- Crosses erected here over 150 years demonstrate the power of Christ‘s Cross to change the destiny of individuals and entire nations.
- An unparalleled symbol of resistance to religious persecution.
- Left an unforgettable impression on John Paul II, who visited on September 7, 1993.
The Hill of Crosses is unique and inimitable, both for its size and for its history. At present, some 200,000 crosses of various sizes adorn the hill. In erecting crosses here by the thousands, people manifest their devotion to Christ, pray for his help and consolation, and mark Lithuania as a Christian land. The site, an expression of the nation’s spontaneous religiosity, is probably the place in Lithuania that pilgrims most visit. The Hill of Crosses gained immense significance in the lives of Lithuanian believers during the Soviet era as a place of anonymous yet remarkably persevering resistance to the totalitarian regime. After independence was regained, the hill quickly became a symbol of the nation’s unshakeable faith, of its past suffering and of its hope. The Hill of Crosses gained fame throughout the world in 1993 when Pope John Paul II visited and celebrated Holy Mass for a gathering of 100,000 people. A cross that Pope John Paul II donated was erected here in 1994.
