Churches of Šiluva
Šiluva – the Lourdes of Lithuania – is one of the most famous places of worship of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The first church was built in 1457 by P. Gedgaudas. He is believed to have brought the painting of Our Lady from Rome.
After the apparitions, Father Kazakevicius was appointed pastor of the Catholic people in Siluva. In 1624, he built a small wooden church on the site of the original church. It soon proved much too small for the many pilgrims who visited the place.
The pilgrims had heard of the apparitions and of the finding of the cherished image, which was placed above the main altar of the church. People from all over Lithuania flocked to Šiluva to visit the little church and to pay homage to the Mother of God.
According to Bishop Valančius, who made a study of the history of Šiluva, the place was so popular that in 1629, during the annual ceremonies held on the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, more than 11,000 received Holy Communion.
A much larger church was built in 1641. Consecrated ten years later in 1651, it served many pilgrims for almost 140 years. During this time, offerings continued to come in.
The church of Šiluva today – Basilica of the Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary – is the fourth church to have been built on that spot. The new church of renaissance style was built from 1760 to 1775 and solemnly consecrated on September 7, 1786.
Pictures:
Basilica of the Birth of the Virgin Mary, built 1760 – 1786 in late Baroque style. Damaged by fire, the church was reconstructed in 1925.
Side altar inside the church.
First Chapel at the Rock Built in 1663
The faithful went to visit the rock on which Our Lady appeared, touch it, put flowers on it, kneel before it and pray fervently to the Mother of God.
This increasing devotion prompted the Ordinary, Bishop Alexandras Sapiega, to build a small wooden chapel around the rock in 1663. It served the faithful until 1818 when Bishop Simonas Giedraitis built a more spacious one. In 1912, a larger, more elaborate chapel was begun.
The foundation of the Chapel of the Appearance was laid in 1912 on the 300 years anniversary of the appearance. It is the most impressive building in Šiluva. The legendary stone on which the Blessed Virgin Mary stood is mounted in the foundation inside the chapel and can be seen on both sides of the altar.
Because of the war, it was not completed until 1924. The altar itself was built over the rock on which the Blessed Virgin appeared. Pilgrims were accustomed to go on their knees around the altar and kiss the rock, which remains visible.
On September 7, 1993, the Pope John Paul II visited Šiluva and prayed in the “Chapel of the Appearance.”
Pictures:
The “Chapel of The Appearance” to which many pilgrims flock to pay homage to the Mother of God. Construction of this elaborate place of worship was begun in 1912, on the spot where the apparitions of Our Lady took place, and completed in 1924.
The rock formation on which Mary stood while appearing to the children is visible on both sides of the altar.
