". Again, on March 16 "Brothers Sipovich and Aniskowicz missed Latin class, because they were hauling potatoes out of the cellar which was flooded", while on May 29 "Brother Padziava was supposed to have exams in Church Art, but Prof. Puciata, who is known for his unpunctuality, did not turn up". There was great excitement on 17 January 1937, caused by the solemn opening of the ice rink, made by students themselves, in their back garden. Apparently, however, the rink was not very good because of "its small size and uneven surface". Some entries in the chronicle reflect the general political atmosphere in Poland of that time. Thus on 7 March 1937, while clerics Aniskowicz and Zhurnia were buying something in a Jewish shop, a Polish captain asked their identity and then complained to the Seminary authorities that the clerics were supporting Jewish business. The chronicler adds: "The ‘endeks’ (i.e. Polish national democrats – A.N. ) are boycotting the Jews". The arrival of five young clerics did not remain unnoticed by the Belarusian community in Vilna. Already in their first year they had several visitors. One of them was Adam Stankievich, priest, scholar, author of some twenty books, among them pioneering works such as Rodnaia mova u sviatyniakh (The native language in the churches) and Khrystsijanstva i bielaruski narod (Christianity and the Belarusian People). He was one of the founders of the Belarusian Christian democratic movement and regular contributor to its paper Krynica ( Bielaruskaia krynica ) from 1925) until Jalbrzykowski’s ban in 1928. In 1922 Stankievich, with the permission of Bishop Matulevich, was elected to the Polish Parliament. Early in 1925 the final vote on the Concordat, or treaty, between the Vatican and Polish State took place. The document contained clauses which discriminated against Belarusians and other ethnic groups. Stankievich, out of respect for the Holy Father, did not want to vote openly against the treaty. On the other hand in conscience he could not vote for the treaty which he considered unjust to his people. Consequently he absented himself from the session during which the crucial vote took place. His absence was noticed and he was called to account for his behaviour by the Papal Nuncio... In 1928 Stankievich founded the paper, Chryscijanskaja dumka (Christian Thought) which appeared regularly until the outbreak of war in 1939. He was its editor almost to the end of 1937. As a religious publication it required the approval of the ecclesiatical