New routes await pilgrims coming to Lithuania
Center of Pilgrim Castles of Vilnius Vilnius as the City of Knowledge of God’s Mercy, one of the most important of these times.
“Vilnius is considered one of the cities from which the Cult of Mercy spread throughout the world. Here, in Vilnius, in 1929. for several months and in 1933-1936. lived St. Faustina Kowalska, also known as the Apostle of Mercy. (…) in 1934 In Vilnius, the painter Eugenijus Kazimirowskis according to St. Faustina’s story about the vision she experienced was painted by the image of the Merciful Jesus”, Lina Šapauskienė, head of the Vilnius Pilgrim Center, said at the conference.
According to her, the surviving building in Vilnius where St. Faustina, now called St. Faustina’s house, is a place of devotion and attraction for pilgrims from all over the world. According to her, the largest number of pilgrims – about 29 thousand – was in 2016, when Pope Francis declared the Year of Mercy. Meanwhile, in 2021, the year of Covid and quarantine, after the opening of St. Faustina’s cottage has been visited by 5,297 visitors since March, most of them from Lithuania – 3,279 and Poland – 1,846.
“Our main path is the route of Mercy, it covers all the main sacred places of Vilnius related to the knowledge of Mercy: Gates of Dawn, Sanctuary of Mercy, St. Michael’s Church, St. Faustina’s house, the monastery of the Sisters of Merciful Jesus, etc. The road can continue all the way to the towns of Juodšilii and Tabariškii. We offer this route once a month to all residents of the city and its guests,” said Lina Šapauskienė, head of the Vilnius Pilgrim Center.
According to her, in addition to this impressive road that reveals Vilnius, there is also a road after St. Places of veneration of the Virgin Mary, monastic paths, such as the Franciscan path in Vilnius, Dominican, Jesuit.
According to L. Šapauskienė, the path of Monsignor Kazimier Vasiliauskas is currently being prepared, and the path of Blessed Jurgis Matulaitis is also almost ready.
Speaking at the conference, the head of the Tourism Policy Department of the Ministry of Economy and Innovation. specialist Lidija Bajarūnienė said that the pilgrims who came to Lithuania for religious purposes made a very good impression. A survey of foreign tourists who came to Lithuania was commissioned by VšĮ “Keliauk Lietuvoje”.
The representative of the Ministry noted that 15% the destination of Polish tourists is religion. She informed that the St. The John Paul II Pilgrim’s Guide, which includes not only Lithuanian shrines visited by Saint John Paul II in 1993, but also the most important St. Objects of the John Paul II pilgrimage route, famous for their pious tradition and sacred experiences. The publication includes 19 objects throughout Lithuania.
According to her, a virtual route has been created in 4 languages: Lithuanian, Polish, English, Italian.
The event was organized by the member of the Seimas, Rita Tamašunienė, who noted that she has the opportunity to attract even more pilgrims who could go by bus, bicycle or more to Lithuania’s sacred local, religious and church heritage objects.
“The pandemic, the state of emergency, the geopolitical situation have limited Lithuania so much, this sector is experiencing a lot of difficulties. Tourist traffic is down as people save money. But this will not last forever, so be very careful how to interest tourists and pilgrims, show them the objects of our church heritage”, said R. Tamašunienė.
The director of the Polish Institute in Vilnius Malgorzata Stefanowicz- Pecela spoke at the conference, priest dr. Mariusz Marszałek, dr. Paweł Plichta from Krakow Jogaila University, head of Šiluva Pilgrim Center Silvija Čižaitė-Rudokienė and other speakers.
The exhibition “Camino Misericordia – The Path of God’s Mercy” was opened in the Seimas Visitor Center on Wednesday.
“Camino Misericordia” is a project initiated by the Secretariat of Divine Mercy. According to the organizers, its purpose is to outline the places connecting cars, bicycles, and in the future also pedestrian roads, related to the life and activities of the Apostles of God’s Mercy from Krakow to Vilnius.
A mobile exhibition shows the main places of this road. The exhibition consists of 14 pieces. 100×70 cm size posters. The posters contain pictures with descriptions in three languages (English, Polish and Lithuanian).
The project is financed from the funds allocated by the Office of the Prime Minister of Poland to finance the competition “Polish Community of the World and Poles 2022”.
The Seimas Visitor Center exhibition can be viewed until October 7.