13 Facts About Julijans Vaivods

Julijans Vaivods was a Latvian Catholic prelate who served as Apostolic Administrator of Riga and of Liepaja from 1964 until his death in 1990.

Julijans Vaivods was made a cardinal in 1983, the first from Latvia.

Julijans Vaivods was the oldest living cardinal when he died at age 94.

Julijans Vaivods was a KGB agent throughout the Soviet period in Latvia.

Julijans Vaivods studied at the Saint Petersburg Roman Catholic Theological Academy, Russia.

Julijans Vaivods was ordained priest for the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Mohilev by Bishop Jan Cieplak on 7 April 1918 in St Petersburg.

Julijans Vaivods was initially sent back to Latgale to serve as a parish priest and school chaplain.

Julijans Vaivods came under the jurisdiction of the newly restored Diocese of Riga on 22 September 1918.

Julijans Vaivods was sent to serve as a parish priest in Courland in 1925.

Julijans Vaivods later came under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Liepaja when it was created in 1937.

Bishop Julijans Vaivods returned to Rome in 1965 to participate in the fourth session of the Second Vatican Council.

Julijans Vaivods died in 1990 and was buried at the Basilica of the Assumption in Aglona.

Julijans Vaivods remained a collaborator with the KGB through the Soviet period.