Abraomas Kulvietis

Abraomas Kulvietis (Abraham Culvensis or Abraham Culvensis Lituanus, Abracham Kulwieć) (born circa 1509 in Kulva, now Jonava district of Lithuania, died June 19, 1545, in Kulva). He was a jurist and a professor at Königsberg Albertina University, as well as a Reformer of the church.

Abraomas was born into an old Lithuanian noble family of middle wealth. Between 1528 and 1537 he studied in many universities across Europe, including Jagiellonian University. Later, as he became aware of humanist reforms, he moved to Leuven University, where he studied the works of Desiderius Erasmus. He continued studying in Wittenberg, where he studied Martin Luther's teachings. In 1536 he moved to Leipzig and finally Sienna, where in 1537 he was granted the title Doctor of Law.

After receiving his title, he returned to Lithuania, giving lectures in Vilnius and working under protection by Queen Bona Sforza and Sigismund II Augustus. In 1540 he founded his own school where he taught about 60 pupils. He was generally unpopular among the Catholic hierarchy because of his Lutheran beliefs, and when the queen was away in 1542 Abraomas was forced to leave the country. He helped in the creation of Königsberg Albertina University, and later he was the first professor of classic Hebrew and Greek. He was also the first translator of Lithuanian Evangelian songs.

In 1545, he was allowed to came back to Lithuania. He was already ill with tuberculosis when he left Prussia, and he died at his parents' home in Kulva.

Kulvietis 24 lines hymnal "Malonus dėkavojimas Ponui Dievui" was printed in Martynas Mažvydas collected book Gesmes Chriksczoniskas, Gedomas Baszniczosu Per Aduenta ir Kaledas ik Gramniczu.