Lithuanians all over the world sang “Tautiška giesmė”
On 6 July - the State Day of Lithuania (the Coronation Day of the King Mindaugas) - Lithuanians all over the world sing the National Anthem (Tautiška giesmė). This year the National Anthem Lithuanians sang also in Riga and Aglona town. On 6 July this year in Latgale town Aglona being famous as the most important Catholic spiritual centre in Latvia and as the spiritual centre for the tribes of the Balts, the cornerstone was laid and hallowed by Aglona-Rezekne Bishop Janis Bulis, marking the place of a monument to be built for the King Mindaugas and the Queen Martha.
On the initiative of the Lithuanian and Latvian non-governmental organizations – Centre of Youth Integration Opportunities and Rezekne- Latgale Cultural Society, a joint project was started some years ago aiming to build a monument to the King Mindaugas and the Queen Martha in the churchyard of Aglona Catholic Basilica.
The Lithuanian Ambassador to Latvia Ričardas Degutis on the occasion of the State Day of Lithuania greeted the Lithuanians visiting Aglona and told the historic legend about the Queen Martha being origin from Latgale and the Lithuanian King Mindaugas who after the death of his wife came to Aglona and was killed by the conspirators. According to the legend the King’s Mindaugas possible burial site is in Aglona. "This is an important historic fact, evidencing the common roots of the both Balts’ nations. We have joined the initiators of this project and are actively engaged in it. We hope that we will be able to collect the remaining funds needed to complete the monument and possibly the next year will celebrate its opening"- said the Lithuanian Ambassador.
The tradition to sing the National Anthem at the same day all over the world has started in 2009, when Lithuania was marking the 1000-year anniversary of the first recorded mention of Lithuania in the Annals of Quedlinburg. Lithuanians all over the world were invited to sing the “Lithuania, Our Nation” by Vincas Kudirka. Since then on 6 July Lithuanians all over the world gather to sing the National Anthem.
