We have a lot of people who do not understand and do not want to understand the needs of the community of believers. It’s not the first time – it’s not the first time I’ve seen such nonsense unfriendly to believers. Practically every time it is announced that something will be built for religion – a church, a community center, a Christian school or the like.
It is necessary to start with the fact that Pašilaičiai is a huge district of Vilnius with over 30 thousand inhabitants. And the population is growing, expanding Perkūnkiemi, which belongs to the same ward. The population is more than e.g. Utena is in the center of the county. And there are several churches in Utena, not even one. Meanwhile, it’s exactly zero in Pašilaičius! Not one.
And someone still dares to be angry, after all, who needs a church? Consider the population, and consider the fact that a district with tens of thousands of inhabitants has no church! It seems that everything should be clear and obvious anyway. Surprisingly, not everyone.
The problem is much broader, not limited to Pašilaitii. For a long time, there were no churches at all in all the multi-apartment “comibloki” districts built during the Soviet era, where the majority of Vilnius residents live. It’s hard to believe, but it didn’t happen. The atheistic government made a deliberate effort to remove faith in God from people’s heads and replace it with faith in ideology.
But now, thank God, it is no longer the Soviet era. We are free to believe and express our religious beliefs. The mistakes of Soviet exploitation and forced godlessness have begun to be corrected – new churches have been built in Lazdynai, Viršuliškės, Pilaite, Grigiškės. Pashilaičiai is already planned.
However, this is not enough. Where else are Justiniškės, Šeškinės, Fabijoniškės, Baltupiai? How many churches are there in Žirmūnai? How many in Karoliniškės? And there are also a lot of people. Most of whom are believers, a very significant number of them are not only believers, but also active practitioners.
And how can you dare to say: “There are those churches, you’ll really want to – you’ll go” (I’ve seen quite a few such “arguments”). People, shame on you! Since when do all believers from microdistricts have to rush to the Old Town, the Center, to community churches in other districts? What is abnormal about having your own church in your neighborhood, near your home?
For some reason, when building a shopping center, the question does not arise: “what is needed here, there are those shops, you will need it – you will go”. Somehow I didn’t see it. Because the shops are very good, there are physical needs, pleases the stomach and other places, you can dress up. There are sausages, potatoes on sale, underwear and tops, jewelry and other wonderful things. No, shops are needed, it is sacred and unquestionable! There are shares! And attractions!
Finally, you should understand that there are a large number of people around you who are not only interested in filling their bellies, dressing up and entertaining. Of course, I am by no means saying that it is not necessary – of course it is. But next to that, there are other spiritual needs that are certainly no less important. And they must be ensured, not left on the sidelines, as in the Soviet era.
Others are very angry that kindergartens and schools are needed, while a church is being built here. Yes, we need kindergartens, schools, churches, the same shopping centers – everything is needed. Why does something have to be singled out as “unimportant”? All groups in society must have what they need.
There is no institution that is 100 percent necessary for everyone. Even the same schools and kindergartens – not all are children, not all have them. Gas stations – not everyone drives. Supermarkets even – maybe someone grows their own vegetables and doesn’t eat meat. Nightclubs – not everyone goes there to have fun. Centers for national minorities – not all belong to national minorities. Yes, and churches – not everyone is a believer, not everyone goes to them, I agree. But if there is a large enough number of people who need it – it means there must be!
Many people think that nowadays people don’t go to church, that young people don’t go there, that they only go on holidays. Well, forgive me – only those who are far from religion and never go to churches can say that.
Go to any church in Vilnius on Sunday – they are full. Even on normal days there are quite a few people. And young families with children.
It is often said that the new churches are supposedly “scary” and only the old churches are real. In a very similar way, the people like to talk about modern buildings of any purpose – “oh shit, it’s a glass again, and at least it’s beautiful in the old town”. Well, they will not build in 2024, in the 21st century, just like they built in the Middle Ages or the Renaissance. It would be strange if they built some Gothic or Baroque now. Yes, it’s nice, but it’s a different era. Now other technologies, fashions and styles. We cannot be tied to an architectural expression that was hundreds of years ago.
I agree that the Viršuliškii J. Matulaitis church, which is often shown as a negative example, is really not an example of great elegance from the outside (well, at least for me), but there are really great examples of new churches. Even in the province – Pabradė’s impressive new church on the hill, Ignalina’s relatively new church, in the same already mentioned Utena there is a beautiful new church – round, red. It is nonsense to say that “everything is not beautiful now, but it was beautiful in the past”.
And again – “you need to pray at home”. Yes, of course, you should pray at home. In general, you can pray in your mind anywhere, wherever the need arises. But common masses are held in churches, sacraments are accepted (confession, communion, marriage, etc.) All this also needs to be done at home? Only those who know little about religion and do not really understand the needs of the community of believers can say so.
One thing some (by no means saying all) atheists need to learn is to respect believers and understand that their community has needs, such as new churches. It is your right not to believe, but that right cannot be taken away from others. We live in a democratic country.
I think that there will definitely be a church in Pashilaičiai, there will also be in Karoliniškės, Fabijoniškės and other places where they do not exist yet, but there is definitely a great need. Religion in Lithuania is really very alive and strong, and I personally will definitely contribute with my own strength to keep it alive and active – one person may not be able to fix the world, but he can definitely contribute to the common cause.
This subjective opinion of the author does not necessarily coincide with the editor’s opinion: lrytas.lt is not responsible for the content of the reader.
Tags: Involved discussion Vilnius church forgive
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