By Amanda Froelich Truth Theory
Have you heard of the Hill of Crosses? The site of pilgrimage is located about 12 km north of the city of Šiauliai, in northern Lithuania. Around the beginning of the 20th century, the hill was established as a holy place of sorts. Over time, people began traveling to the location, carrying crosses along the way and leaving them in the shrine as a testament of faith.
In the decades that followed, the Soviet government came to view the hill as a nuisance and even a hostile symbol. As a result, it was bulldozed multiple times; each instance, the crosses were broken up for firewood or sent to scrap metal yards. During the country’s occupation by the Soviet Union, the Hill of Crosses began to represent a place of peaceful resistance. Though it was often guarded by the KGB, crosses continued to appear overnight.
In 1993, after the fall of the Soviet Union, Pope John Paul visited the Hill of Crosses. While embracing the site, the pontiff declared the location a place of “hope, peace, love and sacrifice.”
For years, Catholics and Lutherans have visited the holy place, leaving crosses, effigies and rosaries in their wake. It is presently unknown how many crosses are on the hill. In 1990, it was estimated there were 55,000. In 2006, the estimate was 100,000.
To this day, the Hill of Crosses holds a powerful presence. Following are 15+ glorious — yet haunting — photographs of the mysterious location:
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I am Luke Miller, content manager at Truth Theory and creator of Potential For Change. I like to blend psychology and spirituality to help you create more happiness in your life.Grab a copy of my free 33 Page Illustrated eBook- Psychology Meets Spirituality- Secrets To A Supercharged Life You Control Here