Telšiai Bishop Vincentas Borisevičius Priest Seminary
A Roman Catholic priest-training institution in Telšiai, Lithuania, historically providing secondary, philosophical, and theological formation and now focused on propaedeutic preparation.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Telšiai Bishop Vincentas Borisevičius Priest Seminary is a Roman Catholic institution in Telšiai, Lithuania, established by Justinas Staugaitis, the first bishop of the Diocese of Telšiai. It was created in response to the diocese’s shortage of priests after the diocese was established in 1926. The seminary opened in October 1927 with 41 students and initially functioned as a minor seminary or preparatory school. Despite political opposition to expanding the number of priest seminaries in Lithuania, Staugaitis developed it into a major seminary in 1929. During the interwar period, the institution combined secondary education, philosophy, and theology. Its curriculum expanded from four years to seven by 1935, comprising two years of secondary-level study, one year of philosophy, and four years of theology. The seminary maintained a library, a physics laboratory, agricultural land, and residential facilities. It ordained its first nine priests in 1932 and reached a peak enrollment of 122 students in the 1934–35 academic year. Before the Second World War, it had graduated 118 priests. The institution experienced repeated disruptions during the Second World War and the Soviet occupation. It was closed after the Soviet takeover in 1940, when its building was converted into a military hospital and its students were transferred to Kaunas. It reopened during the German occupation in September 1941, but the building was later requisitioned for hospital use again. Fighting and displacement in 1944 divided the community, with some professors and seminarians retreating west while others resumed studies in Telšiai. Soviet authorities formally closed the seminary on 15 June 1946. By that point, it had prepared approximately 150 priests. The seminary was re-established in 1989 by Bishop Antanas Vaičius, reopening with 22 students. In the post-Soviet period it developed a multi-year program combining philosophy and theology and was recognized as a private university in 2000, allowing it to grant bachelor’s and master’s degrees. It was formally renamed in honor of Vincentas Borisevičius, its first rector and a later bishop of Telšiai, in 2002. The institution also participated in wider Lithuanian Catholic education through a diocesan lyceum and a separate propaedeutic course intended to help candidates discern their vocation before beginning advanced seminary studies. From 2009, the seminary was affiliated with the Pontifical Lateran University, facilitating continuation of studies in Rome. Its educational activity nevertheless changed substantially after Lithuanian bishops reorganized the country’s seminaries in 2020. Telšiai became responsible primarily for the one-year propaedeutic stage, while Kaunas assumed responsibility for philosophy and Vilnius for theology. The seminary lost accreditation for its religion study program in 2021 and no longer organized tertiary studies from the 2021–22 academic year. Its status as an educational institution ended in April 2025, although a small propaedeutic cohort was reported for the 2024–25 school year. The seminary’s historic building, completed in 1928, remains associated with the institution and the religious heritage of the Samogitian region. The complex has also housed other public institutions during periods when the seminary was closed. In the 2020s, declining enrollment left many residential rooms vacant, and some accommodation was made available to visitors. The building also houses an exposition connected with the Samogitian Museum Alka. The seminary is therefore both a Catholic formation center and a significant site in the educational, ecclesiastical, and architectural history of Telšiai.
History
The Diocese of Telšiai was created by the papal bull Lithuanorum Gente on 4 April 1926. Its first bishop, Justinas Staugaitis, quickly identified the shortage of priests serving the diocese and sought to establish a local seminary. At the time, Kaunas Priest Seminary had only a limited number of Samogitian students expected to return to diocesan service. Staugaitis announced the new institution on 5 June 1927, and it formally opened on 4 October with 41 students. Vincentas Borisevičius served as its first rector. The institution initially operated as a minor seminary, offering secondary education to young men considering the priesthood. Political and ecclesiastical authorities questioned whether Lithuania needed another major seminary, but Staugaitis continued to develop the school. It became a major seminary in 1929. Government support during the interwar years was limited: public authorities eventually paid some teachers’ salaries but excluded religious and theological instructors, and the state did not recognize the seminary’s theological degrees. The curriculum expanded over time. By 1935, students completed two years of secondary education, one year of philosophy, and four years of theology. The seminary had a substantial library, a physics laboratory, agricultural holdings, and accommodation for students and staff. Its landholdings helped provide food and revenue. The first nine priests were ordained in June 1932. Enrollment reached 122 in 1934–35, and 118 priests graduated before the Second World War. Among the teachers and associated clergy were several future bishops and prominent Lithuanian Catholic figures. The seminary’s work was repeatedly interrupted by wartime occupation. Soviet authorities closed it in 1940 and converted the building into a Red Army military hospital. Students moved to Kaunas. The seminary reopened on 15 September 1941 during the German occupation with 67 students, but German authorities later requisitioned the premises for hospital use. In 1944, as the front approached Telšiai, part of the seminary community retreated west; some continued their studies in Eichstätt, while those remaining in Lithuania resumed work in Telšiai in early 1945. Soviet authorities finally closed the institution on 15 June 1946. Approximately 150 priests had been formed by that time. Bishop Antanas Vaičius restored the seminary in 1989, shortly before or during Lithuania’s transition from Soviet rule. It reopened