THE READINGS OF ALBERTAS VIJŪKAS-KOJALAVIČIUS 2025
From left to right: Remigijus Bimba President of the Institute of Genealogy, Heraldry, and Vexillology and the Academy of Genealogy, Recipient of the Albertas Vijūkas-Kojalavičius Memorial Medal and Prize Algimantas Kaminskas-Krinčius, Rūta Matulaitienė Mayor of the Municipality of Mažeikiai, Paulius Vaniuchinas Chairman of the Board of the Institute of Genealogy, Heraldry and Vexillology, Director of the Academy of Heraldry.
4-10-2025, Renavo dvaro sodyba, Mažeikiai district, Lithuania. Mažeikiai district municipality photo
The 5th international science conference 'The Readings of Albertas Vijūkas-Kojalavičius 2025' dedicated to the Barons Rionė (Rönne) (RAVK5)
On 4 October 2025, the 5th International Scholarly Conference “The Readings of Albertas Vijūkas-Kojalavičius 2025”, dedicated to the Barons Rönne, was held at the Renavas Manor Palace. The event gathered a distinguished audience of museum professionals, historians, and researchers in genealogy, heraldry, and vexillology, as well as other experts and guests.
The conference was opened by Remigijus Bimba, President of the Institute of Genealogy, Heraldry and Vexillology, who delivered the welcoming address. The participants were also greeted by Rūta Matulaitienė, Mayor of Mažeikiai District Municipality.
Albertas Vijūkas-Kojalavičius (1609–1677)
Albertas Vijūkas-Kojalavičius was a historian, theologian, and philosopher. He is remembered as a distinguished educator who served as Rector of Vilnius University. His works on the genealogies and heraldry of the Lithuanian nobility of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania remain relevant to this day.
His most important contribution is the first printed history of Lithuania, while his exceptional work, The Catalogue of the Noble Families and Coats of Arms of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Its Provinces, continues to serve as a vital source for historical and heraldic research.
Awarding of the Albertas Vijūkas-Kojalavičius Commemorative Medal and Prize
The Albertas Vijūkas-Kojalavičius Commemorative Medal (designed by Žydrūnas Strumila) and the accompanying Prize, established by the Institute of Genealogy, Heraldry and Vexillology, were awarded for the most significant achievements over the past five years in the fields of Lithuanian history and its supporting disciplines – genealogy, heraldry, vexillology, and related areas – as well as for contributions to heritage preservation, dissemination, innovative, creative, educational, and scholarly research activities.
The 2025 laureate was Algimantas Kaminskas-Krinčius, long-serving headmaster of Antanas Vienažindys Progymnasium in Krinčinas (Pasvalys District Municipality), teacher of Lithuanian language and literature, researcher of old church records (baptismal, marriage and death registers) and other sources, and an active genealogist.
Theme of the 2025 Conference
The theme of this year’s conference was: “The Barons Rönne and Other Noble Families of Europe.”
The event featured speakers from Poland, Georgia, Ukraine, and Lithuania. Presentations included:
Renata Vindašienė, “Reflections of Life in Renavas Manor: From Legends to the Present Day”
Paulius Vaniuchinas, “Revealing the Genealogy of Baroness Olimpia Rönne”
Regina Šiurytė-Šimulienė, “The Legacy of the Barons Rönne in Gargždai”
Janina Paplauskaitė-Leonavičienė, “Connections Between the Barons Fircks of Ritinė and the Barons Rönne”
Dr Liliana Narkowicz, “The Ordinances of the Tyszkiewicz Family”
Dr Oleg Odnorozhenko, “Female Heraldry in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the 14th–18th Centuries”
Dr Tornike Asatiani, “Reflections of Georgian History in Family Heraldry.”
The conference was moderated by Paulius Vaniuchinas, Chairman of the Board of the Institute of Genealogy, Heraldry and Vexillology and Director of the Academy of Heraldry, together with Dr Liliana Narkowicz. The sessions were followed by insightful discussions.
Participants were also treated to a guided tour of Renavas Manor Palace, led by Inga Prušinskienė.
Special Recognitions and Awards
The President of the Institute, Remigijus Bimba, and the Chairman of the Board, Paulius Vaniuchinas, presented Renata Vindašienė, Director of Renavas Manor, and Rūta Matulaitienė, Mayor of Mažeikiai District Municipality, with the Certificate of the Rönne Family Coat of Arms. The Rönne family coat of arms was officially entered on 23 September 2025 into the Register of Noble Coats of Arms of the Institute of Genealogy, Heraldry and Vexillology (No. KH-25/18).
The title of Honorary Member of the Institute of Genealogy, Heraldry and Vexillology was conferred upon Dr Liliana Narkowicz (Poland).
The Institute’s Distinguished Service Insignia “For Merit to the Institute of Genealogy, Heraldry and Vexillology” was awarded to Rūta Matulaitienė, Renata Vindašienė, Janina Paplauskaitė-Leonavičienė, and Dr Tornike Asatiani (Georgia).
The Institute’s Research Achievement Insignia “For Contributions to the Study of Genealogy, Heraldry and Vexillology” was presented to Vyras Rutkauskas, Regina Šiurytė-Šimulienė, and Dr Oleg Odnorozhenko (Ukraine).
Dr Oleg Odnorozhenko also received the Institute’s Award for the Best Conference Presentation for his paper “Female Heraldry in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the 14th–18th Centuries.”
Conference Partners and Sponsors
Conference organizer - Institute of Genealogy, Heraldry, and Vexillology. The conference was organised in cooperation with and supported by:
Mažeikiai District Municipality
Renavas Manor Estate
Academy of Genealogy
Academy of Heraldry
Academy of Vexillology
Looking Ahead
The 6th International Scholarly Conference “The Readings of Albertas Vijūkas-Kojalavičius 2026” will take place on 24 October 2026 at the Samogitian Museum of Art – the Palace of Duke Mykolas Oginskis.
From left: Remigijus Bimba, Rūta Matulaitienė and Renata Vindašienė hold the certificate of the coat of arms of the Rionė family in their hands, Paulius Vaniuchinas. Mažeikiai district municipality photo, 2025.
From left: Remigijus Bimba, Janina Paplauskaitė-Leonavičienė, Renata Vindašienė, Rūta Matulaitienė, Algimantas Kaminskas-Krinčius, Paulius Vaniuchinas. Second row from the left: dr. Tornike Asatiani, dr. Oleg Odnorozhenko, dr. Liliana Narkowicz, Regina Šiurytė-Šimulienė, Vytas Rutkauskas. Mažeikiai district municipality photo, 2025.
The gavel of the international scientific conference "Albertas Vijūkas-Kojalavičius Readings". Mažeikiai district municipality photo, 2025.