Religion in Lithuania#Eastern Orthodoxy

The first census in independent Lithuania, in 1923, established the following religious distribution: Catholic — 85.7 per cent; Jews — 7.7 per cent; Protestant — 3.8 per cent; Greek Orthodox — 2.7 per cent."Lithuania" by Vytautas Vaitiekūnas, Assembly of Captive European Nations, 1965

Catholicism is the majority faith in Lithuania. As per 2001 Census, 79% of population followed Catholicism.{{Cite web |title=Returning to Lithuania's deep religious roots |url=https://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/7217/ |access-date=2024-12-19 |website=www.baltictimes.com}} It decreased to 77% in 2011 Census{{Cite web |title=Population: demographic situation, languages and religions |url=https://eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu/national-education-systems/lithuania/population-demographic-situation-languages-and-religions |access-date=2024-12-19 |website=eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu}} and further decreased to 74% in 2021 Census. According to a 2016 survey, 70% of young adults said they were Catholic but only 5% go to mass weekly.{{Cite news |last=Sherwood |first=Harriet |last2= |first2= |date=2018-03-21 |title='Christianity as default is gone': the rise of a non-Christian Europe |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/21/christianity-non-christian-europe-young-people-survey-religion |access-date=2024-12-19 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

As per the 2021 Census, the percentage of Catholics are highest (more than 90 %) in the municipalities of Šilalė district, Lazdijai district, Kalvarija and Rietavas and lowest in the Visaginas (24.7%).

About half of the Orthodox population lived in Visaginas (49.1%) and remaining in the cities of Klaipėda (13.1 %) and Vilnius (8.1 %). The Old Believers mostly live in Zarasai district (12.1 %) and Švenčionys district (5 %) municipalities.{{Cite web |title=Results of the 2021 Population and Housing Census of the Republic of Lithuania |url=https://osp.stat.gov.lt/2021-gyventoju-ir-bustu-surasymo-rezultatai/tautybe-gimtoji-kalba-ir-tikyba |archive-url= |archive-date= |website=Official Statistics Portal}}

According to the 2021 Census, 85.2 % of Poles, 78.8 % of Lithuanians, 44 % of Belarusians, 15.3 % of Ukrainians are Catholics.

About 50.3 % of Russians, 49.3 % of Ukrainians, 29.8 % of Belarusians belongs to Orthodox community and about 10.6 % of Russians belongs to Old Believers community. Islam is followed mostly by Tatars, with 52.7 % following it. Judaism is followed by the ethnic Jew people (27.3 %).

According to the 2021 census:

• Catholic – 74.19% (2,085,340)
• Orthodox – 3.75% (105,326)
• Orthodox Old Believers – 0.65% (18,196)
• Evangelical Lutherans – 0.56% (15,741)
• Evangelical Reformed – 0.2% (5,540)
• Sunni Muslim - 0.08% (2,165)
• Baptists and free churchpersons - 0.04% (1,092)
• Judaic – 0.03% (899)
• Greek Catholics (Uniates) – 0.03% (785)
• Karaites – 0.01% (255)
• Other religions – 0.58% (16,486)
• No religion – 6.11% (171,810)
• Did not specify – 13.67% (384,094)

File:Vilnius_Cathedral_20.jpg is the heart of Christian spiritual life in Lithuania.]]

{{main|Catholic Church in Lithuania}}

According to the 2021 census, 74% of Lithuanians belonged to the Catholic Church, which has claimed the adherence of the majority of Lithuanians since the Christianization of Lithuania in the 14th and 15th centuries.Endre Bojtár, [https://books.google.com/books?id=5aoId7nA4bsC&pg=PA140 Foreword to the past: a cultural history of the Baltic people], p. 140 Lithuania kept its Catholic identity under the Russian Empire and later under the Soviet Union when some Catholic priests led the resistance against the Communist regime, which is commemorated in the Hill of Crosses near Šiauliai, a shrine to the anti-communist resistance.

