Hill of Crosses

Hill of Crosses (Lithuanian: Kryžių kalnasⓘ) is a site of pilgrimage about 12 km north of the city of Šiauliai, in northern Lithuania.

[1] Over the generations, not only crosses and crucifixes, but statues of the Virgin Mary, carvings of Lithuanian patriots and thousands of tiny effigies and rosaries have been brought here by Catholic pilgrims.

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.

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.

The members of the Soviet KGB recognized this, resulting in prolonged efforts to destroy the landmark and prevent new emergences of crosses.

[8] Despite these efforts to destroy the landmark, the Lithuanian public would continue to bring crosses to the hill every night,[9] risking harsh punishment.

[10] 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.

On September 7, 1993, Pope John Paul II visited the Hill of Crosses, declaring it a place for hope, peace, love, and sacrifice.