Merkelis Giedraitis

Merkelis Giedraitis
Bishop of Samogitia
Portrait of Giedraitis from 1585
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
DioceseDiocese of Samogitia
Installed16 January 1576
Term ended6 April 1609
PredecessorJurgis Petkūnas
SuccessorMikołaj Pac
Orders
Ordination1571
ConsecrationEaster 1576
by Walerian Protasewicz
Personal details
Bornc. 1536
Died6 April 1609
Alsėdžiai, Grand Duchy of Lithuania
BuriedVarniai Cathedral
NationalityLithuanian
DenominationRoman Catholic
ParentsMatas Giedraitis [lt] and Anna Kroszyńska[1]
Alma materUniversity of Königsberg
University of Wittenberg
University of Tübingen
University of Leipzig

Merkelis Giedraitis (Polish: Melchior Giedroyć; c. 1536 – 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[2][3] (the first official baptism of Samogitia took place in 1413–1417).

  1. ^ Herbst, Stanisław (1958). "Melchior Giedroyć". Polski Słownik Biograficzny (in Polish). Vol. 7. Wrocław. pp. 430–431.{{cite encyclopedia}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference ivins was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference radio was invoked but never defined (see the help page).