Remembering the destroyed churches

On Saturday at 10 a.m. Where once stood St. John’s Church, a memory and hope hike in three directions began.

Before traveling, the hikers received a blessing.

After divided into three groups, some were on the buses to Kairiai, others to Karkle, and others walked around the city.

In Klaipeda itself, historian Arūnas Baublys led to the places of the memory and hope for those who wanted to march, where the Klaipėda Church was once disappeared in the post -war period.

The participants of this march saw where the Lithuanian Church was standing, St. John’s Prayer House, Blessed. Trinity Catholic and Anglican Church, Castle Chapel, St. Jacob and Reformed Church and Synagogue.

Photo by Aiva Sungailaitė

« There are concentrated and certain historical stereotypes that are worth brightening. For example, people are very surprised to hear that the Catholic Church in Klaipeda only appeared in the 19th century suburb. Sometimes there is an exaggerated accusation against churches for Germanization, but perhaps in Lithuania. It would not have claimed that all the « praise » of the government would be proclaimed in their mother tongues, « Baublys believes.

The historian stated that there were over 10 prayer houses in Klaipeda, not all of them Christian. There were three synagogues here – one of them prayed from the Jews living in Klaipeda from the Russian Empire, the synagogue of the Litvaks (Jews of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania) and German Jews.

Photo by Aiva Sungailaitė

There were no Orthodox prayer houses in Klaipeda, no Muslims. This, according to the historian, newcomers, after World War II with migration.

« We imagine churches with high stability fortresses, both constitutional and cultural aspects, but in reality it is not.