title: Varniai
text: # Varniai
  
  Varniai (pronunciation (help·info); Samogitian: Varnē; Polish: Wornie) is a city in the Telšiai County, western Lithuania. In the Middle Ages the city was known as Medininkai (Samogitian: Medėninkā).
  
  It was established in the 14th century, on the bank of the Varnelė River, near an important Samogitian castle. It was the center of Samogitian Catholic church: after the baptism of Samogitia, the Samogitian Bishop resided in the town. Around 1414–1416 the first church was built, and c. 1464 the first cathedral.
  
  Varniai was the center of Samogitian episcopate until the middle of the 19th century, when authorities of the Russian Empire moved it to Kaunas.
  
  With support of Merkelis Giedraitis, Mikalojus Daukša translated and made ready for publication Katechizmas, the first Lithuanian language book printed in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, then part of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.
  
  It was also residence of Motiejus Valančius.
  
  ## Gallery
  
  * Varniai as depicted in Carta marina
  * One of the Varniai streets
  * Samogitian Diocese seat in Varniai
  * Church of St. Peter and St. Paul
  * Interior of the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul
  * Bishops of Samogitia sarcophagus in the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul basement
  * St. Alexander's Church
  * Varniai Centre of Culture
  * Varniai eldership building
  * Merkelis Giedraitis Monument
  * Mikalojus Daukša Monument
  * Motiejus Valančius Monument
  * Former house of Motiejus Valančius
  * Varniai Motiejus Valančius Gymnasium
  
  ## Notable residents
  
  * Boris Schatz
  * Merkelis Giedraitis
  * Mikalojus Daukša
  * Motiejus Valančius
  