The center of Greek Catholic life in Lithuania is the Basilian Monastery and Church of the Holy Trinity in Vilnius. In the past, the monastery was multiethnic but now serves a mostly Ukrainian community.{{cite web|url=http://www.ivilnius.com/explore/place-of-interest/churchs/church-of-the-holy-trinity-and-basilian-monastery/|title=Church of the Holy Trinity and Basilian Monastery - Aušros Vartų str. 7, Vilnius - Churches - Vilnius city guide|website=iVilnius.lt|access-date=5 October 2017}}

In the 16th century, Protestantism began spreading rapidly in Lithuania. The first wave of Protestantism was Lutheranism that reached Lithuania through Prussia; the second wave was Calvinism that mostly spread through Poland. This was because many Lithuanians had a relatively poor understanding of Catholic beliefs as there were few Lithuanian-speaking priests at the time. In addition, many sons of influential Lithuanian nobles would study abroad in Germany where they would learn about the ideas of Reformation. When they returned home, they would oftentimes use their right of patronage to confiscate Catholic churches and give them to pastors, convert their serfs either to Lutheranism or Calvinism. In 1536, the prevalence of Protestantism grew even more as Radziwiłł, Billewicz, Chodkiewicz families left the Roman Catholic Church. However, Protestantism in Lithuania Proper eventually lost ground as it failed to secure the support from the local clergymen and were at odds with one another, which weakened their positions in the country. There were also religious persecutions, which caused many Lithuanian pastors to flee to Lithuania Minor. Despite this, Protestantism remained to have a strong presence in Lithuania Proper until the late 17th century.Gidžiūnas, Viktoras. O.F.M. [https://www.aidai.eu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6887:is&catid=414:3-gegu-birelis&Itemid=470 Marijos kultas Lietuvoje iki protestantizmo atoslūgio [The cult of Mary in Lithuania until the anticlimax of Protestantism].] Aidai.

Today Protestants are 0.8%, of which 0.6% are Lutheran and 0.2% are Reformed. According to Losch (1932), the Lutherans were 3.3% of the total population; they were mainly Germans in the Memel territory (now Klaipėda). There was also a tiny Reformed community (0.5%){{cite web |url=http://www.lmaleidykla.lt/publ/1392-1096/2004/2/Geo_026_33.pdf |title= lmaleidykla.lt |access-date=14 January 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160509100300/http://www.lmaleidykla.lt/publ/1392-1096/2004/2/Geo_026_33.pdf |archive-date= 9 May 2016 |url-status=dead}} which still persists. Protestantism has declined with the removal of the German and Prussian Lithuanian populations, and today it is mainly represented by ethnic Lithuanians throughout the northern and western parts of the country, as well as large urban areas. Believers and clergy suffered greatly during the Soviet occupation, with many killed, tortured or deported to Siberia. Newly arriving evangelical churches have established missions in Lithuania since 1990.{{cite web|url= http://www.umc.org/site/c.gjJTJbMUIuE/b.2012693/k.AEBE/United_Methodists_evangelize_in_Lithuania_with_ads_brochures.htm |title= United Methodists evangelize in Lithuania with ads, brochures |website=Umc.org |date= 11 August 2006 |access-date=25 April 2010}}

File:2020. Tauragė, evangelikų bažnyčia.JPG]]

{{main|Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lithuania}}

Protestants make up 0.8% of the population,{{cite web|url= http://www.stat.gov.lt/uploads/docs/2002_11_07.pdf|title=Romos katalikų daugiausia|date=7 November 2002 |publisher= Department of Statistics to the Government of the Republic of Lithuania|language=lt}} with 0.56% belonging to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lithuania.

Lutheranism in Lithuania dates back to the 16th century, when it came mainly from the neighbouring German-controlled areas of Livonia and East Prussia. A Synod in Vilnius united the church in 1557. The parish network covered nearly all of the Grand Duchy, with district centers in Vilnius, Kedainai, Biržai, Slucke, Kojdanove and Zabludove later Izabeline. Small Protestant communities are dispersed throughout the northern and western parts of the country.

The majority of Prussian Lithuanians living in East Prussia and in Memelland (since 1945 the Klaipėda Region of Lithuania) belonged to the Evangelical Church of the old-Prussian Union. Most resettled in the West Germany after World War II along with the ethnic German inhabitants.

Since 1945, Lutheranism in Lithuania has declined largely due to the ongoing secularization that sweeps throughout Europe.

