Hill of Crosses

=== Early history===

Over the generations, the place has come to signify the peaceful endurance of Lithuanian people despite the threats they faced throughout history. After the 3rd partition of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1795, Lithuania became part of the Russian Empire. Poles and Lithuanians unsuccessfully rebelled against Russian authorities in 1831 and 1863. These two uprisings are connected with the beginnings of the hill: as families could not locate bodies of perished rebels, they started putting up symbolic crosses at the site of a former hill fort.

File:Papal Commemoration Stone, Hill of Crosses (Šiauliai, Lithuania).JPG

When the old political structure of Eastern Europe fell apart in 1918, Lithuania once again declared its independence. Throughout this time, the Hill of Crosses was used as a place for Lithuanians to pray for peace, for their country, and for the loved ones they had lost during the Wars of Independence.

The Lithuanian public was subject to religious persecution, during the occupation of the Soviet Union from 1944 to 1990. Many of these endeavors included the persecution of clergy members, anti-religious propaganda, and the prohibition of religious teachings.{{Cite journal |last=Narkutè |first=Vilma |date=2006 |title=The Confrontation Between the Lithuanian Catholic Church and the Soviet Regime |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/43251067 |journal=New Blackfriars |volume=87 |issue=1011 |pages=456–475 |doi=10.1111/j.1741-2005.2006.00105.x |jstor=43251067 |issn=0028-4289}} As a continuation of their ancestors, the Lithuanian populace continued to safeguard their religious freedoms, this encompassing the Hill of Crosses. Visitors would carry crosses with them, either to commemorate their loved ones, offer prayers for better health or success, or as a tribute to significant historical events.{{Cite book |last=Pazos |first=Antón M. |title=Redefining pilgrimage: new perspectives on historical and contemporary pilgrimages |date=2014 |publisher=Ashgate |isbn=978-1-4094-6823-3 |series=Compostela international studies in pilgrimage history and culture |location=Farnham Surrey, England Burlington}}  

However, during this period, the Hill of Crosses signified the public's opposition to Soviet suppression. This contradicted the prevailing Soviet ideology of the era. The members of the Soviet KGB recognized this, resulting in prolonged efforts to destroy the landmark and prevent new emergences of crosses.{{Cite web |url=http://openarchive.icomos.org/cgi/export/eprint/124/HTML/icomos-eprint-124.html |access-date=2023-09-29 |title= Lithuanian crosses and the spirit of place: Transmitting the spirit of place |website=openarchive.icomos.org}} Despite the peaceful resistance, the Soviets bulldozed the site three separate times, and there were rumors that authorities planned on flooding the area.{{Cite web |title=Kryžių kalnas. Hill of Crosses |url=https://kryziukalnas.lt/?id=44 |access-date=2023-09-29 |website=kryziukalnas.lt}} The Soviets used other numerous tactics to deter the public from visiting the hill, such as deeming the crosses had no artistic value, blocking roads from visitors, and guarding of the hill by the KGB and Soviet army. The Soviets would apprehend anyone bringing crosses to the hill, usually resulting in penalties and incarceration.{{Cite web |last=Gerulaityte |first=Egle |title=Lithuania's miraculous hill of 100,000 crosses |url=https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20171026-lithuanias-miraculous-hill-of-100000-crosses |access-date=2023-09-29 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en}} Despite these efforts to destroy the landmark, the Lithuanian public would continue to bring crosses to the hill every night,{{Cite web |title=Kryžių kalnas. Hill of Crosses |url=https://kryziukalnas.lt/?id=44 |access-date=2023-09-29 |website=kryziukalnas.lt}} risking harsh punishment.

File:Hill of crosses after fire in 2021.jpg

In May 2013, Šiauliai District Municipality adopted rules regarding the placement of crosses. People are allowed to erect wooden crosses less than {{convert|3|m}} in height with no permits.{{cite web| url=http://siauliurajonas.lt/lt_LT/kryziu-kalnas/kryziu-kalno-lankymo-taisykles/ |title=Kryžių kalno lankymo taisyklės |publisher=Šiaulių rajono turizmo ir verslo informacijos centras |language=lt |date=16 May 2013 |author=Šiaulių rajono savivaldybės taryba |accessdate=6 January 2020 }} In December 2019, a tourist from China removed and tossed away a cross believed to be set up by the Hong Kong pro-democracy camp. She later condemned the protesters in a Twitter post and in an Instagram video saying, "We have done a good thing today. Our motherland is great."{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/7ee8dc0ea88df720118048e1b1732738|title=Lithuania outraged by Chinese tourist's removal of HK cross|date=2019-12-30|website=AP NEWS|access-date=2020-04-21}} Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius condemned the woman's action in a tweet that called it a "shameful, disgraceful act of vandalism" and said such behavior "can't and won't be tolerated".{{Cite web|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/mobile/world/lithuania-outraged-by-chinese-tourist-s-removal-of-hong-kong-cross-1.4747250|title=Lithuania outraged by Chinese tourist's removal of Hong Kong cross|last=Dapkus|first=Liudas|date=2019-12-30|website=CTVNews|language=en|access-date=2020-01-01}}

