Catechism of Mikalojus Daukša

The Catechism, or Education Obligatory to Every Christian (Lithuanian: Katekizmas, arba mokslas kiekvienam krikščioniui privalus, original Lithuanian: Kathechismas, arba Mokslas kiekwienam krikszczionii priwalvs) of Mikalojus Daukša was the first Lithuanian-language book printed in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. It was published by the press of Vilnius Jesuit Academy in 1595 with financial support of Bishop Merkelis Giedraitis. The catechism is not an original work but a translation. As such, the work holds little value in terms of content, but is extremely valuable to the study of the Lithuanian language due to its lexical richness. The sole surviving copy is kept at Vilnius University Library.

There were earlier publications in Lithuanian, but they were published by Protestants in the Duchy of Prussia, including Catechism of Martynas Mažvydas in 1547 and Postil of Jonas Bretkūnas in 1591. Earlier researchers, including Vaclovas Biržiška and Zenonas Ivinskis, claimed that a translation of the catechism by Peter Canisius was published in Vilnius around 1585. That would put Daukša's catechism only as the first surviving Lithuanian-language book printed in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The claim was based on two documents: a 1589 letter to Albert Frederick, Duke of Prussia, and foreword of the 1605 catechism printed in Vilnius. Upon careful analysis, it is likely that the letter referred to Latvian translation of Canisius' catechism, instigated by papal legate Antonio Possevino, translated by Erdmann Tolgsdorf (), and published in Vilnius in 1585. It is the oldest surviving book in the Latvian language. The foreword refers to a "lost" translation of Ledesma's catechism, but that is likely a reference to linguistic disputes that led to rejection of Daukša's work and re-translation of the catechism in 1605. The hypothetical Lithuanian catechism of 1585 is not reliably attested in any contemporary sources such as personal correspondence, subsequent published works, or catalogs of old archives and libraries. Therefore, according to Sergejus Temčinas, the claim should be rejected and Daukša's catechism should be considered the first Lithuanian-language book printed in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

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