Survival Strategies Under a Totalitarian Regime (1940–1990): A Case of Roman Catholic Nuns in Lithuania
Survival Strategies Under a Totalitarian Regime (1940–1990): A Case of Roman Catholic Nuns in Lithuania

Summary/Abstract: The paper presents how different surviving strategies of Lithuanian Roman Catholic nuns were used in the Soviet totalitarian regime (1940–1990). The research is focused on the life stories of Lithuanian women from three Roman Catholic religious orders – Sisters of the Poor (or Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary), The Little Servants of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Franciscan sisters, whose activities in Soviet times were clandestine. This paper represents the issue of monastic life claimed illegal under the Soviet totalitarian regime and displacement of religious community members. Life stories of the women testify that the main strategy for survival the Roman Catholic nuns living under the Soviet totalitarian regime used was different forms of silent resistance. Under the conditions of persecution, the activity of nuns was very significant retaining the main functions of Catholic Church in Lithuania.

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