President Valdas Adamkus started his state visit to the Republic of Chile by visiting the House of Ignacio Domeyko, a world-famous scholar, mineralogist, geologist, ethnologist, educator, Rector of the University of Chile, and eminent citizen of Chile.
President Valdas Adamkus started his state visit to the Republic of Chile by visiting the House of Ignacio Domeyko, a world-famous scholar, mineralogist, geologist, ethnologist, educator, Rector of the University of Chile, and eminent citizen of Chile.
President Adamkus met with members of the Domeyko family and viewed Domeyko’s historical home and its carefully preserved authentic interior. A commemorative plaque was unveiled to Ignacio Domeyko: “In memory of the alumni of Vilnius University, Son of Lithuania and Chile, who dedicated his life to science and the society.”
President Adamkus noted that the House of Ignacio Domeyko had preserved not only an important part if Lithuanian history, but also its very essence.
“This house reminds us that the history of our state is inseparable from the history of Lithuania or Belarus, while Lithuanian culture is inseparable from Polish, Belarusian, Russian, Jewish, Tartar, and Karaite cultures.”
Domeyko considered himself to be equally Lithuanian and Polish: he was a patriot of the Republic of the Two Nations – the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth – and each of them today call Ignacio Domeyko the son of their nation, Mr. Adamkus said.
“But he was also a great patriot of his second homeland – Chile. It was here that he discovered his true vocation and it was here, at this university, that he wrote down his most important insights and completed his works that today are the world’s heritage achievements.”
President Adamkus underlined that the broad world outlook and the universal values that Domeyko believed in and fostered should serve us all as an example.
“His life is an example to be followed by every Lithuanian building a life and pursuing happiness outside of Lithuania – an example of working for the benefit of humanity through high goals and noble deeds, while at the same time loving and promoting your motherland,“ Mr. Adamkus said.
Domeyko’s grand-grandson Pablo Domeyko pointed out that the young people of those times fought for the freedom of their motherland and this struggle found a symbolic continuation in 1990 when Lithuania defeated its occupiers and reestablished independence.
President Valdas Adamkus wrote down in the guest book: “The people of Lithuania are proud of their son who, living far-away from his country of birth, left a huge legacy to the world, culture and science. Chile and Lithuania will always speak to the world with great love about his life and deeds.”