Walerian Protasewicz

Walerian Protasewicz
Coat of arms	Drzewica
Born	c. 1505 Shushkova near Lahojsk
Died	31 December 1579 Vilnius

Walerian Protasewicz (also: Protaszewicz-Szuszkowski, Lithuanian: Valerijonas Protasevičius; born around 1505, died 31 December 1579 in Vilnius) was bishop of Lutsk (1549–1555) and Vilnius (1555–1579). To combat Reformation he invited Jesuits to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. He funded the Jesuit college in Vilnius and obtained Papal and Royal privileges to convert the college into Vilnius University in 1579. The university soon became spiritual and cultural center of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

Protasewicz was born in a family of Ruthenian nobles (szlachta) in a small village of Shushkova (Belarusian: Шушкова, Polish: Szuszkow) near Kraysk in a further Minsk Voivodeship (Grand Duchy of Lithuania). It is unknown where he received his education or when he was ordained as a priest. He was friends with Stanislovas Kęsgaila, Elder of Samogitia. Perhaps through this connection Protasewicz obtained a position at the chancellery of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. There he worked as a scribe, notary, secretary until 1549. From 1532 to 1544, he headed the chancellery of Queen Bona Sforza. With her support Protasewicz received benefice of Maišiagala in 1533.

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