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The Shrines of the Baltic States: Latvia & Lithuania: In the steps of Pope John Paul II, and focusing on the Devotions of the Divine Mercy

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Introduction

Here is a chance to be among the first to visit the shrines of the Baltic States, countries that are still relatively unexplored by western visitors, but full of a vibrant faith that has stood the test of persecution right up to recent times. We start in the Latvian Cathedral of Riga, a cosmopolitan city famous for its Art Nouveau architecture, and home to Catholic, Lutheran and Orthodox communities. We then travel into neighbouring Lithuania, to the famous Hill of Crosses at Siauliai, in the steps of Pope John Paul II, who made a pilgrimage here in 1993, before we continue to the historic capital of Lithuania, Vilnius, for the rest of our stay. Sister Faustina lived for many years in Vilnius, which was part of Poland at the time, and it was here that the Holy Father beatified her in 1993. We hope to see many place associated with her life during our stay. In the steps of the great Pope, John Paul II, who held this region very dear to his heart, and focusing on the devotions of the Divine Mercy.

Basic Itinerary

DAY ONE

London - Riga

Scheduled flight from Stansted (or Liverpool) to Riga, the capital city of Latvia. We check into our centrally-located hotel for a two night stay. Dinner will be at local restaurants on each night of the tour.

DAY TWO

Riga

Riga is the biggest city in the Baltic and the most cosmopolitan. It was founded in 1201 by German crusaders, and was culturally German until World War II. The reformation was very violent here, hence the bareness of some of the Church interiors. Our walking tour will include the Lutheran Cathedral, dating from 1211, and now the largest Church in the Baltic States. Afterwards we visit the Roman Catholic Cathedral of St James, where Mass will be celebrated. We also visit the Powder Tower, part of the 14th century fortifications of the city, and the Latvian history museum, which covers several thousand years of Latvian history. The rest of the day will be at leisure.

DAY THREE

Riga

This morning, Mass will be celebrated at the Catholic church of Our Lady of Sorrows. Afterwards, we visit the churches of St John (originally Catholic, now Lutheran) and St Peter with a beautiful tower. We take the lift up to the observation platform for a bird’s eye view of the city. We also visit the museum of the occupation of Latvia, which describes the various occupations of Latvia during the 20th century.

DAY FOUR

Riga - Vilnius

We leave Riga and Latvia. Crossing into Lithuania we come to Siauliai, the famous Hill of Crosses, a hillside covered in the crosses that people have erected here since first doing so to honour the fallen in the failed revolts of 1831 and 1863. Repeatedly bulldozed by the Soviets in the 1960s! Visited by Pope John Paul II in 1993, there has now been a Franciscan monastery on the site since 2001. The town, razed in 1944, has nothing to detain us, except perhaps the Cathedral of SS Peter and Paul, a faithful copy from 1954 of the original building of 1625. We continue to Vilnius, and check into our hotel, the Domus Maria, formerly a monastery, but now a 3-star hotel, with a serene but central location behind the church of St Theresa.

DAY FIVE

Vilnius

Vilnius has been called an orgy of Baroque and is rich in many ornate churches of the 17th and 18th centuries, as well as the famous Gothic church of St Anne, which Napoleon loved so much he wanted to transfer it to Paris! We visit the shrine of St Casimir in the Catholic Cathedral, a great focus of the pro-independence rallies of 1991, as well as the important orthodox Shrine of Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn, where we can venerate the miracle-working icon of Our Lady. The highlight of the tour, however, for many pilgrims will be the Dominican church which contains the original painting of The Divine Mercy which St Faustina commissioned in 1934 and of which all others, even the one in her shrine in Krakow, Poland, are a copy.

DAY SIX

Vilnius - Kaunas - London

We depart Vilnius this morning to the city of Kaunas, the third largest city of the Baltic, to visit the 15th century castle, the Baroque Cathedral, and St Gertrude’s Church, with its much-venerated crucifix. Our final Mass of the pilgrimage will be celebrated here. Afternoon transfer to Kaunas Airport for our return flight to London.
Six days

Terms of Payment:

Deposit of £120.00 plus the insurance premium (if the cover we offer is required) per person on booking.

THIS TRIP INCLUDES:

Return scheduled flights on Ryanair, London Stansted – Riga, Kaunas - London Stansted. U.K., Latvia and Lithuania departure taxes. 15kg checked luggage allowance. Air-conditioned touring coach as per the itinerary. 5-nights accommodation in shared twin-bedded rooms with private facilities in 3 star hotels in Riga (3 nights) and Vilnius (2 nights). Guided walking tours in Riga, Vilnius and Kaunas. 5 breakfasts and 5 dinners.

EXTRAS:

Single room supplement for the 5 nights (Limited number of single rooms available). Lunches, drinks and souvenirs.

This tour is available throughout the year for groups of between 15-30 participants

RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS AND WORSHIP:

Ecumenical