The Hill of Crosses, Kryžių Kalnas, is located in the city of Šiauliai, Lithuania. Standing upon a small hill are many hundreds of thousands of crosses that represent Christian devotion and a memorial to Lithuanian national identity. The Hill of Crosses is a solemn testimony to the suffering, endurance, and love of Lithuanians for their Catholic faith. The origin of the custom of placing crosses on the Hill of Crosses is unclear, but it is proposed that this tradition began after the 1831 uprising of the Polish and Lithuanian Armies against the Russians. After the battle, Lithuania has always lived under the oppressive violence of the Russians, only gaining total independence from Russia in 1991.
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During the Soviet occupation of the area that lasted from 1944 to 1991, the Hill of Crosses became a symbol of defiance. Three times during the Soviet occupation, the hill and its crosses were bulldozed. Despite these attempts to end the symbolism of the site, both locals and pilgrims soon once again begin erecting crosses. The exact number of crosses is unknown, but estimates put it at about 55,000 in 1990 and 100,000 in 2006. Thousands visit the site each year, the most famous visit occurring in 1993 when Pope John Paul II came to dedicate it. A stone marker bearing his words, "Thank You, Lithuanians, for this hill of crosses which testifies to the nations of Europe and to the whole world the faith of the people of the land," now lies at the foot of the hill. A hermitage has been erected nearby to assist visitors, and the faithful are welcome to add their contribution to this unusual Hill.
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Today, the crosses number in the hundreds of thousands. This eerie place attracts both locals and tourists. Walking among numerous crosses, some decorated with devotion to loved ones, one can hear the rosaries rattle in the wind. This little hillock has long been a potent symbol of suffering, hope, devotion, and the undefeated faith of the Lithuanian people.
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