Vincent Hadleŭski

Who was Vincent Hadleŭski?

Vincent Hadleŭski, November 16, 1898 – December 24, 1942 was a Belarusian Roman Catholic priest, publicist and politician.

Born in the village Shchury near Vaukavysk, he graduated from a Catholic seminary in Vilna and the Catholic academy in St.Petersburg. He was one of the first priests to introduce Catholic liturgy in the Belarusian language.

After the declaration of independence of Belarus in 1918 he became a member of the government of the Belarusian National Republic. Vincent Hadleŭski was one of the founders of the Belarusian Christian Democracy political party, and was editor of the magazine Krynica.

During the period of Polish administration of the Kresy regions he was a professor in the Belarusian seminary in Niasvizh and a priest in Švenčionys powiat. For active promotion of Belarusian language and independence Hadleŭski was arrested and put to prison for 2 years.

After his liberation he lived in Vilnius, where he translated the New Testament into Belarusian.

In 1939–1940 he edited the magazine Bielaruski front and established the Belarusian Independence Party.