on 1 September with 22 students. The post-Soviet program initially lasted five years and was extended to six in 1995 through the addition of philosophy training. In 2000, the seminary was recognized as a private university and could award bachelor’s and master’s degrees. On 23 November 2002, it adopted the name of Vincentas Borisevičius, its first rector and later the second bishop of Telšiai. The institution was part of a broader diocesan education network. A minor seminary, the Lyceum of the Diocese of Telšiai, was re-established in 1994 to provide upper-secondary education. In 2003, Lithuanian bishops created a compulsory one-year propaedeutic course at Žemaičių Kalvarija, designed to help candidates examine their vocation and understand priestly ministry before beginning longer studies. The seminary was affiliated with the Pontifical Lateran University in 2009, giving graduates a route to continue studies in Rome. In 2011, the institution had 32 teachers, including 22 priests, and 13 teachers held doctorates. By that year it had graduated 113 priests and one deacon, including 59 graduates with master’s degrees. By 2019, reported totals had reached 126 priests and two deacons. These figures marked the institution’s continuing role in rebuilding Lithuanian Catholic life after independence, even as the number of candidates declined. A nationwide reorganization in 2020 divided seminary education by stage. Telšiai became responsible for propaedeutic formation, Kaunas for two years of philosophy, and Vilnius for four years of theology. The change meant that Telšiai no longer delivered the complete tertiary formation pathway. Its religion study program lost accreditation in 2021, and tertiary education was no longer organized from the 2021–22 school year. The institution lost its status as an educational institution in April 2025, although a seven-student propaedeutic class was reported for 2024–25. The seminary building is an important part of its history. The original institution used the western wing of a former Bernardine monastery, while the eastern wing required extensive repairs. Staugaitis commissioned a new building designed by Povilas Taračkovas. Construction began in May 1928 and finished six months later; the building was consecrated on 16 December 1928. It contained a chapel, meeting halls, classrooms, residential rooms, central heating, and plumbing. During the Soviet and postwar periods it served several non-seminary functions, including newspaper offices, a teacher-training seminary, and a school for deaf students. After restoration, it again supported seminary activity. In the 2020s, unused rooms were offered to visitors, and the building became associated with a sacred-heritage exposition.
- 2025
Educational-institution status ends
[1]The seminary lost its status as an educational institution in April, while propaedeutic activity had still been reported for the preceding school year.
- 2021
Accreditation withdrawn for tertiary religion studies
[1]The seminary lost accreditation for its religion study program and stopped organizing tertiary education studies from the following academic year.
- 2020
National seminary reorganization
[1]Telšiai was assigned responsibility for propaedeutic formation while philosophy and theology were assigned to Kaunas and Vilnius.
- 2009
Affiliated with Pontifical Lateran University
[1]The affiliation supported continuation of seminary graduates’ education in Rome.
- 2002
Renamed for Vincentas Borisevičius
[1]The institution adopted its current commemorative name on 23 November, marking the 115th anniversary of Borisevičius’s birth.
- 2000
Recognized as a private university
[1]The seminary received recognition allowing it to grant bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
- 1989
Re-established
[1]Bishop Antanas Vaičius restored the seminary, which reopened on 1 September with 22 students.
- 1946
Seminary permanently closed under Soviet rule
[1]The institution was officially closed on 15 June after the postwar Soviet consolidation of Lithuania.
- 1941
Reopened during German occupation
[1]The seminary reopened on 15 September with 67 students, although wartime requisitioning soon disrupted its use of the building.
- 1940
Closed after Soviet occupation
[1]Soviet authorities closed the seminary and converted its building into a military hospital.
Products and positioning
Catholic priestly formation and vocational discernment
Religious education · 1927
Priestly formation program
Historically, the seminary’s principal offering was a structured path toward Catholic priesthood. The program combined secondary preparation in its early period with philosophy and theology in the major seminary. After the post-Soviet revival, the course developed into a multi-year formation program and later supported bachelor’s and master’s-level study. The full tertiary pathway ended after the national reorganization and loss of accreditation.
Vocational discernment · 2003
Propaedeutic course
The one-year propaedeutic course is intended for candidates who are considering priesthood and need time for spiritual, personal, and vocational preparation before entering philosophy and theology studies. Under the 2020 reorganization, this preparatory stage became Telšiai Seminary’s principal educational responsibility. A small propaedeutic class was reported for the 2024–25 school year.
Hospitality and cultural heritage · 1928
Historic seminary accommodation and heritage venue
The seminary’s historic building includes residential rooms and communal facilities. As enrollment declined, unused rooms were made available to tourists and other visitors. The building also houses an exposition of the sacred heritage of Samogitia connected with the Samogitian Museum Alka.
Brand decisions
2020
Adopt a staged national model for seminary educationStrategyBackground
Lithuanian bishops sought to reorganize priest formation among the country’s three seminaries and assign each institution a distinct educational stage.
Action taken
Telšiai was designated for the one-year propaedeutic course, Kaunas for two years of philosophy, and Vilnius for four years of theology.
Aftermath
Telšiai ceased to provide the complete tertiary formation pathway, lost accreditation for its religion study program in 2021, and no longer organized tertiary studies from the 2021–22 academic year.
Sources2 sources
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