Its alternate names include Anastasevskaya, Jewie (Polish), Vevis, Viyevis, V’yevis, and Yev’ye.

About 1600, the Ogiński family built a Uniate church and founded the abbey of the Holy Spirit (Lithuanian: Šventosios dvasios).

[2] The printing press is featured on the modern coat of arms of the city, adopted in 1999.

The town used to be among those with the largest Polish population, with roughly 77% inhabitants identifying themselves as Poles.

[citation needed] In 2011 census, only 10.9% of inhabitants identified themselves as Poles as well as 3.74% Russians and 82.56% Lithuanians.