Baltramiejus Vilentas Pastor, Lithuanian writer, translator, composer of religious hymns. Date of Birth: 01.01.1525

1. Jonas Bretkūnas, Pastor and Translator
2. Early Life and Education
3. Pastoral Career and Religious Songs
4. Translations and a Catechism
5. Significance and Legacy

Jonas Bretkūnas, Pastor and Translator

Jonas Bretkūnas was a pastor, Lithuanian writer, translator, and composer of religious hymns. He was a cousin of the renowned Lithuanian prototypographer Martynas Mažvydas.

Early Life and Education

Bretkūnas was born into a noble family in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In 1546-1549, he studied at the University of Königsberg.

Pastoral Career and Religious Songs

From 1550 until his death, Bretkūnas served as the pastor of the Lithuanian community in Königsberg. In 1563, he inherited Mažvydas's manuscripts and published the religious song collection "Giesm?s krik??ioni?kos" ("Christian Hymns"). The first part was edited by Mažvydas and contained 94 pages, while the second part, published in 1570, comprised 350 pages. Both parts were printed by Johann Daubmann. Bretkūnas contributed two songs of his own composition and included new translations of psalms by Abraomas Kulvietis, Augustinas Jomaktas, and others.

Translations and a Catechism

Using Mažvydas's translation, Bretkūnas revised Martin Luther's Small Catechism, "Enchiridion," into Lithuanian ("Katekizmas ma?as," 1575). He also translated the Gospel and Epistles from Latin and Polish into Lithuanian ("Evangelijas bei epistolas," 1579), marking the first collection of gospel texts in the Lithuanian language.

Significance and Legacy

"Evangelijas bei epistolas" is considered Bretkūnas's most significant work. Its texts were used in churches in East Prussia until the first complete Lithuanian New Testament was published in 1701 and were also employed by the Catholic Church in Lithuania. It was referenced by later Lithuanian writers such as Jonas Bretkūnas, Mikalojus Daukša, Jonas Jaknavičius, and Juozapas Arnulfas Gedraitis.