In 2015, I had the privilege of revisiting the Baltic states, marvelling at magnificent medieval towns like Tallinn, and enjoying the equally beautiful nature of these countries. A few impressions.
This one is a follow-up to a series I did last year about the (in)famous Hill of Crosses in Lithuania. You can read it here. To be honest, not much has changed since then. I guess the hill grew a little bit, and there are some more crosses now, as they seem to multiply at a daily rate. It remains a mysterious place, strangely alluring yet somewhat creepy. It makes for interesting pictures, that’s for sure.
The Hill of Crosses is a sacred place in Northern Lithuania close to Silauliai. It consists of two small artificial hills (maybe 5 to 6 meters high) amid vast farming land. The origins of the crosses are primarily unknown, though many legends speak of soldiers finding their last rest in the ground beneath. In the 19th century, the place became regarded as mystical and holy. First, crosses were erected in honor of fallen soldiers and in remembrance of deceased family members, and later also to celebrate happy occasions like weddings and baptisms. The Soviets saw the hill as a place of fanatic cultism and closed it down. Despite the repressions, they could not stop the tradition, and after 1990, the Hill of Crosses grew even more, becoming a national symbol of religion and endurance. Today, crosses can be seen from around the world, not only catholic crosses but also orthodox and evangelical ones. Whether religious or not, the place doesn’t leave the visitor cold.
Michael Hoffman Photography 