Herbs for the weekend: 33 Lithuanian churches and monasteries to discover and a calendar of events

“It is not necessary to travel to some distant place for spiritual journeys. Sometimes it is enough to look at the environment around us with new eyes. But how to do it? S t. Juan de la Cruz says that the road is built without traveling. Even local trips can not only help us open the door to unknown places in Lithuania and its people, but also to our own unknown corners of the soul and heart, ”says priest Algirdas Toliatas.

Among the 33 stops selected are lesser-known stories of shrines and other religious sites, which are featured in a press release:

Constructed without nails. Palūšė St. Joseph Stave Church (Ignalina District)

Surrounded by lakes in the 18th century. The wooden church with the only octagonal bell tower in Lithuania, which appeared in the middle of the 19th century, was definitely seen by everyone: it once decorated a 1 litas paper banknote. It is famous because it is said that it was built only with an ax, without the use of nails. Extremely hospitable inscriptions on the door of this church: “Enter the good one” and “Come out better.” More about the church here.

Cross on the bottom of Lake Plateliai (Plungė district)

In the middle of Lake Plateliai, on the so-called Kryžavone hill at a depth of several meters, stands a cross blessed by the Franciscan monks of Kretinga. It can be seen by choosing one of the routes offered by the dive center. According to the underwater cross in 2005. The Franciscans, who had descended, thus directly interpreted the words of Pope John Paul II that to discover the essence of the cross, one must break into the depths. More information here.

Where the mummies rest. Liškiava Monastery (Varėna district)

A special place for Dzūkija, in search of spiritual experiences, can be reached by navigating the Nemunas from Druskininkai. The complex of the Liškiava church and the Dominican monastery, which stood on the steep bank of the Nemunas, dates from the 17th and 18th centuries. architectural monument. 1990-1997 Liškiava St. The Church of the Trinity has been restored and in its cellars a museum with mummified remains of Dominican monks has been installed. It is interesting that the church has survived the 19th century. the organ played by Konstantinas Čiurlionis, the father of the famous composer and artist Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis. More about the monastery here.

Inspired by Rome. Blacksmith St. Antanas Paduvietis Church (Kaišiadorys district)

19th century beginning of the round dome of Kalvių St. The Antanas Paduvietis Church is one of two rotunda-type churches in Lithuania. The second is in Sudervė. These churches were created following the example of the Roman rotunda. The construction of the brick blacksmith’s church was financed by Tomas and Juzefa Vavžeckiai, but the architect is not known. 1806 the consecrated building has repeatedly suffered various natural disasters. More here.

Next to one of the oldest cemeteries in Lithuania. Beržoras St. Stanislaus Church (Plungė district)

XV a. The street church village has two most important cultural and religious objects: St. Stanislaus Church building complex (Church of St. Stanislaus, bell tower and chapel) and 14 Chapels of the Cross. It is said that a shepherd saw a saint An image of the Virgin Mary. The priests took him and took him to the Plateliai Church, but the painting disappeared and appeared in the same place of the tree, so, according to legend, it was decided to build a new church there, where the painting would hang. The old plateliai parish cemetery in the cemetery is considered one of the oldest cemeteries in Lithuania. Read more here.

Altar of tree branches. Girdiškės St. Church of the Virgin Mary Snow White (Šilalė district)

Perhaps the times when Samogitians worshiped oak trees are reminiscent of the 19th century. at the end of St. Altar of the Church of the Snows of the Virgin Mary. The original side altars are considered the biggest celebrity in Girdiškė. They around 1928. created by priest Kazimieras Andriukaitis here. The altars are made up of stripped oak trunks and branches, intertwined to replicate the rhythm of Gothic architecture. More here.

Liturgical vessel of bullets. Goya St. Chapel of the Health of the Virgin Mary (Trakai district)

Al St. Pilgrims go to the Chapel of the Virgin Mary Health Hospital not only to pray, but also to inspect the relics kept in it. One of the most important assets of the chapel is the miraculous picture of the Health of the Sick of Our Lady. There is also an exclusive relic kept in the Goya Chapel: a monstrance made from bullets extracted from the bodies of Austrian, Prussian and Russian soldiers! More here.

The 33 stops of spiritual experience are posted here.

For visits to shrines and worship services, please contact us in advance.

“Travel in Lithuania” together with the tourist information centers also created a calendar of discounts and events for Žolinė. When you go to events, remember to take precautions and distance yourself.

Discounts and celebrations:

• August 14-22 – St. Herb Discounts At the Parish Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Pivašiūnai (Alytus district). More information here.

• August 14-21 – Great herbal discounts St. Assumption of the Virgin Mary at the Krekenava Basilica (Panevėžys district) – August 14-21. More information here.

• August 15 – Herbal indulgences in the Pažaislis monastery cemetery. S t. Classical music concert and mass (concert of the Kaunas State Choir, conductor – Petras Bingelis). More information here.

• August 15 – Celebration of herbs in Vilnius St. vysk. Stanislaus and St. The Cathedral Basilica of Vladislav and a concert in St. For the celebration of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary “Ave Maria. Ave Maris stella. More information here.

• August 15 – Herb Celebration on Trakai St. At the Basilica of the Virgin Mary. 11 a. M. a solemn procession of herbs will move from the basilica for the tenth year in a row. The procession will go through the streets of Trakai, where an image of the Mother of God of Trakai, Patroness of Lithuania, will be carried, decorated with flower petals brought by people. More information here.

• August 15-16. – Herb discounts will be held at Raseiniai St. Sanctuary of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. After St. A concert will take place at Mass, there will be the opportunity to participate in a tour of the church and spend the evening watching the movie “My Love Has Fucked”. More information here.

• August 15 – Big discounts on Zarasai St. Herbs At the Church of the Assumption. More information here.

Other events:

• August 15 – Herb Festival at the Lithuanian Folk Museum in Rumšiškės (Kaišiadorys district). S t. Mass in the church of the ethnographic city, procession to the village of Aukštaitija, where there will be festive kermos, various educational programs, games for rural youth, tastings of various herbal teas, an exhibition of traditional herbal bouquets, musicians and much more entertainment. More information here.

• August 15 – On the island of Karaim in Trakai, there will be cabbage kermos with songs, herb bouquet compositions, divinations and gaspadine cabbage. More information here.

• August 15 – Herb Festival at Šiauliai University Botanical Garden with concerts, plant exhibitions, kermoshi and folk evening with herb rituals, hay jumping, etc. More information here.

• August 15 – Herb Marathon in Vilnius Vingis Park. More information here.

• August 15 – Ice Herb Hearts and Herb Drawings by artist Nomeda Marčėnaitė in Jūratė and Kastytis Square in Palanga. More information here.

For discounts on herbs and events in other areas, contact the tourist information centers.