Pilgrimage to the Hill of Crosses: Latvian Catholic Traditions
Pilgrimage to the Hill of Crosses: Latvian Catholic Traditions

Summary/Abstract: There are countries all over the world where Catholicism is much more deeply rooted than in Lithuania, but you cannot find such special devotions ,and spiritual expressions that are on the Hill of Crosses, not far from the city of Šiauliai. The Hill of Crosses is a unique phenomenon all over the world. During the ten year research of the rituals, customs, prayers, hymns and music of the Hill of Crosses there were a lot of possibilities to meet and watch the pilgrims from all over the world who pray here and perform the rituals and music according to their customs and cultural traditions. Latvian pilgrim groups are also met among them with their built crosses and the prayers, following their rituals. The author of the article raises a question: what are these rituals like, where do they originate from, what are the reasons for their choice and existence, where these devotions come from in Latvia? Hence the object of the research - the rituals of Latvian pilgrims on the Hill of Crosses.

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