MarijampolMarijampolėės Citys City

Šv. Vincento Pauliečio churchŠv. Vincento Pauliečio church In Marijampole in nineteenth In Marijampole in nineteenth

century Church was built and century Church was built and dedicated to the soldiers of dedicated to the soldiers of King Alexander III. After the King Alexander III. After the First World War Seinekių First World War Seinekių church sold to Bishop Marian. church sold to Bishop Marian. These transformed it into a These transformed it into a church. church.

1940 parish was established, 1940 parish was established, all southern part of town and all southern part of town and several villages were several villages were appointed to this church. After appointed to this church. After the Second World War, the the Second World War, the church was closed and turned church was closed and turned into a warehouse. 1990 re-into a warehouse. 1990 re-launched. launched.

J.Basanavičiaus squareJ.Basanavičiaus square Here was built Pašešupio village, Here was built Pašešupio village,

which was first mentionet in 1667 which was first mentionet in 1667 in historical sources. Then, around in historical sources. Then, around 24 wooden houses stood there. 24 wooden houses stood there. XVIII cent. Kvietiškyje resident Earl XVIII cent. Kvietiškyje resident Earl Mark Anthony Butler in 1736 Mark Anthony Butler in 1736 transformed village into a transformed village into a commercial Starapolės town. It commercial Starapolės town. It soon established artisans, soon established artisans, merchants and the innkeepermerchants and the innkeeperss..After a massive fireAfter a massive fire in in 1868, which 1868, which destroyed the main part of town, destroyed the main part of town, buildings out of brick wasbuildings out of brick was built built in in NNeoeobaroccobarocco Classical Architecture Classical Architecture stylestyle. Those buildings . Those buildings were were severely damaged severely damaged during during the first the first and second World War. Later, the and second World War. Later, the old square was reconstructed and old square was reconstructed and expanded: built-mail, department expanded: built-mail, department stores, court, police and municipal stores, court, police and municipal buildings. buildings.

The RailwayThe Railway OOn the eastern part of the n the eastern part of the

town thetown there is a re is a Marijampole Railway Marijampole Railway stationstation.It.It was built under was built under the project of engineer the project of engineer Edmundas Frykas in Edmundas Frykas in 1923 (Stoties str.2). The 1923 (Stoties str.2). The station is an impressive station is an impressive example of modern example of modern architecture. In the architecture. In the square of exiles, there is square of exiles, there is a stone monument painful a stone monument painful exile to remember, built in exile to remember, built in 1996. 1996.

HistoryHistory The settlement was originally founded as a village called pašešupė (The settlement was originally founded as a village called pašešupė (polonized poszeszupie), after the nearby river of šešupė. As poszeszupie), after the nearby river of šešupė. As

such the town was first mentioned in 1667. In 18th century the village, at that time belonging to the catholic church, grew to such the town was first mentioned in 1667. In 18th century the village, at that time belonging to the catholic church, grew to become a market town and its' name was changed to starpol or staropole, after a new village built for become a market town and its' name was changed to starpol or staropole, after a new village built for prienai starost 's guards in 's guards in the vicinity in 1739. The settlement was destroyed by a fire in 1765.the vicinity in 1739. The settlement was destroyed by a fire in 1765.

After the disaster the wife of contemporary starost of prienai, After the disaster the wife of contemporary starost of prienai, franciszka szczukowa née butler , financed a new church and a , financed a new church and a monastery for the monastery for the congregation of marian fathers . Following the foundation of the monastery, a new town was built in the area. It . Following the foundation of the monastery, a new town was built in the area. It was named maryampol, after the was named maryampol, after the blessed virgin mary (marya-), with the suffix -pol denoting a town. (marya-), with the suffix -pol denoting a town.

On february 23, 1792 king On february 23, 1792 king stanislaus augustus of poland granted the "townlet of mariampol" with granted the "townlet of mariampol" with magdeburg law and a privilege and a privilege of market organisation. Following the of market organisation. Following the partitions of poland the town was briefly a part of the town was briefly a part of prussia. However, after the . However, after the napoleonic wars it was restored to it was restored to kingdom of poland. In 19th century the town continued to grow, mostly thanks to a large . In 19th century the town continued to grow, mostly thanks to a large number of jewish and german settlers. In 1817 the town became a seat of a separate number of jewish and german settlers. In 1817 the town became a seat of a separate powiat within the administrative system of within the administrative system of the kingdom. In 1827 the town had 1759 inhabitants. By 1861 the number grew to 3718, 3015 of them being jewish.the kingdom. In 1827 the town had 1759 inhabitants. By 1861 the number grew to 3718, 3015 of them being jewish.

Following the Following the january uprising and the russian suppression of the former and the russian suppression of the former commonwealth lands, the powiat of maryampol was lands, the powiat of maryampol was seriously diminished. Around that time also the monastery gained prominence as it was the only monastery owned by the seriously diminished. Around that time also the monastery gained prominence as it was the only monastery owned by the marians that was not closed down by the tsarist authorities. As the surroundings of the town were primarily inhabited by marians that was not closed down by the tsarist authorities. As the surroundings of the town were primarily inhabited by lithuanians, the town became a centre of lithuanian national revival. The proximity of lithuanians, the town became a centre of lithuanian national revival. The proximity of prussian border made border made smuggling of books in lithuanian language , banned in imperial russia, easier. Among the most notable lithuanian scholars and , banned in imperial russia, easier. Among the most notable lithuanian scholars and writers active in mariampol at that time were writers active in mariampol at that time were kazys grinius , , jonas jablonskis, , vincas kudirka and and antanas venclova..

Following Following world war i the town became part of the town became part of lithuania and was renamed to its' current name of marijampolė. During and was renamed to its' current name of marijampolė. During world war II the town was occupied by germany. The the town was occupied by germany. The SS murdered most of the towns' jewish inhabitants. In the effect of the war murdered most of the towns' jewish inhabitants. In the effect of the war the town was heavily damaged and almost emptied. After the war it was rebuilt and repopulated with immigrants from other parts the town was heavily damaged and almost emptied. After the war it was rebuilt and repopulated with immigrants from other parts of lithuania. Currently in marijampolė, roughly 95 % of its inhabitants are lithuanians, with 4 % being russians and less than 1 % of lithuania. Currently in marijampolė, roughly 95 % of its inhabitants are lithuanians, with 4 % being russians and less than 1 % being poles.being poles.

On april 9, 1955 the authorities of lithuanian ssr once again renamed the town, this time to kapsukas, after a lithuanian On april 9, 1955 the authorities of lithuanian ssr once again renamed the town, this time to kapsukas, after a lithuanian communist politician vincas mickevičius-kapsukas. The old name was restored after lithuania regained her independence.communist politician vincas mickevičius-kapsukas. The old name was restored after lithuania regained her independence.

The anshe shalom synagogue in chicago, illinois was founded by immigrants from marijampolė.The anshe shalom synagogue in chicago, illinois was founded by immigrants from marijampolė.

Marijampole at nightMarijampole at night