Prof. Marian Zdziechowski
Marian Zdziechowski (1861–1938), a historian of ideas and literature, philologist, philosopher, literary critic and journalist, professor at the Jagiellonian University, rector of the Stefan Batory University in Vilnius, and holder of honorary doctorates from numerous European universities, was among the highly educated representatives of the landed gentry in the Eastern Borderlands. He should undoubtedly be regarded as one of the most important conservative thinkers of his time. An expert on Western European intellectual currents, he followed and commented on current events.

When, in 1930, the Marian Zdziechowski Institute for Scientific Research on Eastern Europe was established in Vilnius on the initiative of the authorities of Stefan Batory University, Zdziechowski, as an expert on the ‘Russian idea’, often criticised for the apocalyptic nature of his views on Bolshevism and Soviet Russia, exerted a significant influence on the development of research in the field of Soviet studies.

Shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War, he wrote: ‘We are facing the end of history.’ Every day bears witness to the advance of moral arrogance, which, sweeping out from Soviet Russia, is seizing all countries, eating away at the very fabric of all nations, instigating processes of decay everywhere, and plunging them into the abyss of rot and barbarism (…). In short, the world is becoming Bolshevised. Europe, and with it Poland, is sinking into the mire of moral decay. ‘A man stripped of individuality and conscience, with the mentality of a spy, the soul of an executioner, and subjected to the discipline of hard labour’ (quoted from Louis Bertrand, *Le livre de consolation*, Paris 1933), is recognised, in accordance with the Soviet gospel, as the ideal of man and a model for our times, whilst the propaganda of this new ideal, in its various forms, depending on place and environment, is viewed by the general public with benevolent neutrality (M. Zdziechowski, *W obliczu końca* [In the Face of the End]. Second expanded edition, Vilnius 1938, pp. VII and IX).

Zdziechowski began his education at a Russian grammar school in Minsk. He undertook his university studies in St Petersburg and graduated from the University of Dorpat. Later, he continued his studies in Zagreb, Graz and Geneva. He began his academic and publishing activities whilst still a student at Dorpat. He recalled his time at that university as follows: “I spent only two years there as a student (1880–1882). Later, between 1884 and 1886, I would travel there and stay for several months at a time, preparing my first book, *The Messianists and the Slavophiles*, for publication – and it is precisely those last few years that have remained most fondly etched in my memory (…). I arrived in Dorpat with far-reaching aspirations: they ran parallel to one another, closely intertwined, all aimed at a single goal shared by all of us young people, which was, of course, the liberation, revival and reconstruction of Poland”. (M. Zdziechowski, ‘Excerpt from an unpublished diary’ in: Konwent Polonia. History – People – Deeds. Vilnius 1939, p. 303).

Zdziechowski clearly appreciated the atmosphere in Dorpat, which encouraged student independence, particularly among those who were able to take charge of their own studies and appreciate the knowledge of outstanding lecturers. During his studies, he belonged to the Konwent Polonia academic fraternity. The memoirs he left behind, describing the ‘spirit of Dorpat’ – which, as he himself states, are subjective and written from the perspective of someone who did not take an active part in fraternity life – were described in the article ‘Excerpt from an Unpublished Diary’, published in Vilnius in 1939 in the collection *Konwent Polonia. History – People – Deeds*.

He lived in Vilnius until his death, at 42 (now 36) Antokolskaya Street. In Suderwa, near Vilnius, a 19th-century manor house that belonged to Marian Zdziechowski has been preserved. Today, it houses a school named after him.

Zdziechowski died in Vilnius on 5 October 1938 following a serious illness and was laid to rest in Antokol, at the military cemetery, alongside his wife, Maria née Kotwicz.

They were married for nearly 50 years. He included a heartfelt tribute to her in the preface to the second edition of the book *In the Face of the End*: “For me, she was not only a companion, but a collaborator. If my works and writings have gained any recognition, it is to a significant, very significant extent thanks to the fact that from the very beginning, ‘with an effort made as if without effort’, she removed all difficulties from my path, taking upon herself the entire practical side of life, all the worries and troubles, all the burdens which, after the war, became particularly heavy and acute (…). Need I add that fifty years of living with her kept my mind and soul on a higher plane; it was a blessing from God on my arduous earthly journey, which the great Cardinal Newman described with the words *ex umbris et imaginibus in veritatem* – and had these words inscribed on his own gravestone (M. Zdziechowski, *In the Face of the End*. Second revised edition, Vilnius 1938, pp. V–VI).

The Zdziechowski family gravestone at Antokol Cemetery
The Zdziechowski family gravestone at the Antokolski Cemetery (plot 2, no. 8) takes the form of a tall Latin cross on a flat, two-tiered base. It is made of dark red granite. The foundation and base are of concrete.

It bears two inscriptions: an older one, carved into the stone, dedicated to Zdziechowski’s wife, and a more recent cast-iron plaque dedicated to the ‘prophet of Vilnius’. The first reads as follows: R.I.P. / MARIA ZDZIECHOWSKA, née KOTWICZ / BORN 3 April 1861, DIED 13 August 1936 / TUIS ENIM FIDELIBUS AETERNA IN COELIS HABITATIO COMPARATUR. These words are an excerpt from the ‘Preface for the Dead’ from the Roman Missal. A plaque affixed to a stone cross bears the inscription: R.I.P./ MARIAN ZDZIECHOWSKI - / PROF. U.S.B. / * 30 April 1861 / 5 October 1938 / FIL. C! POLONIA / FIL. H. C! RUTHENIA / VILNENSIS.

The inscription serves as a reminder that the deceased was a professor at Stefan Batory University in Vilnius and a member of the ‘Konwent Polonia’ academic fraternity, as well as an honorary member of the ‘Konwent Ruthenia Vilnensis’. The plaque features a Latin cross, and at the intersection of its arms a stylised Α and Ω are visible. The first and last letters of the classical Greek alphabet symbolise the almighty God, the beginning and the end, birth and death.

In 2011, conservation work was carried out on the Zdziechowski family tombstone. The work was initiated by the Society for Academic Tradition. Funding was provided by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland. The work was entrusted to Polish art conservators: Dr Janusz Smaza from the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw and Marta Dacyn.