Łapczyński: Constitution of May 3 – world phenomenon.

The Constitution of May 3 exhibition in Lithuania is very important. This document contains both nations Lithuanian and Poland. At the opening of exhibition Marcin Łapczyński manager of Polish Institute, said „Constitution of May 3 – first, modern Constitution in Europe accepted in democratic way”.

In 24 October entering exhibition had place in Lithuanian State Historical Archives. „Exhibition presented  by Lithuanian and Polish State Archives in Vilnius is very important and interesting, Exhibition depicting first in Europe and second in the world Constitution- contemporary world phenomenon. Constitution scanned pages were presented.  Background of the Constitution was recalled. Moreover exhibition depicting how system of The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth changed and how it influenced on current Polish and Europe situation.”- Łapczyński has emphasized. The opening of the exhibition in Lithuania has great significance because „ This document contains both our nations Lithuanian and Poland”

Manager of Polish Institute recall that Constitution of May 3 was awarded by The Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. „ Places, people, concepts of established common European ideas are honoured by this prestige Initiative of European Union. In Polish awarded were inter alia: Lublin for The Union of Lublin, Gdansk Shipyard where Solidarity( Solidarność ) was founded. This document has great significance for not only Poland but also Lithuania and whole Europe. We want to tell about all of it during exhibition”-He added.

Constitution of May 3 was adopted as the Government Act by Great Sejm of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth 3 of May 1791 – was designed to regulate legal system of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. Authors of the Constitution were the king Stanisław August Poniatowski, Ignacy Potocki and Hugo Kołłątaj. The constitution changed form of government with hereditary monarchy, reduced authority of magnates, introduced elements of political equality between townspeople and nobility, and placed the peasants under the protection of the government, It formally banned institution such as the liberum veto. Meanwhile, Constitution of May 3 was translated to Lithuanian language. Exhibition will be open until November.

Exhibition will be presented in both Polish and Lithuanian as we often do, during others activities in Lithuania. I’m glad that this exhibition was cooperated by Central Archives of Historical Records in Warsaw (Archiwum Główne Akt Dawnych w Warszawie) and Lithuanian State Historical Archives that took active part in sessions of Polish-Lithuania Group of Experts for protecting cultural heritage. We hope both institutions will present historical facts and documents they own.”- said Łapczyński.

Exhibition organizers: The Maine State Archives staff- AGAD( Naczelna Dyrekcja Archiwów Państwowych), Lithuanian State Historical Archives, Polish Institute in Vilnius