Kryžių kalnas, Hill of Crosses

[Sergius]

I had never heard about this unusual pilgrimage site before.

Kryžių kalnas, Hill of Crosses, Šiauliai, Lithuania
For an insight into Lithuania's religious beliefs and troubled political past, visit the Hill of Crosses at Siauliai (pronounced shoe-lay). Lithuanians know it as Kryži Kalnas. This amazing site has been built over hundreds of years by devoted pilgrims from all over the world. Not only crosses, but giant crucifixes, carvings of Lithuanian patriots, statues of the Virgin Mary and thousands of tiny effigies and rosaries have been brought here and assembled into a growing religious tribute that will take your breath away.

History of the Hill of Crosses
The real reason for the Hill's existence lies buried in Lithuania's history. The nearby industrial town of Siauliai was founded in around 1230 AD, and was occupied by Teutonic knights during the 14th Century. The first crosses were placed on the Hill during this time, probably to represent the faith and resistance of local Lithuanians against the foreign invaders. Since then, the place has come to signify the peaceful endurance of Lithuanian Catholicism despite the threats it has faced throughout history. Invaded by Russia in 1610, Lithuania disappeared altogether in the Partitions of Poland carried out between 1772 and 1796. When the 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.

Most recently, the site took on a special significance during the years 1944 to 1991, when Lithuania was officially part of the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic of the Socialist USSR. Continuing to travel to the Hill and leave their tributes, Lithuanians used it to demonstrate their allegiance to their original identity, religion and heritage. Although the Soviets worked hard to remove new crosses almost as soon as they arrived, and bulldozed the site at least three times, by 1985 they had given up and Hill of Crosses flourished again.
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Pictures:

[Heretik]

This is truly scary!

[svin]

There is darkfolk/neofolk album "Hill of crosses" by Sol Invictus. I guess it's dedicated to this place.

[Marcus Marulus]

Possibly some Romuva rite in Christianized form.

[Sergius]

Originally Posted by svin

There is darkfolk/neofolk album "Hill of crosses" by Sol Invictus. I guess it's dedicated to this place.

Probably. Speaking of Sol Invitus titles: I once heard that Tony Wakeford had picked the title Against the Modern World from Julius Evola's book---but that he never read a single page of the book. He just thought it sounded cool.

[Heretik]

It does sound cool.