the hill of crosses kryziu kalnas

the hill of crosses, kryziu kalnas, located 12 kilometers north of the small industrial city of siauliai is the lithuanian national pilgrimage center. standing upon a small hill are many hundreds of thousands of crosses that represent christian devotion and a memorial to lithuanian national identity.

the size and variety of crosses is as amazing as their number. beautifully carved out of wood or sculpted from metal, the crosses range from three meters tall to the countless tiny examples hanging profusely upon the larger crosses. an hour spent upon the sacred hill will reveal crosses brought by christian pilgrims from all around the world. rosaries, pictures of jesus and the saints, and photographs of lithuanian patriots also decorate the larger crosses. on windy days breezes blowing through the forest of crosses and hanging rosaries produces a uniquely beautiful music.

statues of christ and st.mary and crosses left by pilgrims