Tag Archives: Lithuania

More Churches in the Old Town of Vilnius

The Old Town of Vilnius is one of the largest in Europe, and the churches of the Old Town seem to appear wherever one’s gaze wanders. Some of the churches have been breathtakingly restored. Others remain in a state of … Continue reading

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The Samsanavicius House in Seirijai

On Wednesday, 24 October 2007, my cousins Vitas, Liliana, and I visited Seirijai, Lithuania where Vitas’ and Liliana’s grandparents Jonas Samsanavicius and Ona Chmielewska lived. Ona was the sister of my own grandmother, Helena Chmielewska. Continue reading

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The Hill of Three Crosses and Gediminas Hill

Two popular stops for tourists in Vilnius, Lithuania are the Hill of Three Crosses and Gediminas Hill. Continue reading

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The Vilnius Cathedral (Arkikatedra Bazilika)

The Roman Catholic Vilnius Cathedral is built on the site of an ancient pagan temple dedicated to Perkūnas, the god of thunder and fire. Five different cathedrals have been built on this site, each one destroyed by war or natural disaster. … Continue reading

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Russian Orthodox Churches in Vilnius

As a whole, Lithuania’s population is Roman Catholic, but as a result of the strong Russian influences throughout history, Vilnius is home to several Russian Orthodox Churches, including the Church of St. Nicolas and the Church of the Holy Spirit. … Continue reading

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Trakai and the Karaites

In Trakai, a group of people called the Karaites have had a significant influence on local architecture and culture. The Karaites are an offshoot of Judaism, although they are not Semitic. Karaites are of Turkish origin and were living in … Continue reading

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The Island Castle in Trakai, Lithuania

On Tuesday, 23 October 2007, my cousin Liliana and I traveled to Trakai to visit the Trakai Historical National Park, the smallest of Lithuania’s five national parks. We traveled from Vilnius to Trakai by bus and then walked the remainder of … Continue reading

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The Lithuanian Parish of Butrimonys

While living in the Lithuanian village of LikiÅ¡kÄ—s, my grandmother’s family attended church in Butrimonys, although some records show that, at times, they attended church in StakliÅ¡kÄ—s. The Church in Butrimonys – 1 SOURCE: The Church in Butrimonys – 1. Photographed … Continue reading

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More Photographs of the Chmielewski Farm in Lithuania

In years past, a road ran by the main house on the Chmielewski farm in LikiÅ¡kÄ—s, Lithuania, and on that road, close to the house stood this shrine. One of the neighbors told us that, on their way to the … Continue reading

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The Chmielewski Farm in Lithuania

On Wednesday, 24 October 2007, our cousin Vitas drove Liliana and me to the farm where our grandmothers were born. The farm is located in the small village of Likiškės, just to the northeast of Alytus, Lithuania. Continue reading

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