DUKE RADVILA’S ROOSTER

KUNIGAIKŠČIO RADVILOS GAIDYS

Vilniaus pašto rumai priešais Šv. Jono bažnyčią
XVII šimtmetija buvo Radvilu nuosavybė..........

English Translation by Gloria O’Brien

During the 17th century, the palatial Vilnius postal building across the road from St. Johns’ church was the property of the Radvila ducal family.The Radvilas had broken away from the Catholic Church to follow Calvinism, becoming that group’s enthusiastic adherents. They built a kirke (chapel) within this palace, where Calvinist worship was held.

Mykolas Radvila, known as “The Black”, Vilnius’ vaivada (district governor), especially distinguished himself for his combativeness against the Catholic religion. He persecuted Catholics, slandered priests, despised churches, invaded funeral or memorial processions. And, in a deliberate act of desecration, he ordered that piles of manure be heaped against the walls of St. Johns’ church, and that a gallows be erected in front of the church’s main doors.

When Mykolas Radvila, “The Black”, died, the palace property was inherited by his four sons, who unsparingly followed in his footsteps with sly and treacherous ruses and contempt against the Catholics.

Once on Good Friday, as all Catholics observed a complete dry fast in mortification, and gathered in St. Johns’ Church in fervent prayer before Christ’s tomb, the Radvilas held a great feast in their own palace across the road, inviting many guests, of the same Calvinist persuasion.

Rivers flowed of wine, beer and mead, tables bent under a variety of meats and other delicacies. There seemed no end to idle talk and foul language, silly jokes and boistrous songs, as the hosts and guests alike roared with laughter at vulgar tales about the Catholic Church’s ceremonies, priests, prayers and fasts.

Servants brought in a huge silver salver of roasted fowl and game: grouse, pheasant,and a peacock with his iridescent, many-colored tail feathers spread widely. And a roasted rooster - with his feathers so artistically restored and arranged, that he seemed to be absolutely alive. The guests welcomed this rooster with great joy, and couldn’t get over their admiration for the cook’s resourcefulness, praising his culinary ability.

The eldest son, Mykolas Radvila, proud to employ such an unusual cook, exclaimed to the rooster:

“We greet you, good creature! Apparently, you are not a Catholic nor a papist, since on Good Friday you are found on the Radvila table!”

He had barely spoken those words, when the rooster stirred on the platter, stood up, spread his wings, stretched his neck and raised his head, with all his voice screamed:

“Ku-ka-rie-ku-u! “

The guests, thoroughly frightened, quit the table and ran to the doors, escaping as quickly and wherever they could.

This event so affected the Duke Mykolą that he shortly afterward converted and returned to the Catholic Church. The other brothers followed the eldest. Jurgis, Albertas and Stasys Radvilai all, from great persecutors of the Church, became zealous Catholics. Jurgis became famous as the Bishop of Vilnius, even for a while being a possible candidate for the Papal throne. His honor as a cardinal eventually gave the name of the “kardinalija” to the Radvilas’ palace.

Source:

From “Vilniaus Legendos”

Compiled by Stasys Lipskis and published by “Žuvėdra”
in Lithuania, 1998

This article has been accepted for publication in Bridges.

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