Vilnius - The Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, became the focus for a day of national celebration on Monday with a series of events marking one thousand years since the first mention of the country appeared in history books.

Events got underway with the hoisting of the yellow, green and red-banded national flag in central Vilnius and a mass at Vilnius Cathedral.

Guests included Presidents Lech Kaczynski of Poland and Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine, both of whose territories were at one time included in a Polish-Lithuanian empire that stretched from the Baltic to the Black Sea.

Representatives of various European royal families were among the first guests to be admitted to a royal palace that has been rebuilt as part of the millennial celebrations, even though the project is only about two-thirds complete.

Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus, who is due to step down later this week, called on Lithuanians around the world to unite in the celebrations.

"Let us sing our anthem with all our hearts and full voice, wherever we are, to announce proudly and loudly that the name of Lithuania is a thousand years old," he said.

The Chronicles of Quedlinburg in Germany, record the murder of St Bruno and 18 of his colleagues "on the Russian-Lithuanian border" in 1009. His martyrdom is the first mention of Lithuania in a written text. (dpa)