Foto: Hundreds of thousands of crosses on the Hill of Crosses (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Lithuania - Near Šiauliai is the Hill of Crosses, where the first cross was placed in 1847. Today, this hill holds hundreds of thousands of crosses, making it a unique and impressive place. During the Russian occupation of the area, the Hill of Crosses became a symbol of protest. The Russians repeatedly tried to remove the crosses, but each time more crosses reappeared on the hill. Walking among the crosses, I am full of amazement. There are winding paths cleared between the memorial crosses, allowing me to make my way through the overwhelming number of crosses. Everywhere I look, crosses are standing. There are large crosses several meters high, but also thousands of small crosses filling the gaps, together forming a bizarre yet beautiful whole. The main path leads to the top of the Hill of Crosses, where I can truly see how many crosses have been collected here. It is an impressive and special sight. The Hill of Crosses is a place of great spiritual significance, but also a symbol of historic resistance and religious freedom. It is a place where people from all over the world come together to remember, pray, or simply reflect on the beauty and meaning of this unique monument. The Hill of Crosses is where religion and history meet, and where the many crosses together form a powerful symbol of faith, hope, and resistance. It is a place that inspires and encourages reflection, and that serves both as a tribute to the region’s tradition and a sign of hope for the future.
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