Koplyčios ir kryžiai Vilniaus apylinkėse

Abstract

The area around Vilnius is rich with cultural heritage. The territorial system of historical villages, hamlets, manor complexes and the net of old roads, situated in the st environs of the city between Nemenčinė in the North, Mickūnai in the East, Keturiasdešimt Totorių village in the South, Trakai national park in the West and the boundary of the city are in permanent danger. The sacral elements of this system: churches, chapels, dwelling houses of monasteries and nurseries, crosses, cemeteries natural holly sites are of a primary importance from rent points of view. They are situated in ancient sites, part of which could be related with the prechristian worship of nature. These subjects are of gratest value for the local agricultural communities. There are only very few churches of Catholic, Russian Orthodox, Mosques and Carait religions which have survived. There are approx, thirty separate crosses and sixty emty cross areas. Seventy cemeteries form the most abundant sacral cultural heritage subject. Most of these territorial system elements are located in picturesque landscape areas - the valleys of rivers and springs. The holly sites which are not included into the area interest of the local people have to be abandoned and destroyed. Listing of immovable properties is not a sufficient measure for their protection. The interest of local inhabitants is necessary. The burial mounds - ancient sacral sites - are excluded from the living space of locals nowadays and have no spiritual impact on them. The disappearace of a relationship between the spatial structure of the environment and it’s meaning may reduce its architectural value and artistic quality. Modern sacral structures, mostly crosses and other monuments built on different occasions, nowadays offen serve only as formal and alien landmarks. It is necessary to provide programmes for maintaining the traditional way of life and safeguarding the cultural heritage.