Lithuania holds a unique place in Catholic history as the last European nation to embrace Christianity, yet its faith has proven remarkably resilient. Baptized only in 1387, this Baltic nation developed a distinctive Catholic identity that withstood centuries of challenge, producing one of Europe's first recognized Marian apparitions and becoming the birthplace of the Divine Mercy devotion that has spread worldwide.
The country's pilgrimage landscape reflects both deep medieval roots and modern spiritual significance. Vilnius, "the City of Divine Mercy," preserves the original Divine Mercy image painted under St. Faustina's direction and houses the relics of St. Casimir, patron saint of Lithuania and Polish youth. Beyond the capital, pilgrims discover Šiluva—site of the 1608 Marian apparition—and the extraordinary Hill of Crosses, where over 200,000 crosses stand as testimony to Lithuanian faith that Soviet bulldozers could not destroy.
Vilnius, the capital, serves as Lithuania's spiritual heart. The Cathedral Basilica of St. Stanislaus and St. Ladislaus anchors the Old Town, housing the Chapel of St. Casimir—the most ornate Baroque chapel in the Baltics—where the patron saint's relics rest beneath a silver sarcophagus. Pope John Paul II began his historic 1993 visit to Lithuania with prayer at this cathedral, the first papal visit to any former Soviet republic.
The Gate of Dawn (Aušros Vartai) preserves one of Eastern Europe's most venerated Marian images—Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn. This 16th-century icon, adorned with crowns bestowed by Pope Pius VI in 1773, draws pilgrims who ascend the chapel stairs to pray before the miraculous image, surrounded by over 400 silver votives testifying to answered prayers.
The Shrine of Divine Mercy holds the original painting of the Merciful Jesus, created in 1934 by artist Eugene Kazimirowski under the direct guidance of St. Faustina Kowalska. The image—depicting Jesus with red and pale rays streaming from His heart—was painted in Vilnius, where St. Faustina lived from 1933 to 1936 and received the Divine Mercy revelations. Nearby, pilgrims can visit the Convent of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, where St. Faustina lived and experienced her visions.
Šiluva ranks among Europe's oldest Marian apparition sites. In 1608, the Virgin Mary appeared to children near a large rock, weeping and holding the infant Jesus. She lamented that her Son was once worshipped on this spot but was now forgotten—a reference to a Catholic church that had stood there before the Reformation. The apparition led to the rediscovery of a buried iron chest containing the original church's treasures and the return of Catholicism to the region. Today, the Basilica of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Chapel of the Apparition (built over the rock) receive hundreds of thousands of pilgrims annually, especially during the Great Feast from September 7-15.
Žemaičių Kalvarija (Samogitian Calvary) features Lithuania's most significant Way of the Cross, established in 1637-1642 by Bishop Jurgis Tiškevičius. The 4-kilometer route with 20 chapels winds through forested hills, drawing pilgrims especially during the Great Festival of Žemaičių Kalvarija in July.
The Hill of Crosses (Kryžių kalnas) near Šiauliai stands as Lithuania's most visually striking pilgrimage site. Rising from flat farmland, this small hill bristles with over 200,000 crosses of every size—from tiny crucifixes to monuments several meters tall. The tradition began after the failed 1831 uprising against Russian rule, when families unable to recover their dead placed memorial crosses here. Soviet authorities bulldozed the hill three times (1961, 1973, 1975), but crosses reappeared within days each time. In 1993, Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass here and declared it "a place for hope, peace, love, and sacrifice." A Franciscan monastery opened nearby in 2000, its design inspired by La Verna, where St. Francis received the stigmata.
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Pilgrimage Route of Pope John Paul II - Established in 2007 for the 15th anniversary of his 1993 visit, this route connects 16 sites across Lithuania including Vilnius Cathedral, the Gate of Dawn, Hill of Crosses, and Šiluva. The route spans over 1,000 kilometers and can be traveled by car or in stages.
Way of Divine Mercy - A walking route through Vilnius connecting sites associated with St. Faustina and the Divine Mercy devotion: the Shrine of Divine Mercy, her convent, and related churches.
Lithuanian Camino (St. James Way) - Since 2016, Lithuania has been part of the European network of St. James pilgrimage routes. The 500-kilometer path crosses the country from Latvia to Poland, marked with shells and connecting 11 churches dedicated to St. James.