Tomas Šernas
Encyclopedia
Tomas Šernas was a Lithuania
n customs officer and the only survivor of the Medininkai Massacre on July 31, 1991. He survived the point-blank shot to his head, but became disabled. After extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation, Šernas graduated from theological studies at Klaipėda University
and joined the Reformed churches
as a parson of the Vilnius parish. In 2010, he was elected for a three-year term as the General Superintendent of the Evangelical Reformed Church of Lithuania.
and served two years in aviation security in Caucasus
. After the army he enrolled into the Lithuanian Veterinary Academy
and worked at Kaunas Zoo
.
In 1990, he volunteered for pro-independence Sąjūdis
and joined newly-established State Border Guard Service
. After Lithuania declared independence from the Soviet Union
in March 1990, newly-built border posts became a symbol of independence. These posts were targeted by Soviet OMON forces
– custom officers and policemen were harassed, beaten or killed, cars were stolen or bombed, the posts were burned down or wrecked. On July 31, 1991, OMON
troops from Riga
executed seven officers in Medininkai checkpoint on the Lithuanian–Belarus
ian border. Severely injured Šernas was the only survivor. He suffered brain damage and became disabled. After several years of intense therapy, he regained speech and body movement, even though he still uses a wheelchair.
In 1997, he enrolled into Klaipėda University
and received a bachelor's degree in evangelical theology. He continued the religious studies at Vilnius University
, earning a master's degree in 2002. On June 30, 2002, he was ordained as a priest in Vilnius and headed the Vilnius parish. Several times he was elected as vice-superintendent of the Evangelical Reformed Church of Lithuania. In June 2010, he was elected as General Superintendent for a three-year term.
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
n customs officer and the only survivor of the Medininkai Massacre on July 31, 1991. He survived the point-blank shot to his head, but became disabled. After extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation, Šernas graduated from theological studies at Klaipėda University
Klaipeda University
- Overview :The University was formally founded on January 1, 1991 by a decree of Seimas . The new university incorporated existing institutions of higher education in the city. At its inception, it comprised 3,000 students and three faculties...
and joined the Reformed churches
Reformed churches
The Reformed churches are a group of Protestant denominations characterized by Calvinist doctrines. They are descended from the Swiss Reformation inaugurated by Huldrych Zwingli but developed more coherently by Martin Bucer, Heinrich Bullinger and especially John Calvin...
as a parson of the Vilnius parish. In 2010, he was elected for a three-year term as the General Superintendent of the Evangelical Reformed Church of Lithuania.
Biography
Born to a family of music teachers, Šernas studied veterinary in Buivydiškės. After graduation in 1983, he was drafted to the Soviet armySoviet Army
The Soviet Army is the name given to the main part of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union between 1946 and 1992. Previously, it had been known as the Red Army. Informally, Армия referred to all the MOD armed forces, except, in some cases, the Soviet Navy.This article covers the Soviet Ground...
and served two years in aviation security in Caucasus
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
. After the army he enrolled into the Lithuanian Veterinary Academy
Lithuanian Veterinary Academy
The Lithuanian Veterinary Academy , located in Vilijampolė neighbourhood of Kaunas, Lithuania, was a state-owned, autonomous institution of higher education, with university level status. It conferred degrees in veterinary medicine and provided scientific advice and scientific support in fields...
and worked at Kaunas Zoo
Kaunas Zoo
Lithuanian Zoo previously known as Kaunas' Zoo is the only Zoo in Lithuania. It is located in an Ąžuolynas oak grove park in the south-western Žaliakalnis elderate of Kaunas. The territory of the zoo is ....
.
In 1990, he volunteered for pro-independence Sąjūdis
Sajudis
Sąjūdis initially known as the Reform Movement of Lithuania, is the political organization which led the struggle for Lithuanian independence in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It was established on June 3, 1988 and was led by Vytautas Landsbergis...
and joined newly-established State Border Guard Service
State Border Guard Service (Lithuania)
The State Border Guard Service is the organisation charged with controlling and maintaining the Lithuanian Border. The State Border Guard Service falls under authority of the Ministry of the Interior, which supervises and controls the implementation of border guard policy.-1918-1940:Following the...
. After Lithuania declared independence from the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
in March 1990, newly-built border posts became a symbol of independence. These posts were targeted by Soviet OMON forces
Soviet OMON assaults on Lithuanian border posts
Several Soviet OMON assaults on Lithuanian border posts occurred in 1991, after Lithuania declared its independence from the Soviet Union on March 11, 1990. As a Soviet republic, the Lithuanian SSR did not have a state border with customs or checkpoints...
– custom officers and policemen were harassed, beaten or killed, cars were stolen or bombed, the posts were burned down or wrecked. On July 31, 1991, OMON
OMON
OMOH is a generic name for the system of special units of militsiya within the Russian and earlier the Soviet MVD...
troops from Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
executed seven officers in Medininkai checkpoint on the Lithuanian–Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
ian border. Severely injured Šernas was the only survivor. He suffered brain damage and became disabled. After several years of intense therapy, he regained speech and body movement, even though he still uses a wheelchair.
In 1997, he enrolled into Klaipėda University
Klaipeda University
- Overview :The University was formally founded on January 1, 1991 by a decree of Seimas . The new university incorporated existing institutions of higher education in the city. At its inception, it comprised 3,000 students and three faculties...
and received a bachelor's degree in evangelical theology. He continued the religious studies at Vilnius University
Vilnius University
Vilnius University is the oldest university in the Baltic states and one of the oldest in Eastern Europe. It is also the largest university in Lithuania....
, earning a master's degree in 2002. On June 30, 2002, he was ordained as a priest in Vilnius and headed the Vilnius parish. Several times he was elected as vice-superintendent of the Evangelical Reformed Church of Lithuania. In June 2010, he was elected as General Superintendent for a three-year term.