Milestone for Prof. Jonas Kazlauskas Award: Fund Doubles as Latest Winner Announced

Dr. Alius Jaskelevičius, a researcher at Vilnius University (VU) Faculty of Philology has received the Prof. Jonas Kazlauskas Award. Patrons Eglė and Romualdas Danielius have allocated an additional 150,000 euros to the Prof. J. Kazlauskas Endowment Sub-Fund.

The Prof. Jonas Kazlauskas Award was presented to Dr. Alius Jaskelevičius for his outstanding work in the field of philological science. The researcher was recognized for his translations of the texts of St. John Chrysostom (345–407), which were published in the book St. John Chrysostom: Treatises and Sermons (Katalikų pasaulio leidiniai, 2025). Dr. Jaskelevičius translated the selected texts from Ancient Greek. The works of John Chrysostom, now speaking in Lithuanian, significantly contribute to the development of the humanities, enriching the treasury of Lithuanian theological and philosophical literature.

"In accepting this Prof. Jonas Kazlauskas Award, I want to emphasize its communal aspect: it is the community of philologists, which I am proud to be a part of, that is the primary sharer of this award. Both as a student of classical philology and later as a lecturer and researcher, I realized that I owe all my personal achievements not only to nature but also to the community (in both the narrow and broad senses) to whom my work is primarily dedicated. In the word 'philology,' one of the components is related to the word 'love': philology as a love for the word, language, and thought also reveals another dimension—love for the people you are connected with and whom these things unite. I symbolically share my award with both my homeland and the community of the Faculty of Philology," says the laureate, Dr. A. Jaskelevičius.

The laureate also expressed his gratitude to the VU Foundation, Prof. Jonas Kazlauskas, and his family. According to Dr. Jaskelevičius, thanks to the noble patronage of Eglė and Romualdas Danielius, many early-career researchers feel encouraged to actively continue their scientific research and academic careers at Vilnius University.

The award is funded by the investment returns of the Prof. J. Kazlauskas endowment sub-fund, established within the VU Foundation in 2024. The 3,500-euro award aims to honor the memory of one of Lithuania's most prominent linguists and to provide financial encouragement to talented early-career researchers in philology.

The patrons have doubled the philanthropic sub-fund. The prominent linguist's daughter, Eglė Danielienė, and her husband, Romualdas Danielius, allocated an additional 150,000 euros to the Prof. J. Kazlauskas endowment sub-fund, bringing its total value to 300,000 euros following the new contribution.

"We are sincerely grateful to the patrons Eglė Danielienė and Romualdas Danielius for their trust in the Faculty of Philology and their long-term commitment to supporting the development of philological science. The support provided in the name of Prof. Jonas Kazlauskas allows us not only to honor the memory of the prominent Balticist and former dean but also to create new opportunities for today's students and young researchers. The increased Young Researcher Award and the newly established J. Kazlauskas Scholarship to encourage student research are investments in the people who will continue and develop linguistic, literary, and cultural studies in Lithuania in the future. I am convinced that this will be a strong bridge between the work of Prof. Jonas Kazlauskas and the new generation of researchers," says the Dean of the VU Faculty of Philology, Prof. Dr. Mindaugas Kvietkauskas.

According to the dean, the doubled sub-fund has created new financing opportunities for philological science. There are plans not only to increase the current Prof. Jonas Kazlauskas Award for outstanding work in philology but also to establish a scholarship to fund the scientific activities of philology students.

Professor and Habilitated Doctor of Sciences Jonas Kazlauskas (1930-1970)—one of the most prominent specialists in Baltic linguistics of the 20th century—was the de facto leader of post-war Balticist activities. From 1949 to 1954, Prof. J. Kazlauskas studied Lithuanian language and literature at Vilnius University. From 1958 to 1970, he worked as a university lecturer, and from 1962 as an associate professor. In 1968, he defended his degree as a Habilitated Doctor of Philological Sciences. Between 1968 and 1970, Prof. J. Kazlauskas served as the Dean of the VU Faculty of History and Philology, becoming a professor in 1969. Through Prof. J. Kazlauskas's efforts, the Baltic linguistics journal Baltistica was established in 1965, soon gaining international recognition. On the professor's initiative, international conferences of Balticists were organized in Vilnius in 1964 and 1970, which later became traditional events.