List of Catholic pilgrimage sites in Lithuania

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There are many Catholic pilgrimage sites in Lithuania. There is no official list or designation of the sites. The government established the Pilgrim Route of John Paul II (16 sites) in 2007 though there are many more sites that attract local pilgrims. There are many sites visited by residents of the same parish or deanery, or sites that saw their devotion diminish through the years. Priest Robertas Gedvydas Skrinskas in his 1999 guide to pilgrimage sites counted more than 100 Marian images that are considered miraculous and 25 sites of Marian apparitions.[1] As of 2013, there were 33 Lourdes grottoes in Lithuania, mainly in Samogitia.[2] The list below includes only the key sites that continue to be visited by pilgrims.

History

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Catholic pilgrimage sites in Lithuania started developing in the 17th century. Such delayed development was caused by the late Christianization of Lithuania in 1387 and the slow adoption of Christianity among the population that still worshiped pagan gods.[3] The first known pilgrimage took place in 1604 when Bishop Benedykt Woyna [pl] organized a Jesuit pilgrimage from Vilnius to the Mother of God of Trakai. Šiluva became a pilgrimage destination after a Marian apparition in 1608—the only recognized apparition in Lithuania. The first cavalries in Žemaičių Kalvarija and Verkiai (Vilnius) were built in 1637–1642 and 1662–1669.[4] Vilnius attracted pilgrims not only with the Calvary, but also with the relics of Saint Casimir in Vilnius Cathedral (dedicated Chapel of Saint Casimir was completed in 1636) and Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn (dedicated chapel was completed in 1671). Many pilgrims traveled not to visit specific sites but to get an indulgence during parish festivals (Lithuanian: atlaidai).[1] During the Soviet anti-religious campaign in 1958–1964, the authorities of the Lithuanian SSR took active measures to hinder the pilgrims and destroy several pilgrimage sites – chapels of Verkiai and Vepriai Calvaries [lt] were demolished while crosses were removed from the Hill of Crosses.[1] After the Lithuania regained independence in 1990, many sites were repaired or reconstructed or new chapels were built (e.g. Janoniai Chapel [lt] and Kvintiškės Chapel [lt] at the sites of Marian apparitions in 1962 and 1967). In 1993, during his visit to Lithuania, Pope John Paul II visited several key pilgrimage sites, including the Gate of Dawn, Hill of Crosses, and Šiluva.[1] In 2007, for the 15th anniversary of his visit, Lithuanian bishops and Lithuanian government established a pilgrim route of Pope John Paul II with 14 sites; two more sites were added in 2009. The route includes Šiauliai Cathedral and Christ's Resurrection Church, Kaunas due to their architectural and historical significance.[3] In 2013, several Municipalities of Lithuania established several routes inspired by Camino de Santiago (St. James Way) that connect different churches of St. James in different regions of Lithuania.[5]

