On May 2025, 10, a shocking act of vandalism was reported at the Bernardinų Cemetery - an extremely rare and historically valuable monument was destroyed. It was discovered by Darius Levicki, a member of the Rasai Cemetery Society, while performing cemetery maintenance work.
The target of the vandals, as initially thought, was the tombstone of Konstantas Koziełla (1839–1854), a fourth-grade student of Vilnius Gymnasium. This object is not only unique due to its exceptional metal construction, openwork ornamentation and cross-shaped sculptural elements, but is also one of the few monuments of this type that have survived in the historical necropolises of Vilnius. The monument is included in the Lithuanian Register of Cultural Properties (No. 30454) and recognized as an object of national importance.
"This violates not only the material heritage, but also the memory of the people, their history, their personal tragedies," states the Rasai Cemetery Society.
"We can no longer remain silent. What happened is not only brutal damage to a specific monument, it is a blow to the cultural awareness of our entire community," the members of the society comment.
This incident raised the question - will Lithuanian institutions take real action to protect historical memory, or will they limit themselves to symbolic condemnations?
KPD: it could have been a natural decay process
However, the Department of Cultural Heritage presented a different position.
"Having received a report of a possible case of vandalism at the Bernardine Cemetery in Vilnius, today the specialists of the Vilnius territorial department of the KPD, who went to the cemetery and carefully examined this grave, believe that this is not a case of vandalism. The very old cast iron monument could not withstand its old age and broke on its own. All parts of the monument are in place, not scattered," the KPD's comment states.
According to the department, KPD specialists will contact Vilnius city municipalities the cemetery maintenance department to take care of the gravesite - parts of the monument will be taken and stored until a restoration project is prepared.
The Rasai Cemetery Society, however, urges not to rule out the possibility that the protection of cultural heritage requires more active prevention.
"Protecting cultural heritage cannot be just a beautiful declaration - it must be implemented in practice. Actions are needed, not promises," the society emphasizes.
"If this case is forgotten again, we will have a sad precedent that will encourage indifference and impunity," the society's representatives say.
"Only time will tell whether the institutions will respond appropriately this time. However, one thing is clear - if we want our history to be preserved, we need to not only talk, but also act," notes the Rasai Cemetery Society.
