Kryžių Kalnas. Lithuania. Mono with an incey wincey tiny bit of bit of colour!
Soak up the atmosphere as you wind your way up the hill, through an avenue of huge and architecturally magnificent crosses as well as spying smaller more discreet bits and pieces of religious paraphernalia. Most of these crosses are devotional, whilst others are memorials, many for people deported to Siberia, they will NEVER forget "The Great Purge".
UNESCO actually recognises cross-making as an intangible cultural heritage of Lithuania, being a “symbol of national and religious identity."
The exact origins of Lithuania's Kryžių Kalnas, remains a mystery it is first mentioned in writing in 1850, but it is believed some crosses appeared earlier, left by mourning relatives of the victims of revolts against the Russian Empire in 1831. You see, the inbred Romanov dynasty suppressed national identity and religious expression; families were forbidden to honour their dead with proper burials in cemeteries.
Fucking strong vodka is drunk in these here parts, because an alternative belief is that an apparition of the "Virgin" Mary holding baby Jesus popped up and asked the believers to cover the hill with crosses.
A Traditional Lithuanian koplytstulpis, wooden sculptures of figures topped with a little roof.
If you are inclined to add your own tat, in the nearby car park, there are many stalls set up by enterprising souvenir traders.
First of all, the black and white pictures look beautiful. The pictures reflect the Hill of Crosses very well. Such places are full of memories that reflect how history, faith, and memories coexist in one place, and what people did here. Of course, it is not possible for most of those who come here, whether for religious purposes or to understand Lithuania's past, to understand the story of every cross. I also liked the humorous approach you used in the stories. The idea that the Virgin Mary wanted to fill the hill with crosses struck me as very interesting.
Cheers @passenger777 thanks for stopping by, and your positive input something that I really appreciate. Some folk don't appreciate the way I use words, but it is just my style, life is too short to be serious
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When I saw the first photo, a chill went through my body (similar to the chill I felt when I saw the Jewish cemetery in the center of Prague, just like this on a pile of tombstones).
I read that it is a custom for visitors to leave a cross on this hill. Did you do it?
Cheers @duskobgd thanks for stopping by, it was a remarkable place, I left nothing time was tight so I just ebjoyed snapping away
Wowwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!DIY
Cheers @goga22
👌📸
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Thank you @jlinaresp @visualshots always appreciate your support
Thanks for your post! I learned that Lithuania, like Ukraine, has been fighting against the invaders of the Russian Empire since ancient times!
Your mountain with crosses is impressive! It's good that you respect your story!
Unfortunately, my country is covered with crosses on the graves of current Heroes who die protecting our country from the enemy, an insidious neighbor...
Cheers @rosanna-brava thank you for your kind words and positive energy, I feel for you and support you even if only in my heart
Slava Ukraini
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Cheers @brumest @qurator loving the curation thank you
Hello, friend. I was really impressed by your post. First of all, the photography is excellent. The black-and-white imagery is beautifully executed, with those small touches of color that make the story’s main subject—the crosses—stand out. The scene has a mysterious feel to it, with an atmosphere that I love. It’s one of the best posts I’ve seen in a long time.
WOW, cheers @muhammadhalim that is really a fantastic reply i very much appreciate it and your positive vibes, I am glad I brought the place alive for you. have a great weekend, wherever you are whatever you do
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Hugs, my friend—I really appreciate your comment. I absolutely loved your work; you’ve created art—thoughtful, well-conceived photos. Awesome!
Grindle, this post is amazing. The place is really quite unusual, but you’ve captured it with great style. Totally your fan 😂🙌... And in the first photo, the security camera looked a bit out of place there… who knows what paranormal stuff it might have picked up, haha… just joking.
cheers @nanixxx always appreciate your positive vibes, who knows what happens what moves after sunset.
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