The Archbishop Metropolitan of Vilnius
Gintaras GRUŠAS
Date of birth: 1961-09-23
Date of priestly ordination: 1994-06-25
Date of consecration: 2010-09-04
The Archbishop Metropolitan of Vilnius Gintaras Grušas was born on September 23, 1961 in Washington D.C. in the United States. He grew up in a Lithuanian family and became involved in cultural and Catholic activities. He was active at the Lithuanian parish of St. Casimir in Los Angeles, the Catholic organization Ateitininkai, was the head of the World Lithuanian Youth Association from 1983–1987, and also a member of the Lithuanian World Community.
Prior to entering the seminary, he finished studies in Mathematics and Information Technology at UCLA. He then worked at IBM. He began his studies in Theology at the Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio. He then continued his studies for two years in Rome at Beda College. In 1992, he was made a deacon and assigned as General Secretary of the committee to the apostolic journey of Pope John Paul the II. Upon returning to Rome, he continued his studies while living at the Pontifical St. Casimir’s Lithuanian College, and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Theology at the Pontifical St. Thomas Aquinas University.
On June 25th, 1994 he was ordained a priest at the Archcathedral in Vilnius by Archbishop Audrys Juozas Bačkis. In the same year, he was chosen as the General Secretary for the Lithuanian Bishop’s Conference. In 1997, he returned to the Pontifical St. Thomas Aquinas University in Rome, where he received a PhD in Canon law in 2001. From 2001–2003, he was the Rector of St. Joseph’s Seminary, where he taught Canon Law. 2002-2013 he was the General Secretary of Lithuania’s Bishop’s Conference.
The Archbishop Metropolitan of Vilnius Gintaras Grušas’ COAT OF ARMS
A personal coat of arms has been used by the Pope and other Church hierarchy for 800 years. The symbolism on the coat of arms expresses the ideals of the owner, occupation or depicts some important event in that person’s life. It also shows the owners titles, rank, etc.
The Archbishop Metropolitan of Vilnius Gintaras Grušas’ coat of arms has a silver dove descending in flight representing the Holy Spirit, and twelve golden stars, which symbolizes the Virgin Mary in the blue area of the shield. Two rays, one silver and one red, reminds one of the mercy of God, who works through the Holy Spirit in the Church. In the lower red portion of the shield, the pillars of Gediminas are seen. This is Lithuania’s oldest national symbol.
A hat with ties and tassels identify the rank of the holder. A green hat with green ties and four rows of tassels on both sides shows that this coat of arms belongs to an archbishop. Beyond the shield there is a pastoralas with a double cross, where the longer piece indicates the owner’s hierarchical archbishop’s status.
At the bottom of the coat of arms there is a moto-Gratia, Misericordia et Pax. (Grace, mercy and peace). The shield’s white and red rays, which symbolize God’s mercy, allude to Saint Sister Faustina’s apparition, which happened in Vilnius, and the famous painting is based on. The red, white and blue colors symbolize the U.S., the country where the archbishop was born and raised, and the blue portion of the shield with 12 gold stars is related to the EU, which Lithuania is a member of.
The Archbishop Metropolitan of Vilnius
Gintaras GRUŠAS
The Archbishop Metropolitan of Vilnius Gintaras Grušas’ COAT OF ARMS
A personal coat of arms has been used by the Pope and other Church hierarchy for 800 years. The symbolism on the coat of arms expresses the ideals of the owner, occupation or depicts some important event in that person’s life. It also shows the owners titles, rank, etc.
The Archbishop Metropolitan of Vilnius Gintaras Grušas’ coat of arms has a silver dove descending in flight representing the Holy Spirit, and twelve golden stars, which symbolizes the Virgin Mary in the blue area of the shield. Two rays, one silver and one red, reminds one of the mercy of God, who works through the Holy Spirit in the Church. In the lower red portion of the shield, the pillars of Gediminas are seen. This is Lithuania’s oldest national symbol.
A hat with ties and tassels identify the rank of the holder. A green hat with green ties and four rows of tassels on both sides shows that this coat of arms belongs to an archbishop. Beyond the shield there is a pastoralas with a double cross, where the longer piece indicates the owner’s hierarchical archbishop’s status.
At the bottom of the coat of arms there is a moto-Gratia, Misericordia et Pax. (Grace, mercy and peace). The shield’s white and red rays, which symbolize God’s mercy, allude to Saint Sister Faustina’s apparition, which happened in Vilnius, and the famous painting is based on. The red, white and blue colors symbolize the U.S., the country where the archbishop was born and raised, and the blue portion of the shield with 12 gold stars is related to the EU, which Lithuania is a member of.
Date of birth: 1961-09-23
Date of priestly ordination: 1994-06-25
Date of consecration: 2010-09-04
The Archbishop Metropolitan of Vilnius Gintaras Grušas was born on September 23, 1961 in Washington D.C. in the United States. He grew up in a Lithuanian family and became involved in cultural and Catholic activities. He was active at the Lithuanian parish of St. Casimir in Los Angeles, the Catholic organization Ateitininkai, was the head of the World Lithuanian Youth Association from 1983–1987, and also a member of the Lithuanian World Community.
Prior to entering the seminary, he finished studies in Mathematics and Information Technology at UCLA. He then worked at IBM. He began his studies in Theology at the Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio. He then continued his studies for two years in Rome at Beda College. In 1992, he was made a deacon and assigned as General Secretary of the committee to the apostolic journey of Pope John Paul the II. Upon returning to Rome, he continued his studies while living at the Pontifical St. Casimir’s Lithuanian College, and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Theology at the Pontifical St. Thomas Aquinas University.
On June 25th, 1994 he was ordained a priest at the Archcathedral in Vilnius by Archbishop Audrys Juozas Bačkis. In the same year, he was chosen as the General Secretary for the Lithuanian Bishop’s Conference. In 1997, he returned to the Pontifical St. Thomas Aquinas University in Rome, where he received a PhD in Canon law in 2001. From 2001–2003, he was the Rector of St. Joseph’s Seminary, where he taught Canon Law. Since 2002, he had been the General Secretary of Lithuania’s Bishop’s Conference.
