The Three Crosses Memorial can be seen from all across the city of Vilnius in Lithuania. These three white, concrete crosses represent a simple but powerful connection to a local legend that has become a symbol recognized across the region, highlighting what it can mean to see a legacy personified.
Connected to a Local Legend
Long called the Bald Hill or Crooked Hill, the hill that overlooks old town Vilnius had a castle on it until the late 14th century. Around this time, fourteen Franciscans came as missionaries and were martyred when pagans tied them to crosses and threw them down the hill. While the story was a local legend, the three white crosses that were erected to honor them were very much a documented reality.
First built in 1613, the Three Crosses weren’t built to last and would eventually be removed. In 1916, the Three Crosses Memorial was created as reinforced concrete crosses to become a mainstay of the city skyline as well as a symbol of national identity.
The Soviet Union destroyed the monument when they took over the country but it was eventually rebuilt as part of the Lithuanian independence movement. Unveiled in 1989, the Three Crosses rise nearly 50 feet in the air on one of the higher points in the area, allowing the monument to be seen at various locations across the city.
This prominence is just one of the reasons the crosses have become a symbol of the city, which is part of the reason the landmark appears prominently in maps and guides as well as on everything from shirts to the former currency. Often illuminated in different colors to commemorate special events for Lithuania and the world, the Three Crosses Memorial has enabled experiences and meaning for residents and visitors is distinct but powerful ways.
When Legend Becomes Legacy
In bringing to life a legend that is connected to the history of Vilnius, the Three Crosses have become icons that provide connections for audiences across the eras. The monument highlights what it can mean for legend to become legacy in ways that resonate with individuals and to entire communities.
