Biography of Cardinal Sigitas Tamkevičius reveals Catholic resistance to the KGB in Lithuania

How did the clandestine publication created by the cardinal work?

In 1972, Sigitas Tamkevičius founded the Chronicle of the Catholic Church in Lithuania. The objective was to record, in a strictly factual way, the arrests of believers, the confiscation of religious property and Soviet attempts to control other people’s faith. The reports were typed in secret and microfilmed. These negatives were hidden in common objects, such as book covers or lanterns, and sent to the West. There, the content was translated and broadcast on international radio stations, denying the Soviet propaganda that there was religious freedom behind the Iron Curtain.

How did the KGB try to extract information from the priest?

During his arrest in 1983, the then priest Tamkevičius was subjected to intense psychological pressure. In one of the most dramatic episodes reported in the biography, he recalls receiving tea and biscuits from an interrogator. After drinking the liquid, he lost consciousness for about eight hours, waking up dazed and being angrily questioned about documents from the clandestine seminary. He believes he was drugged by secret agents, but the strategy failed, as the officers’ fury indicated that he did not reveal any secrets while under the influence of the substance.

What was the work routine like in Soviet camps?

Sentenced to strict regime in the Ural Mountains, Tamkevičius faced harsh conditions. His first job was to peel potatoes in near-freezing waters, a task he feared would permanently harm his health. Afterwards, he worked in metallurgy, collecting scraps from lathes. The diet was based on thin soups and excessively salty fish that could have been stored for years. Over time, he was assigned to the camp kitchen, where he used his creativity to treat and fry fish at night, trying to guarantee a minimally decent meal for the other prisoners.

What impact did this experience have on the cardinal’s worldview?

For Tamkevičius, the more than five years in captivity were a period of deep reflection on human nature. He observed how the absence of moral and spiritual principles led to selfishness and greed within prisons. When questioning himself about what led him to that suffering, he concluded that his imprisonment was a direct result of following his conscience and not compromising his faith in the face of oppression. He was released in 1988, shortly before Lithuania restored its independence in 1990, becoming a key voice in the history of Catholic resistance.

Content produced based on information gathered by the Gazeta do Povo team of reporters. To access the full information and delve deeper into the topic, read the report below.