Poet, Writer, Playwright. He is best known as the Roman Catholic priest who wrote a novel which started a scandal in the Catholic community. He later became one of the most famous Lithuanian authors in the Twentieth Century. As a child, he lived on a farm with horses, eight siblings, and fairly wealthy parents of the Catholic faith. He excelled in his studies especially science and arts. After graduating fourth in his high school class, he entered in 1909 Sejny Theological Seminary, became a priest in 1911, and graduated from Imperial Roman Catholic Theological Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia. In 1917 he published his first poem, “Red Flowers”. From the beginning, his poetry steered away from mounting social and political problems of Lithuania but reflected on philosophical needs, nature, love and joy, with symbolism. Using the penname of Putinas (or in English Putin), he continued writing poetry, publishing another collection in 1921, "Putin's Writings". Furthering his education, he received a scholarship from the American-Lithuanian Society to attend Fribourg University in Switzerland, earning a PhD in psychology in 1922. In 1926, he a published a successful drama, “The Ring and the Woman”; his first was “The Master’s Son” in 1921, and the third was a mystery, “The Deflowered Vestal”. During this time, he toured Western Europe stopping in France, Italy, and Germany. He taught for a short time at University of Munich while studying art and literature. Returning to Lithuania, he did not accept a church assignment but in the fall of 1923, accepted a position at University of Lithuania in Kaunas teaching Modern Lithuanian Literature. His interest in church activities had declined as he accepted a position as editor for two culture and art magazines, “Focus” and “Meridian”. During his stay in France, he started his three-part novel “In the Shadow of the Altars”, wrote the second part while on vacation in Italy, and by 1933, finished the third part. The storyline of the novel surrounds the life of Father February and his duties as a priest, his romantic encounter with an American pianist, and the priest eventually leaving the priesthood. The novel had a coherent, well-planned composition, vivid characters, intense scenes and dialogues, which all led to a successful novel. The novel created a scandal in the Catholic community, but was considered Lithuania’s first “bestseller”. In August of 1935, his life imitated his art as he eloped to Latvia with a beautiful voice student, Emily Kvedaraitė, for a civil marriage ceremony. Upon returning from their honeymoon, the couple was surprised to see the newspaper headlines, “Priest Married”. By February 1936, he was excommunicated from the Catholic Church. Later in the year, he released a large collection of poems, “Roads and Crossroads”. In 1939, he transferred to the Vilnius University teaching there until he retired in 1967. He wrote "Austere Days" in 1944, but Nazi censorship halted the publication; however, a secret press did a few hundred copies. After World War II, his writings were monitored by the KGB. An iron curtain kept the world from enjoying his amazing talent. He published over 22 books which included poetry collections, novels and plays, textbooks on Lithuanian literature and history, a partial biography of noted Polish poet Adam Mickiewicz plus numerous essays and magazine articles of literary interest. Many have been translated into the world’s languages; “In the Shadow of the Altars” was translated to English in 1998. Becoming ill, he and the Catholic Church resolved their differences in 1966. He left his last novel “Rebel” unfinished yet published. After his death, some of his unpublished early writings were published. There are many commemorations to honor him including a national postage stamp and a gala celebration of his 100th birthday.