Kretinga district is a rich region. You can find many treasures here. But these treasures do not glitter like gold. The treasure you will discover will give you more knowledge, spiritual good, emotional and physical rest, and fun moments. The name of Kretinga is often associated with the Little Vatican of Lithuania. Why? Because there are as many as five monasteries, a church and other, no less important, objects of sacred culture in Kretinga. Each of them holds many beautiful stories and secrets.
One of the main attractions is the Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the ensemble of buildings of the Franciscan Monastery. According to legend, J. K. Chodkevičius built the church and monastery as a thank you to the Mother of God for the won battle near Salaspils.
Priceless historical objects – books, paintings, religious inventory – are kept in the monastery and church. Until now, one of the oldest doors in Lithuania, the oldest working organ in the country, the miraculous painting of St Anthony, the sarcophagi of the Chodkevičius family, and crypts can be seen here.
After inviting the Franciscans to Kretinga, J.K. Chodkevičius believed that his spiritual confidants would lead Kretinga on the right path. The Franciscans brought not only faith but also the best educational and cultural traditions to this city. To this day, the Franciscans carry out the will of the city’s founder – the church is widely visited by local believers and pilgrims from abroad, classical music concerts and scientific conferences are held in the ensemble.
The Franciscan monastery operating in Kretinga for more than 400 years created excellent conditions for the birthing of other congregations. In addition to the men’s Franciscan Monastery, there are even four women’s monasteries in the city. The Franciscan Missionary Congregation of the Sacred Heart is located closest to the church. The nuns work at the school, accept children as well as people seeking spiritual help. Another part of the Franciscan family is the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Sisters help decorate the church, prepare children for First Communion. They also visit lonely people, the sick, and their main goal is to apostolate among young people and adults. Congregation of the Missionaries of God’s Love: sisters visit families, take care of poor, homeless people. The most closed and mysterious is the Monastery of the Sisters of St Clare. The sisters live a closed, contemplative life.
The Lourdes Grotto of Kretinga was built by the Franciscans in 1933, when the real French Lourdes celebrated its 75th anniversary. The difference is that the Virgin Mary appeared to the children in the grotto in France. Such a miracle did not happen in Kretinga, but it has long been believed that the spring flowing near the grotto is miraculous and healing. The Lourdes of Kretinga attracted as many as 25 thousand pilgrims from all over Lithuania during the opening ceremony. President Antanas Smetona himself visited the opening ceremonies of the Lourdes. During the war and the Soviet era, the white marble altar of the Lourdes Grotto was destroyed, but the sculptures that decorated the grotto, which were brought from France at that time, have survived to this day.
One of the most visited graves in the old Kretinga cemetery is the grave of the Franciscan monk Jurgis Ambraziejus Pabrėža. In the 19th century, Father Ambraziejus was famous for his sermons, he was an excellent pedagogue, and people went to see him like a doctor. Having studied botany and medicine, Father Ambraziejus studied the healing properties of plants and was highly regarded as a folk healer. J. A. Pabrėža accompanied each patient with prayer and provided medicinal plant mixtures. Many people were grateful to him for improved health or even saved lives. After the death of Father Ambraziejus, only a few decades later, the humble grave was decorated with a cross. Later, in the period between the wars, a neo-Gothic chapel was built on the grave by the care of Augustinas Dirvelė, the head of the Franciscan Monastery. Locals visit it to this day and light candles asking for various favours. Praying at this monk’s grave is believed to bring health miracles.
Everyone entering or leaving the city of Kretinga is welcomed and accompanied by an illuminated cross that has no analogues in Lithuania. The height of the monument reaches 12 meters, and it glows brightly at dusk. With a modern and unique cross, the Franciscans of Kretinga commemorated the 400th anniversary – that’s how long ago the Franciscans in Kretinga started their activities.
The five monasteries of Kretinga, the crypt of the Chodkevičius family, the church tower can only be visited during excursions organized by Kretinga District Tourism Information Centre.
Churches and Chapels in Kretinga District
The city of Kretinga, famous for its abundance of monasteries and magical places, is not the only destination for those interested in sacred heritage. The entire Kretinga district is rich in cosy small churches and unique chapels of its towns and villages.
Gushing at the site of an ancient pagan temple, Erškėtynas Spring is famous for its magical and healing powers. People have been washing their eyes and face with water from the spring since ancient times – the water is believed to help especially with vision problems. The chapel built next to the spring is a reflection of Christian culture.
Tūbausiai Church of St Andrew the Apostle is worth visiting on St Henry’s Day, believers gather for solemn indulgences, followed by a fun and communal get-together.
Darbėnai Church of St Peter and Paul the Apostles is worth visiting for the famous indulgences of St Peter and Paul, the cosy interior and the architecture of the Romantic period.
Laukžemė Church of St Andrew the Apostle is decorated with a painting of Mary of the Scapular painted in 1729. He is credited with miraculous powers. In the church you will also see one of the oldest wooden sculptures of Madonna. It is believed that it could have been made in the 15th-16th centuries.
Salantai Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was designed by the architect K. E. Strandmanas, who worked with the Tiškevičius family and created the churches of Palanga and Švėkšna. His two-tower neo-Gothic church is built on the site of the old one and impresses with its 5 wooden altars, two towers almost 60 meters high. The painting of the Blessed Virgin Mary with the Baby is especially visited – it is famous for miracles. Near Salantai, there is Gargždelė Chapel of St Barbara, the interior of which was nurtured by the famous Vilius Orvidas.
The Church of St Laurence stands in Kalnalis. M. Valančius, the writer and bishop of Samogitia, was baptized here. This ancient wooden church preserves the human-sized wooden soldiers called ‘žalnieriai’ which were used in Easter plays.
The modern, humble Church of St Matthew stands in the village of Kūlupėnai. It is a proof of community unity and kindness. The plot was donated to the church by two women from Kūlupėnai, and another one donated the plot to the parish priest, after the sale of which there was enough money to start construction.
Wooden Kartena Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary has been known since the 17th century. The burnt and rebuilt church is attracted by the exceptionally beautiful pulpit, one of the oldest organs in the area, which was made at the end of the 18th century.
The Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross stands in Budriai and fascinates with its ornate wooden altars and cosy churchyard. Mikoliškiai Church of St Joseph is special in that it is made of round logs and being in it seems to bring you back to the past. And here, Grūšlaukė Church of St John of Nepomuk was once financed by the Dukes Oginski themselves.
Village churches and chapels are open to visitors only during mass on Sundays and during indulgences. In the absence of such an opportunity, visiting is only possible from the outside.
