Vitas

Vitas (born 19 February 1979) is the stage name of Vitaliy Vladasovich Grachov (Ukrainian: Віталій Владасович Грачов), a Russian singer, and songwriter. He sings mainly in the Russian language.

His music is often difficult to categorize, incorporating elements of techno, dance, classical, jazz and folk music. His 2000 song, "Opera #2", released as a single in 2001, has been forwarded over email and on various social networks frequently via the internet, which accounts for much of his worldwide recognition. He designs his own stage costumes. DIVA (ДИВА) is the name of the band that accompanies Vitas during his concerts.

Vitas has achieved much notability through Russian television, and since 2005 his career has advanced into Asian markets. He has signed with entertainment labels such as Universal which distributes his music in Taiwan, and he has toured extensively in China and several other countries. He has performed duets with many other singers including Demis Roussos, Lucio Dalla, and his own grandfather Arkadiy Davydovich Marantsman (Аркадий Давыдович Маранцман), with whom he sings "Friendship".

Vitas (disambiguation)

Vitas might refer to:

Vitas (bishop)

The Blessed Vitas, O.P., or Wit (died ca. 1269) was a Polish Dominican friar and the first bishop in Lithuania (1253–1255).

Little is known about his origins, early career or his episcopal work. It is likely that he was a student of the first Polish Dominican, Hyacinth of Poland.

Following the conversion to Christianity and coronation of King Mindaugas during the summer of 1253, there was some delay in appointing a bishop for the Grand Duchy of Lithuania due to political intrigues. In October or November 1253, Pełka, Bishop of Gniezno, consecrated Wit (Lithuanian: Vitas) and tasked him with the conversion of the Lithuanian people. However, he was not recognized by Mindaugas or accepted by the populace and his activities in Lithuania are unknown, although he is sometimes associated with Mindaugas' Cathedral.

In 1254, the priest Christian (Lithuanian: Kristijonas), a member of the Livonian Order, was appointed bishop and recognised by King Mindaugas with the grant of lands in Samogitia. In 1254, Vitas wrote to Pope Innocent IV about the deplorable conditions of Christians in Lithuania and asked for a transfer. On March 1, 1255, Pope Alexander IV granted Vitas' petition.