Freedom fighters will be honored in Šiauliai
The organizer is Šiauliai City Municipality and Šiauliai Cultural Center. Events are free.
January 13th is an extremely significant date in the history of Lithuania, which is being re-actualized and reconsidered in the context of today's world events. The undying concentration of Lithuanians has been remembered for more than three decades. in 1991 on January 13, the nation of Lithuania proved that it is possible to fight the enemy not only with weapons. That night, unarmed people of Lithuania joined the fight for their freedom and the freedom of the whole country. This extraordinary bravery cost the lives of 14 Lithuanian citizens, and many people were injured.
"I still remember that bright night of January 13, when we fought for the freedom of our dear Lithuania. This resistance showed how brave, determined and united Lithuanians can be. I believe that these values will always remain in the hearts of Lithuanians," says Daina Kinčinaitienė, head of the Culture Department of the Šiauliai City Municipality Administration.
In order to remember the hard-won freedom and its fallen defenders, this day is marked by an abundance of events. They will start in Šiauliai on January 12. Sunday evening, 5 p.m., St. in the Cathedral of the Apostles Peter and Paul, St. Mass for the fallen defenders of freedom, and at 6 p.m. A solemn event of Defenders of Freedom Day will be held in Resurrection Square, during which those gathered will be invited to honor the memory of the fallen with a minute of silence, and symbolic memorial bonfires will be lit.
"The light, warmth and power of the fire symbolically give meaning to the courage of the fighters of January 13 and the hearts burning with the desire for freedom for us even today. Today, it is extremely important to remember how much the unity of the nation can do, how much each of us can do and how high the price of freedom is," says the director of the Šiauliai Cultural Center, Deimantė Bačiulė.
During the event, the soldiers of the 6th national team of the KASP Resurrection District will honor the fallen with fire torches and bell ringing. In the commemoration, the Lithuanian folklore group "Ugniavijas" will perform war songs, the border guards of the Šiauliai border checkpoint at the Pagėgii border guard of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania will serve tea and military porridge to those gathered. The participants of the event will be presented with the exhibition of historical photos "To freedom, Lithuania!", which contains images of the theme of freedom from different periods. The exhibition reflects Šiauliai, the people of Šiauliai, the most prominent events that gathered for a common goal - to become independent and free from oppression. The exhibition will be on display in Resurrection Square from 2025. January 10 until March 11
The morning of January 13 in Šiauliai will begin with a meaningful civic initiative "Memory is alive because it bears witness". The city's schools, institutions, organizations and all residents are invited to light memorial candles in the windows - not only to show respect for the fallen, but also to express pride in their victory. 4-8 p.m. Memorial bonfires will burn in Resurrection Square, reminding of the bonfires lit by the fighters for Lithuania's freedom more than 30 years ago.
More meaningful events and exhibitions will be organized on the occasion of Defender of Freedom Day. The entire program of events can be found on the websites of Šiauliai City Municipality (www.siauliai.lt) and Šiauliai Cultural Center (www.siauliukc.lt).
The information is provided by Asta Vaitkienė, Head of the Event Organization Department of the Šiauliai Cultural Center, mobile. +370 671 42 901, e-mail asta.vaitkiene@siauliukc.lt.
Photo by Roland Parafinavičius.
Atnaujinta: 2025-01-08 10:47