List

Catholic pilgrimage sites in Lithuania based on list by Darius Liutikas[1][3]
Site Significance Reason for pilgrimage Coordinates Near town/city Municipality Diocese Image
Beržoras Catholic Church Regional Marian image; Calvary 56°1′31″N 21°48′46″E / 56.02528°N 21.81278°E / 56.02528; 21.81278 (Beržoras Catholic Church) Beržoras [lt] Plungė District Municipality Diocese of Telšiai File:BZN Berzoras church front sideview left 3.jpg
Gate of Dawn International Marian image (Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn) 54°40′28″N 25°17′22″E / 54.67444°N 25.28944°E / 54.67444; 25.28944 (Gate of Dawn) Vilnius Vilnius City Municipality Archdiocese of Vilnius File:Gate of Dawn Exterior, Vilnius, Lithuania - Diliff.jpg
Hill of Crosses International Crosses 56°00′55″N 23°25′00″E / 56.01528°N 23.41667°E / 56.01528; 23.41667 (Hill of Crosses) Šiauliai Šiauliai District Municipality Diocese of Šiauliai File:Colina de las Cruces, Lituania, 2012-08-09, DD 28.JPG
Janoniai Chapel [lt] Regional Marian apparition 55°23′13″N 25°12′46″E / 55.38694°N 25.21278°E / 55.38694; 25.21278 (Janoniai Chapel) Skiemonys Molėtai District Municipality Diocese of Panevėžys File:Janonys, koplyčia.JPG
Kaunas Cathedral Regional Marian image 54°53′49″N 23°53′20″E / 54.89694°N 23.88889°E / 54.89694; 23.88889 (Kaunas Cathedral) Kaunas Kaunas City Municipality Archdiocese of Kaunas File:Kovno Cathedral.jpg
Kazokiškės Catholic Church [lt] Regional Marian image 54°49′00″N 24°50′25″E / 54.81667°N 24.84028°E / 54.81667; 24.84028 (Kazokiškės Catholic Church) Kazokiškės Trakai District Municipality Archdiocese of Vilnius File:Kazokiskes church 3.JPG
Keturnaujiena Chapel [lt] National Marian apparition 54°51′1″N 22°54′37″E / 54.85028°N 22.91028°E / 54.85028; 22.91028 (Keturnaujiena Chapel) Keturnaujiena [lt] Šakiai District Municipality Diocese of Vilkaviškis File:Suodžių koplyčia.JPG
Krekenava Basilica [lt] Regional Marian image 55°32′45″N 24°5′52″E / 55.54583°N 24.09778°E / 55.54583; 24.09778 (Krekenava Basilica) Krekenava Panevėžys District Municipality Diocese of Panevėžys File:Krekenava, bažnyčios priekis.JPG
Kryžiai Chapel [lt] Regional Marian image; crosses 54°15′38″N 23°41′38″E / 54.26056°N 23.69389°E / 54.26056; 23.69389 (Kryžiai Chapel) Šventežeris Lazdijai District Municipality Diocese of Vilkaviškis File:Kryžių koplyčia.JPG
Kvintiškės Chapel [lt] Regional Marian apparition 55°48′10″N 26°5′1″E / 55.80278°N 26.08361°E / 55.80278; 26.08361 (Kvintiškės Chapel) Inbradas [lt] Zarasai District Municipality Diocese of Panevėžys File:Kvintiškių koplyčia.JPG
Linkuva Catholic Church [lt] Regional Marian image 56°5′5″N 23°58′30″E / 56.08472°N 23.97500°E / 56.08472; 23.97500 (Linkuva Catholic Church) Linkuva Pakruojis District Municipality Diocese of Šiauliai File:Linkuvos baznycia su tvora.jpg
Marijampolė Basilica [lt] Regional Blessed Jurgis Matulaitis 54°33′19″N 23°20′39″E / 54.55528°N 23.34417°E / 54.55528; 23.34417 (Marijampollė Basilica) Marijampolė Marijampolė Municipality Diocese of Vilkaviškis File:Marijampolė Šv arkangelo Mykolo mažoji bazilika (Large).jpg
Mažučiai Spring [lt] Regional Marian apparition; spring 54°42′18″N 23°07′05″E / 54.70500°N 23.11806°E / 54.70500; 23.11806 (Mažučiai Spring) Alksnėnai [lt] Vilkaviškis District Municipality Diocese of Vilkaviškis File:Mažučių koplyčia.JPG
Pažaislis Monastery Regional Marian image 54°52′34″N 24°1′19″E / 54.87611°N 24.02194°E / 54.87611; 24.02194 (Pažaislis Monastery) Kaunas Kaunas City Municipality Archdiocese of Kaunas File:Pažaislis Monastery exterior, Kaunas, Lithuania - Diliff.jpg
Pivašiūnai Catholic Church [lt] National Marian image 54°27′39″N 24°22′20″E / 54.46083°N 24.37222°E / 54.46083; 24.37222 (Pivašiūnai Catholic Church) Pivašiūnai Alytus District Municipality Diocese of Kaišiadorys File:Pivašiūnai, Lithuania - panoramio (15).jpg
Sanctuary of the Divine Mercy International Christological image (Divine Mercy image) 54°40′53″N 25°17′08″E / 54.68139°N 25.28556°E / 54.68139; 25.28556 (Sanctuary of the Divine Mercy) Vilnius Vilnius City Municipality Archdiocese of Vilnius File:Divine Mercy Sanctuary in Vilnius4.JPG
Šiluva Basilica [lt] National Marian image (Our Lady of Šiluva) 55°31′49″N 23°13′29″E / 55.53028°N 23.22472°E / 55.53028; 23.22472 (Šiluva Basilica) Šiluva Raseiniai District Municipality Archdiocese of Kaunas File:Siluva Basilika Mariä Geburt 2.JPG
Šiluva Chapel [lt] National Marian apparition 55°31′50″N 23°13′11″E / 55.53056°N 23.21972°E / 55.53056; 23.21972 (Šiluva Chapel) Šiluva Raseiniai District Municipality Archdiocese of Kaunas File:Šiluvos Švč. Mergelės Marijos Apsireiškimo koplyčia - panoramio.jpg
Telšiai Cathedral Regional Bishops Justinas Staugaitis and Vincentas Borisevičius 55°58′56″N 22°14′47″E / 55.98222°N 22.24639°E / 55.98222; 22.24639 (Telšiai Cathedral) Telšiai Telšiai District Municipality Diocese of Telšiai File:Telšiai Cathedral Exterior, Telšiai, Lithuania - Diliff.jpg
Trakai Catholic Church Regional Marian image (Mother of God of Trakai) 54°38′34″N 24°56′4″E / 54.64278°N 24.93444°E / 54.64278; 24.93444 (Trakai Catholic Church) Trakai Trakai District Municipality Archdiocese of Vilnius File:Trakai church full.jpg
Tytuvėnai Monastery Regional Calvary 55°35′48″N 23°12′01″E / 55.59667°N 23.20028°E / 55.59667; 23.20028 (Tytuvėnai Monastery) Tytuvėnai Kelmė District Municipality Diocese of Šiauliai File:Tytuvenai, 2007-04-21.jpg
Vepriai Calvary [lt] Regional Calvary 55°9′00″N 24°34′32″E / 55.15000°N 24.57556°E / 55.15000; 24.57556 (Vepriai Calvary) Vepriai Ukmergė District Municipality Archdiocese of Kaunas File:Kryžiaus kelio stotis - panoramio.jpg
Verkiai Calvary Regional Calvary 54°43′51″N 25°17′14″E / 54.73083°N 25.28722°E / 54.73083; 25.28722 (Verkiai Calvary) Vilnius Vilnius City Municipality Archdiocese of Vilnius File:Three chapels of Verkiai Calvary.jpg
Vilnius Cathedral International Marian image; Saint Casimir 54°41′09″N 25°17′16″E / 54.68583°N 25.28778°E / 54.68583; 25.28778 (Vilnius Cathedral) Vilnius Vilnius City Municipality Archdiocese of Vilnius File:Vilnius Cathedral Exterior 2, Vilnius, Lithuania - Diliff.jpg
Žemaičių Kalvarija National Marian image; Calvary 56°6′36″N 22°0′38″E / 56.11000°N 22.01056°E / 56.11000; 22.01056 (Žemaičių Kalvarija) Žemaičių Kalvarija Plungė District Municipality Diocese of Telšiai File:Žemaičių Kalvarija Church 2, Lithuania - Diliff.jpg

