"Segvārds Vientulis", along the memorial trails of the leader of the Latgale national partisans - priest Antons Juhņevičs
Memorialinis vieta

One of the most heroic pages in the history of the Vanagi parish began in the fall of 1944, after the Soviet occupation returned to Latvia. In Latgale, the resistance of the population to the Soviet regime, the communists and their supporters began. At this time, Antons Yuhņevičs (1905–1947) served as a priest in the Vanagi parish. He was an unusually bright personality, combining a sharp mind, patriotism, and deep faith in God. In his services, he called for resistance to Soviet rule, and also gave refuge in the church to those who were fleeing Soviet repression and were ready to resist foreign rule.

On January 28, 1945, an armed battle took place in the vicinity of Vanagu Church between national partisans and Soviet security service officers – the Chekists. After that, A. Yunņevičs was also forced to go to the forest and join the national partisans. Under the nickname “Vientulis”, he became one of the leaders of the Latvian Fatherland (partisan) association.

You should go to Vanagi, Upmala parish, Preiļi municipality, to hear these stories and historical evidence.

Excursionists will be offered a tour of the church, the parish house, the former Vanagi Primary School, now at the IAC "Vanagi" they will be able to watch the staged documentary film "Segvārds Vientulis" shot in 2014 by director Normunds Pučis, where several well-known Latvian actors play historical figures in the film. The music for the film was written by composer Rihards Dubra. In the hallways of the school, a large-format photo exhibition about the making of the film and the living of the film crew at Vanagi Primary School during filming in Vanagi can be viewed. At the parish house, you will be able to taste a real national partisan meal, groats porridge cooked on a campfire. There will also be an opportunity to walk along the partisan trails in the nearby forest near the church.