File:Evangeliku_reformatu_baznycia_birzai.JPG]]

The Lithuanian Evangelical Reformed Church is a historic denomination which was founded in 1557. A notable member was Szymon Zajcusz. In the second half of the 16th century the Unitarians separated. The denomination has over 7,000 members in 14 congregations. The church is a member of the World Communion of Reformed Churches{{cite web |url= http://www.ref.lt/index.php/en/english/1-english |title=Lietuvos evangelikų reformatų bažnyčia - Unitas Lithuaniae Sinodas | publisher = Evangelical Reformed Church of Lithuania |access-date=14 January 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120907030841/http://www.ref.lt/index.php/en/english/1-english |archive-date=7 September 2012 |url-status= dead}} and the World Reformed Fellowship{{cite web |url= http://www.wrfnet.org/web/guest/aboutwrf/membershiplist | publisher =The World Reformed Fellowship | title = Membership List |access-date=14 January 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080914010638/http://www.wrfnet.org/web/guest/aboutwrf/membershiplist |archive-date=14 September 2008 |url-status=dead}}

Various Protestant churches have established missions in Lithuania since 1990, including the United Methodists,{{cite web|url= http://www.umc.org/site/c.gjJTJbMUIuE/b.2012693/k.AEBE/United_Methodists_evangelize_in_Lithuania_with_ads_brochures.htm|title= United Methodists evangelize in Lithuania with ads, brochures | publisher =UMC |date= 11 August 2006 |access-date=25 April 2010}} the Baptist Union,{{cite web|url=http://www.ebf.org/articles/display-article.php?article=6&cat=imp&lang=eng|title=European Baptist Federation (EBF) |access-date=5 October 2017}} the Mennonites,{{cite web|url= http://www.mennonitemission.net/Resources/Publications/BeyondOurselves/V4N2/article4.asp|title=Graduation: Lithuania Christian College|website=Mennonite mission |access-date=5 October 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070621105432/http://www.mennonitemission.net/resources/Publications/BeyondOurselves/V4N2/article4.asp |archive-date=21 June 2007}} and World Venture.{{cite web|url=http://www.worldventure.com/Serve/Can-I-go-where-I-want-to/Countries/Country/Lithuania.html|title= Lithuania|website= Can I go where I want to? | publisher = World Venture |access-date=5 October 2017}}

File:Russian Orthodox Church of The Holy Mother of God Vilnius (5990381200).jpg in Vilnius]]

Eastern Orthodoxy claims 4.1% of the population, mainly from the Russian minority. Orthodox Christianity is the first form of Christianity to arrive in Lithuania, with the marriage of Algirdas to Maria of Vitebsk and the martyrdom of Ss. Anthony, John, and Eustathius of Vilnius. The church founded by Maria of Vitebsk, St. Paraskevi Church, is the oldest continuously existing Christian congregation in the country.

Since the 19th century, the Russian Orthodox Church has been represented by a diocese in the country. In March 2023, Patriarch Bartholomew announced his intention to form a church structure under the Ecumenical Patriarchate, following a meeting with Ingrida Šimonytė.{{Cite web | agency =TASR |title=Patriarcha Bartolomej chce litovskú pravoslávnu cirkev odčleniť od Moskvy |url= https://svetkrestanstva.postoj.sk/126829/patriarcha-bartolomej-chce-litovsku-pravoslavnu-cirkev-odclenit-od-moskvy |access-date= 2023-03-24 |website=Svetkrestanstva.Postoj |language=sk}}

Most of the Armenians in Lithuania, making up about 0.1% of population according to its own estimates, belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church, which is often classified as an Oriental Orthodox Church, in distinction from Eastern Orthodox (to which the main Russian, Greek and Georgian Churches belong).

