Father Piotr Skarga, actually Piotr Powęska, (1536-1612) - Jesuit, theologian, writer, preacher of Polish King Sigismund III Vasa, a leading representative of Polish Counter-Reformation and the rector of the Jesuit College in Vilnius, the first rector of Vilnius University.
He studied at the Cracow Academy of the Philosophy Department. Then he took ordination as a priest and he began preaching activities (inter alia in the Cathedral of Lviv). In 1569 he joined the Jesuit Order in Rome. He returned to Poland after two years and started establishing the Jesuit colleges (e.g. in Polotsk, Riga, Dorpat). He is famous for his important philanthropic activities. In Krakow, he founded the pawnshop for the poor. He was highly-respected priest in Lithuania and Belarus.
He was the first rector of Vilnius Academy. For 24 years he served as court preacher of Sigismund III Vasa, who valued Skarga for his unprecedented personality and oratorical talents. Skarga was an advocate of increasing the royal power by limiting the power of the Sejm (he strongly criticized the Polish nobility). He was against Sigismund III Vasa adaptation of the Swedish crown. He was co-founder of the Union of Brest.
Skarga was buried in the Saint Peter and Paul church in Krakow.
