In the Calvary cemetery near Vilnius, next to the church, is the grave of Deacon Augustyn Piórko, who was murdered by the Gestapo on 13.04.1942 in a prison in Vilnius, a month before his planned ordination to the priesthood.
A. Piórko was born on 25.05.1913 in the hamlet of Turniszki near Vilnius. In September 1934, he began his studies at the Minor Seminary in Warsaw and after two years he began his studies at the Warsaw Higher Seminary. In September 1939, he was in Vilnius and, unable to return to Warsaw, continued his studies at the fourth year of the Faculty of Theology of the Stefan Batory University in Vilnius. After the Lithuanian authorities closed down the University, he moved to Vilnius Higher Seminary, where he was ordained deacon by Archbishop Romuald Jałbrzykowski on 30.03.1941. He preached courageous patriotic sermons in Vilnius churches, gathering many listeners, whose attitude and teaching kept their spirits up in the difficult times of occupation.
According to a relative's memoirs, Augustyn was arrested on 3.03.1942 together with all the professors and seminarians of the Seminary of the Vilnius Archdiocese and imprisoned in Lukiszki Prison. He was tortured, beaten and tortured at the Gestapo headquarters. After the last interrogation at the Gestapo he lost consciousness and came down with a high fever. He was taken unconscious to the infectious disease hospital in Zwierzyniec, where he was constantly guarded by the Gestapo. He died in hospital on 13.04.1942 at the age of 28, without regaining consciousness. His closest family (mother and sisters) were not allowed to see the dying man.
In 2000 Pope John Paul II counted Deacon Augustyn Piórko, together with other 26 martyrs of the Vilnius Archdiocese, among the blessed martyrs of the 20th century.

Compiled by T. Zachara / MKiDN, VIII 2025