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. As of 2013, there were 33 Lourdes grottoes in Lithuania, mainly in Samogitia. The list below includes only the key sites that continue to be visited by pilgrims.
History
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. The first known pilgrimage took place in 1604 when Bishop 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. 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 ().
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 were demolished while crosses were removed from the Hill of Crosses. After the Lithuania regained independence in 1990, many sites were repaired or reconstructed or new chapels were built (e.g. and 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. 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. 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.
List + Catholic pilgrimage sites in Lithuania based on list by Darius Liutikas Site Significance Reason for pilgrimage Coordinates Near town/city Municipality Diocese Image Beržoras Catholic Church Regional Marian image; Calvary Plungė District Municipality Diocese of Telšiai Gate of Dawn International Marian image (Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn) Vilnius Vilnius City Municipality Archdiocese of Vilnius Hill of Crosses International Crosses Šiauliai Šiauliai District Municipality Diocese of Šiauliai Regional Marian apparition Skiemonys Molėtai District Municipality Diocese of Panevėžys Kaunas Cathedral Regional Marian image Kaunas Kaunas City Municipality Archdiocese of Kaunas Regional Marian image Kazokiškės Trakai District Municipality Archdiocese of Vilnius National Marian apparition Šakiai District Municipality Diocese of Vilkaviškis Regional Marian image Krekenava Panevėžys District Municipality Diocese of Panevėžys Regional Marian image; crosses Šventežeris Lazdijai District Municipality Diocese of Vilkaviškis Regional Marian apparition Zarasai District Municipality Diocese of Panevėžys Regional Marian image Linkuva Pakruojis District Municipality Diocese of Šiauliai Regional Blessed Jurgis Matulaitis Marijampolė Marijampolė Municipality Diocese of Vilkaviškis Regional Marian apparition; spring Vilkaviškis District Municipality Diocese of Vilkaviškis Pažaislis Monastery Regional Marian image Kaunas Kaunas City Municipality Archdiocese of Kaunas National Marian image Pivašiūnai Alytus District Municipality Diocese of Kaišiadorys Sanctuary of the Divine Mercy International Christological image (Divine Mercy image) Vilnius Vilnius City Municipality Archdiocese of Vilnius National Marian image (Our Lady of Šiluva) Šiluva Raseiniai District Municipality Archdiocese of Kaunas National Marian apparition Šiluva Raseiniai District Municipality Archdiocese of Kaunas Telšiai Cathedral Regional Bishops Justinas Staugaitis and Vincentas Borisevičius Telšiai Telšiai District Municipality Diocese of Telšiai Trakai Catholic Church Regional Marian image (Mother of God of Trakai) Trakai Trakai District Municipality Archdiocese of Vilnius Tytuvėnai Monastery Regional Calvary Tytuvėnai Kelmė District Municipality Diocese of Šiauliai Regional Calvary Vepriai Ukmergė District Municipality Archdiocese of Kaunas Verkiai Calvary Regional Calvary Vilnius Vilnius City Municipality Archdiocese of Vilnius Vilnius Cathedral International Marian image; Saint Casimir Vilnius Vilnius City Municipality Archdiocese of Vilnius Žemaičių Kalvarija National Marian image; Calvary Žemaičių Kalvarija Plungė District Municipality Diocese of Telšiai
References
External links Pilgrim Route of John Paul II Pilgrim's Guide to Marian Sites