An Armenian Apostolic Church dedicated to St. Vardan was opened in Vilnius in 2006.{{Citation|last=davkstudio|title=St. Vardan's Armenian apostolic church in Vilnius 2017|date=1 February 2017|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGZ91fR2Gt8 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/DGZ91fR2Gt8 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|access-date=14 April 2018}}{{cbignore}}

File:Kaunas_Mosque_in_2019.jpg]]

{{main|Islam in Lithuania}}

In Lithuania, Islam has a long history unlike in many other northern European countries. The medieval Grand Duchy of Lithuania of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth allowed Muslims, notably the Crimean Tatars to settle in the lands in the south.Shirin Akiner, Islamic peoples of the Soviet Union, pg. 85 Some of people from those lands were moved into ethnically Lithuanian lands, now the current Republic of Lithuania, mainly under the rule of Grand Duke Vytautas. The Tatars, now referred to as Lithuanian Tatars, lost their language over time and now speak Lithuanian as natives; however, they have strongly maintained their Muslim faith.

{{main|Lithuanian Jews}}

File:'Choral Synagogue' Pylimo g. Vilnius - Flickr - FaceMePLS.jpg, the only synagogue in Vilnius to survive the Nazi occupation]]

The Lithuanian Jewish community has roots that go back to before the time of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Lithuania was historically home to a large Jewish community and an important center of Jewish scholarship and culture from the 18th century until the community was almost entirely eliminated during the Holocaust. Before World War II, the Lithuanian Jewish population numbered some 160,000, about 7% of the total population.{{cite web |url= http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/article.php?lang=en&ModuleId=10005444|title=Lithuania| publisher =USHMM |access-date=5 October 2017}} Vilnius alone had a Jewish community of nearly 100,000, about 45% of the city's total population{{cite web|url=http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vjw/Vilnius.html|title=Vilnius (Vilna), Lithuania Jewish History Tour|website=Jewish Virtual Library|access-date=5 October 2017}} with over 110 synagogues and 10 yeshivot in the city.{{cite web|url=http://litvakai.mch.mii.lt/jerusalem/Default.htm|title=Vilnius - Jerusalem of Lithuania|website=Litvakai.MCH.MII |access-date=5 October 2017}}

There are communities of Jews of Lithuanian descent around the world, especially in Israel, the United States, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Brazil and Australia.

According to the 2001 census, there were 1,272 adherents of Rabbinic and Karaite Judaism.{{cite web |url=http://db.stat.gov.lt/sips/Dialog/varval.asp?ma=gs_dem21lt&ti=Gyventojai+pagal+tautyb%E6+ir+tikyb%E0++&path=../Database/cen_lt/s71lt/1.%20demografija/&lang=1 |title= Gyventojai pagal tautybę ir tikybą |publisher=Department of Statistics to the Government of the Republic of Lithuania |language= lt }}{{Dead link|date=April 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} About 4,000 Jews were counted in Lithuania during the 2005 census.{{cite web|url=http://www.stat.gov.lt/en/pages/view/?id=1731&PHPSESSID=311ec85274c89154e6f4befbc159a0e8 |title=Lithuanian population by ethnicity| publisher = Stat.gov.lt |access-date= 5 October 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090602195536/http://www.stat.gov.lt/en/pages/view/?id=1731&PHPSESSID=a2cc98ebfc3a13b8297889cb6f68d571 |archive-date=2 June 2009}}

Image:Karaite Kenesa Vilnius.jpg kenesa in Vilnius]]

According to a Karaite tradition, several hundred Crimean Karaites were invited to Lithuania by Grand Duke Vytautas to settle in Trakai ca. 1397. A small community remains in Trakai, which has preserved the Turkic Karaim language and distinctive customs, such as its traditional dish called "kibinai", a sort of meat pastry, and its houses with three windows, one for God, one for the family and one for Grand Duke Vytautas.

{{main|Romuva (religion)}}

File:Romuvans (1).png procession]]

Medieval Lithuania was the last pagan nation in Europe, officially converting in the late 14th century. The neo-pagan movement Romuva, established in 1967, attempts to reconstruct and revive Lithuanian ethnic religion.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vYtrv5qD9isC&pg=PA173|title=A History of Pagan Europe|first1=Prudence|last1=Jones|first2=Nigel|last2=Pennick|date=5 October 1997|publisher=Psychology Press|isbn=9780415158046|access-date=5 October 2017|via=Google Books}}

• Buddhism in Lithuania
• Hinduism in Lithuania
• Islam in Lithuania
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• {{portal-inline|Religion}}

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