Pilgrim Soldier

…stood an old rugged cross

Actually it was more like several thousand crosses, because yesterday we travelled south of the border to Lithuania to visit the Hill of Crosses.

This hill is basically exactly what it says it is. A hill full of crosses! Its origins are believed to be in the 1830’s but it took on a whole new dimension during the Soviet occupation of Lithuania. Despite being bulldozed on at least 3 occasions the crosses kept being erected. The Soviet authorities tried everything to stop them appearing including closing roads, digging trenches and saying that the area was full of deadly toxins, but still they came back!

Lithuania was and to some extents is still a devoutly catholic country. In view of this it isn’t surprising that the Cross became the symbol of hope which people used against communism. After all the Cross of Jesus is the symbol of hope for the whole world.

One of the things that struck me most about this place of pilgrimage is the amount of prayers that must have been poured forth over the decades. Whilst many of the more modern crosses have been left by tourists, the oldest have been left by people who were facing extreme oppression, often for their faith, who felt they had nowhere else to turn. This place, 12km from the nearest town, became a place where they felt they could speak to their Lord and leave the only symbol they could, a cross.

Despite the sheer number of crosses that stand on the hill, it was those almost obscured by undergrowth and discoloured with age that spoke to me most! Praise the Lord that He has given us a symbol of hope like no other. Something that people can cling to when everything in life seems to have fallen apart.

A symbol of hope and freedom for all who follow Jesus!

The Cross