Everybody who was at our tea party was greatly impressed. Our elder brother S. sends you greetings. Tell me in advance when you are again able to come to Vilnius. We will try to organize a modest excursion for you.
Accept my sisterly love. May God protect you,
Teresa
LETTER 2
Dear Valentina Ferdinandovna,
I have been brought a remarkable present from you which is just what I need most of all. The profundity, the boldness, and what metaphor! Unfortunately I do not know English and am unable to appreciate the quality of the translation, but the impression from the book is that it is not translated but an original. There is no strain, complete freedom of thought and words. Thank you so much for your hard work. The author is extremely interesting and very topical.
I have been ill for almost two weeks, and since it was dreadfully cold in the convent all that time, I was allowed, while I was ill, to move to my apartment. Here, too, I have devoted myself to reading and sleeping to excess.
Next week L. is returning from the Vatican and we are looking forward with great impatience to seeing him. Can you imagine, we shall see a person who saw that person.
May God protect you,
Teresa
LETTER 3 (Translated from Lithuanian)
Dear Asta,
I am sending you some warm clothing to pass on to the sisters. There isn’t much money, unfortunately, but I will send it by cash transfer. You will need to tell me yourself what to do about food products. I have heard that if a food parcel is just sent to a particular address, it may not arrive because there are many restrictions.
Perhaps when you are in Vilnius you will come to see us. Ask the gatekeeper to call me or leave a note, and I will write to say when I can meet you. The best time is Sundays from 4 to 6.
May God protect you,
Teresa
LETTER 4 (Translated from Lithuanian.)
Dear Mrs. Jonavi
I am sending you a remarkable book with Janis. It has been translated from English by a Moscow translator who is very close to us in spirit. The book is in manuscript and although it has been offered to a Moscow publishing house there is little likelihood that it will be printed, although sometimes miracles do happen. After all they published the magnificent Teilhard de Chardin! As your journal is independently minded, perhaps you will be able to print at least some excerpts from the book, but translated into Lithuanian. We have people who can help with that and would produce a high-quality translation quickly.
My thanks in advance,
Teresa Benda
ASSESSMENT OF TECHNICAL CONSULTANT
The 4 (four) letters received for technical assessment were written by Teresa Krzysztofowna Benda.
The first addressee is a Moscow translator, Valentina Ferdinandovna Lintse, Candidate of Philological Sciences, lecturer at the distance learning Institute of Culture, reference material No. 0612/173P.
The second addressee is Asta Keller, resident of Vilnius, housewife, member of a prisoners’ support group, engaged in constantly sending postal packages to camps. Reference to card index materials 2F-11.
The third addressee is Anna Gediminovna Jonavi
The author referred to, Teilhard de Chardin, died in 1955. He was a Jesuit, a priest and a palaeontologist. He did not engage in anti-Soviet activity.
Junior Archive Research Assistant Lieutenant Kuzovlev
ACTION: Archive.
Major Perevezentsev
1977, Vilnius
M
AJOR
P
EREVEZENTSEV TO
L
IEUTENANT
-C
OLONEL
C
HERNYKH
INTERNAL MEMORANDUM
It is my duty to inform you that the activities of the underground Catholic convent accommodated in three private apartments in Vilnius is entirely under control. Over the past year the number of so-called nuns has decreased: one of the sisters (Jadwiga Niemcewicz) has died, a second (Teresa Benda) has left the convent and is again living at her registered address. On Sundays a priest, Jurgis Mickevi
Major Perevezentsev
PRIVATE LETTER FROM MAJOR PEREVEZENTSEV TO LIEUTENANT-COLONEL CHERNYKH
Dear Vasiliy Petrovich,
I have written an internal memorandum to you as required, but wish to add that the situation in Vilnius is such that we have neither the time nor the resources to concern ourselves with half-crazy old women. Anti-Soviet nationalistic feeling is very strong, and I am much more concerned about young people. We are currently preparing two major samizdat cases. We could clean out this nest of old women in a day, but I can see no point whatsoever in doing so. The journalists will make a fuss and what will we gain? It is, of course, for you to decide. We are subordinate to the Center, but I urge you, under the old pals’ act, not to burden us with religious oddballs. We have more than enough to cope with already. Give my best wishes to Zinaida and Olga. I think back to how good life was in Dresden!
Alexey Perevezentsev
2. January 1978, Vilnius
F
ROM A LETTER FROM
T
ERESA
B
ENDA TO
V
ALENTINA
F
ERDINANDOVNA
L
INTSE
… the brazenness of this request, or perhaps its audacity. When I arrived at the clinic on 13 February, L. was the color of old paper and looked to have been drenched with water. You cannot imagine, even his lips, which were always so firm and purposeful, had slackened and become as puffy as those of a child. His arms were so swollen he could barely raise them. Every movement clearly cost him an effort. I left with the feeling that he might die at any minute. That night when all the sisters had retired and that special night-time tranquillity had descended which is so conducive to prayer, I got up and prayed fervently. The thought was vouchsafed me that I might depart in his place. In the morning I went to the prioress who is well disposed toward me. I told her that I felt a call to leave in place of L., and she gave me her blessing.
I went immediately to the Church of the Immaculate Conception on Žv
The following morning the prioress whispered to me, “L. underwent an emergency operation last night. He has had a kidney removed. He is at death’s door.” She smiled, as it seemed to me, a little sardonically.
Imagine, everybody had prepared themselves for L.’s death but he turned the corner. His recovery was exceptionally rapid.
Just three weeks later he was discharged from the clinic. The bishop would not allow him to return to Kaunas but himself accommodated L. At Easter he officiated. Throughout the service I was weeping tears of joy. My sacrifice had been accepted and I began to prepare myself.