CONJUNTO RESIDENCIAL EL TIROL II

he spirit of a community is a combination of many seemingly unconnected elements – buildings, objects, natural landscapes and traditions. Traditions or ‘intangible heritage’ are often the strongest link between places, people and generations. Very often this intangible heritage is the most fragile and difficult to sustain. Without it, places lose their meaning, the natural

environment is subjected to degradation and connections within the community are lost. Moreover, connections with nearby communities that share similar traditions are also lost. If a community is to prosper and their spirit preserved there must be recognition and continuation of their intangible cultural heritage and an understanding of how it connects to other communities.

Pilgrim evening community celebration in 2006, Pivašiūnai, Lithuania. Image: Alytus District Municipality administration © 2014

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Description

Pivašiūnai is a small ethnic Dzūkijos village situated on the shores of Ilgis Lake near the ancient Pivašiūnai Gineitiškių forest in rural South Lithuania. Surrounding the village are neatly tended agricultural fields and at its centre is the spiritual heart of the community and region – the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Pivašiūnai village is on the main route between the capital Vilnius to the medieval town of Alytus and beyond to Poland; therefore, its location made it a natural crossroad for the exchange of ideas, beliefs and traditions. By the early 17th century the Protestant Reformation movement had faded and a large landowner, Elder Jonas Klockis, converted to Catholicism. In 1633 he donated an estate and funds to the Benedictine monks at the nearby monastery of Old Trakai to establish a Catholic church. The surrounding forest provided the materials and the villagers supplied the labor. Soon the church became the centre of the community and near it they buried their families marking their memories with carved wooden tombstones.

The central altar of the church was adorned with an ancient painting depicting the assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the late 18th century disaster struck and a fire engulfed the village and church but miraculously the painting survived. A second church was built and was again destroyed by fire, yet the treasured painting endured. Again the community rebuilt, creating a classic wooden structure in a simple yet distinctive form.

Eventually, the reputation of the painting and its church grew and became the center of the wider regional community. Pilgrims began to visit the painting to honor their faith and

beliefs. They mostly came from the neighboring regions of Dzūkija, Vilnius and Lyda. But soon immense processions of pilgrims began traveling by foot from further away carrying church banners and religious images, and seeking refuge at night in communities along the way. Among the pilgrims were the sick, lame and poor whom the people along the route would generously assist. Soon, Pivašiūnai village, the church and its painting became one of Lithuania’s main pilgrimage destinations. Pilgrims traveled throughout the year but the largest groups traveled to celebrate the eight days of the Indulgence Feast of the Assumption, or “Žolinė”, when the famous painting is crowned. The tradition of such organized trips to indulgenced feasts was revived when the Soviet occupation ended and independence for Lithuania was regained.

Good Practice

The initiative of the local community in cooperation with the wider regional and religious communities was critical in identifying the importance of their pilgrimage traditions. They understood the importance of this intangible heritage and its connection with the church, village and surrounding landscape – a good first practice. They also recognized the pilgrimage routes as significant links between generations and surrounding communities;

even into neighboring Poland. In 2004 the community began a project to link the pilgrimage routes between Lithuania and Poland that included Pivašiūnai. Therefore, they were very active in ensuring that the physical restoration of the church, as the terminus of one of the major pilgrimages, was an important part of the larger municipality’s strategic plan. The implementation of the project involved identifying the physical needs for conservation of the structure as well as protection measures for the landscapes along the pilgrimage route – another good practice.

The larger municipality sought and received funding from a variety of sources – regionally, nationally and internationally, for the restoration of the church – another critical good practice. Beginning in 2005 the Lithuania Department of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture became involved and listed the church for additional financial support. This initial support was then

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

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supplemented with funding at the local level from the municipality and later from international sources. The religious community also became involved to reinforce, promote and organize the pilgrimages, offering information on various routes through websites and printed material. The pilgrimages and religious community were given much needed reinforcement when Pope John Paul II visited Pivašiūnai village in 1993. A new pilgrimage route was designated as John Paul II pilgrim route in 2007.

These efforts converged to create a model of development – joint team management that ensured the voice and cooperation of all stakeholders. They worked together to conserve the church and protect its valuable painting. This initial project led to additional projects including the rehabilitation of a recreational area near Lake Ilgis to provide a place for the pilgrims to rest and pitch tents. Energy efficient LED light was installed near the church walkways and in 2012 a nearby building, the Amateur Centre, was converted into a place where pilgrims can prepare their meals and purchase souvenirs. More recently, the Parsonage House near the church was restored and it will house a Pilgrim Museum. Efforts continue to improve visibility and promotion of the pilgrim routes.

The community focused on recognizing their valuable intangible heritage and its important connection between the physical structures of the community and the natural environment. They then conducted projects that reinforced this intangible heritage by conserving and rehabilitating the related structures and landscape. This created a sustainable reinforcing loop – the intangible heritage supporting the tangible heritage. These projects have improved the quality of life and promoted social cohesion in Pivašiūnai. As a result of these activities the community acquired stronger identity that combines the development of the heritage and cultural landscape characteristics of the place. The success of their efforts can be counted in the active involvement of community members, cooperation between levels of government and record numbers of people participating in the pilgrimages. Equally important, the community’s efforts have given a boost to the economy as more pilgrims visit the village.

Pilgrim Route of Pope John Paul II, Lithuania. Image: Alytus District Municipality Administration © 2014

Recognizing the importance