In 1909, Mykolaitis enrolled to the
Sejny Priest Seminary, after few years he published his first poem. In 1915, he was ordained as a priest, however he questioned his mission as a priest. Later he continued studies at the
Saint Petersburg Roman Catholic Theological Academy. In Saint Petersburg, Mykolaitis published his first collection of poems in 1917. After Saint Petersburg, Mykolaitis continued his studies at the
University of Fribourg,
Switzerland, and received doctoral degree in 1922. After studies in western Europe, Mykolaitis settled in Lithuania, teaching at the
University of Lithuania. During his stay in France, Mykolaitis started to work on his most famous novel — ''
(In the Shadow of the Altars''). The 3-part novel was published in 1933 and caused a scandal in Lithuania as it described a priest doubting and eventually renouncing his calling. In 1935, Mykolaitis renounced his priesthood. In 1940, he started to work at
Vilnius University, there he became professor. Other notable works of Mykolaitis were novel
Sukilėliai (Rebels; unfinished) and
Tarp dviejų aušrų (Between Two Dawns). Mykolaitis died in 1967 in
Kačerginė near
Kaunas and was buried in
Rasos Cemetery,
Vilnius. ==Commemoration==