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Liutikas, Darius (2005). "Piligrimystės vietų tinklas Lietuvoje: geografinė retrospektyva" (PDF). Geografijos metraštis (in lietuvių). 38 (1): 148–158. ISSN 2335-8610.
  2. ↑ Liutikas, Darius (2014). "Religinių objektų Lietuvoje geografinių vietų analizė" (PDF). Geografijos metraštis (in lietuvių). 47: 111. ISSN 2335-8610.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Liutikas, Darius (2009). Piligrimystė. Vertybių ir tapatumo išraiškos kelionėse (PDF) (in lietuvių). Socialinių tyrimų institutas and Lietuvos piligrimų bendrija. pp. 123–133. ISBN 978-609-95111-0-8.
  4. ↑ Liutikas, Darius (30 May 2018). "Religious Pilgrimage Routes in the Baltic Countries: History and Perspectives". In Olsen, Daniel H.; Trono, Anna (eds.). Religious Pilgrimage Routes and Trails: Sustainable Development and Management. CABI Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Series. CABI. pp. 104–106. ISBN 978-1786390271.
  5. ↑ "Šv. Jokūbo kelias Lietuvoje" (in lietuvių). Lietuvos Šv. Jokūbo kelio savivaldybių asociacija. Retrieved 6 January 2020.

External links

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