In 2009 we had celebrated the Commemoration of the Millennium of the Name of Lithuania. Lithuania’s name has been known not only to its citizens but to the whole world for a thousand years. This is why there are many events organised to celebrate this wonderful occasion. As a series of events the Commemoration of the Millennium of the Name of Lithuania is meant to encourage us to be more patriotic and to help create Lithuania’s positive image in the world. By overcoming various challenges Lithuania has proven that even a small country can achieve big goals! 

The first reference to the name of Lithuania in written sources comes to us in the story related to the tragic end of St. Bruno’s mission in1009 as described in the annals of Quedlinburg, Germany (Annales Quedlinburgenses). The text written in the 11th century failed to survive and its copy made in the middle of the 16th century is kept in Dresden, Germany.

St. Brunon, alias Bonifacius, archbishop and monk was killed by the pagans together with 18 of his brethren on the Russian –Lithuanian border on the eleventh year of his conversion and on the 9th of March ascended into the heaven.