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Forests of faith in Lithuania after the fall of the Berlin wall- Pagan, Jewish and Christian
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Three Faiths in Lithuania for Travelers with Spirit
Lithuania has a rich heritage of Pagan, Jewish, and Christian history that makes it a compelling destination for spiritual and cultural travelers today. For decades, shadows hung over the faiths of Lithuanians, forcing many to keep their beliefs secret and their practices behind closed doors. Nazi and Soviet domination exterminated Jews horrifically, and took over cathedrals and churches to make them storage warehouses, stables for horses, and in the case of St. Casimir, a museum for atheism.
Now, twenty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, this country of fewer than four million people , actively expresses the freedoms of faith. In the capital of Vilnius museums preserve memories and stir the spirit, and many restored places of worship are worth visiting – whatever your beliefs.
Faith is manifested not only in the buildings in Lithuania, but also in the forests: the man-made forest of crosses that is a unique pilgrimage for Christians and those who hope; the forest that witnessed sorrows and still echoes “never again” for Jews and anyone against prejudice and hate; and the forest of witches, a pagan delight both for those who enjoy public art and those who find divinity in nature.
For related stories on Lithuanian faiths, try Forest of Crosses, Forest of Sorrows, Forest of Witches
LOGISTICS FOR LITHUANIA:
A Baltic way to travel: Finnair flies from New York to Helsinki often. From there, you can then fly award-winning Air Baltic to Riga and Vilnius. Air Baltic’s business class serves organically grown food, even on the smaller runs on prop planes.
The Reval Hotel in Vilnius provides a wonderfully comfortable, modern home base for exploring Lithuania. The hotel offers large beds and lovely views of Old Town (a UNESCO World Heritage site) across a river, or sinuous river bends and modern architectural creativity – depending on which direction you choose to face.
For more information contact Lithuanian Tourism
Photos and text by ©Lisa TE Sonne, World Tourist Bureau
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