After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1990, the practice of Lithuanian cross-crafting became very popular.{{Cite web |title=UNESCO - Cross-crafting and its symbolism |url=http://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/cross-crafting-and-its-symbolism-00013 |access-date=2023-09-30 |website=ich.unesco.org |language=en}} Visitors were able to make crosses out of small twigs and rocks and tie them together with grass,{{Cite web |title=Lietuvos kultūros paveldo tūkstantmečio virtuali paroda: religija |url=http://www.lcn.lt/paveldas2000_relig/all/b_1_4_3.htm |access-date=2023-09-30 |website=www.lcn.lt}} in order to show their support. Due to the symbolism of cross-crafting during the Soviet occupation, UNESCO named Lithuanian cross-crafting in the lists of good safeguarding practices and intangible cultural heritage.{{Cite web |title=UNESCO - Browse the Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage and the Register of good safeguarding practices |url=http://ich.unesco.org/en/lists |access-date=2023-09-30 |website=ich.unesco.org |language=en}} The hill stood as a testament to the Lithuanian people's determination to preserve their religious and national identity during these times. As a result, in the post-Soviet years, the number of crosses exploded. Free from religious oppression, the Lithuanian public was able to practice their religious beliefs without fear of persecution. Due to its religious significance, it became a site of catholic pilgrimage. On September 7, 1993, Pope John Paul II visited the Hill of Crosses, declaring it a place for hope, peace, love, and sacrifice. In 2000, a Franciscan hermitage was opened nearby. The interior decoration draws links with La Verna, the mountain where St. Francis is said to have received his stigmata.{{cite book |last=Jankevičiūtė |first=Giedrė |title=Lietuva. Vadovas |publisher=R. Paknys press |year=2006 |isbn=9986-830-97-4 |pages=256–257 |language=lt}}

File:IHill of Crosses in LT.jpg

File:Hill of crosses at night.jpg|Hill of crosses at night in 2022

File:Pilgrims at Hill of crosses.jpg|Pilgrims travel to the Hill of crosses

File:Colina de las Cruces, Lituania, 2012-08-09, DD 12.JPG|General view of the Hill of Crosses

File:Kryziu kalno koplycia nakti 20150818.jpg|Chapel

File:Johannes Paulus II 1993.jpg|Pope John Paul II

File:Kryziu kalnas nakti 2014-12-25.jpg|Hill of Crosses at night

File:Colina de las Cruces, Lituania, 2012-08-09, DD 02.JPG

File:Colina de las Cruces, Lituania, 2012-08-09, DD 06.JPG

File:Colina de las Cruces, Lituania, 2012-08-09, DD 13.JPG

File:Colina de las Cruces, Lituania, 2012-08-09, DD 15.JPG

File:Colina de las Cruces, Lituania, 2012-08-09, DD 19.JPG

File:Colina de las cruces 2016.jpg

File:Hill of crosses in Lithuania.jpg

• Lithuanian cross crafting
• Three Crosses – prominent monument in Vilnius, capital of Lithuania
• Žemaičių Kalvarija – pilgrimage site in Samogitia, Lithuania
• Khatchkars – Armenian monumental crosses
• {{portal-inline|Lithuania}}

{{Reflist|2}}

• [https://www.hillofcrosses.org/ HillofCrosses.org]

{{commons}}

• [http://kryziukalnas.lt/ KryziuKalnas.lt]
• [http://turizmas.info/visit/lithuania/jurgaiciai/hill-crosses/21/28poUil Hill of Crosses Lithuania]
• [https://www.vatican.va/jubilee_2000/magazine/documents/ju_mag_01031997_p-66_en.html Speech by John Paul II]
• [https://www.hillofcrosses.com/ HillofCrosses.com]

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Category:Catholic pilgrimage sites

Category:Landmarks in Lithuania

Category:Religious buildings and structures in Lithuania

Category:Roman Catholic shrines in Lithuania

Category:Votive offering

Category:Buildings and structures in Šiauliai County

Category:Tourist attractions in Šiauliai County