The Hill of Crosses
The Hill of Crosses. Many centuries ago people began leaving crosses on a small hill in northern Lithuania, a hill with sacred importance that harkens back to prehistory. In the mid-19th century, people who lost their lives in battles with Russia were added to the mortuary commemoration. Despite many ruthless attempts to wipe it off the face of the earth, the Hill of Crosses persists. Today there are hundreds of thousands of crosses, statues, relics, effigies, rosary beads, and other tributes, all of which are said to rattle and chime in a unique cacophony on a windy day. “The hill has many secrets. According to folklore, there was once a church where the hill now stands. During a terrible storm, lightning struck the church and the tempest buried it under sand and rock with everyone still inside.” Vilius Puronas, local historian Kryziu Kalnas or Hill of Crosses is located 12kms outside the city of Siauliai. The city itself was founded in 1236 and in the 14th century wa...