Latgale is a small and special place where the Word of God has a profound and divine power: for centuries, it has been spoken from the churches of five different denominations – Catholic, Lutheran, Orthodox, the Old Believers and Jewish synagogues. Although the influence of these religions has altered over the years, there have always been five. This is evidenced by the churches you can find in Latgale, which represent an essential part of spiritual life and form Latgale’s distinct image as an inviting and very welcoming place. Latgale has long been known as the land of Mara – or the land of the Holy Virgin Mary – because of Aglona, one of the largest Catholic centres in the Baltic States and a holy site of global significance.
The greatest miracle and richness of this special place is the ability of its people to live together in peace and harmony, regardless of their religious affiliation. Here, no one tries to impose their choice upon others as superior or as the only truth. The sincerity of the Latgalians, combined with their sacred and rich environment, adds something special to everything created here.
Crucifixes depicting the image of Jesus’ crucifixion are an important symbol of Latgale. Each crucifix identifies a place where people can pray at any time. The installation of crucifixes in Latgale began in the 18th century. In populated areas, a tradition was formed to hold special church services at the village cross. These services were held in May (the month of the Holy Virgin Mary according to the calendar of the Catholic Church). For forty years, from 1864 to 1904, it was forbidden to use letters from the Latin alphabet in Latgale, and gatherings at crucifixes made it possible to keep the national language and the Latgalian identity alive. The largest number of crucifixes in one place is found in the parish of Vabole, near Daugavpils. Of the 44 crucifixes that once existed, 22 have been preserved. They are strung out along a 25 km route, known as the Crucifix Road or the Way of the Crucifixes. The overall route is conditionally divided into three smaller loops, all located in Vabole parish - with the loops beginning at the Skrinda family museum, which is a memorial to the first workers of the national revival in Latgale, the Skrinda brothers - Benedikts (1869–1947), Kazimirs (1875–1919) and Antons (1881–1918).
In anticipation of the tenth anniversary of the "Shmakovka Museum", which will be celebrated in the summer of 2026, in the fall of 2025 and spring of 2026, all the Holy Places included in the original Way of the Crucifixes were surveyed and the Crucifix Map was restored - one of the exhibits of the museum's Stand No. 2. A gallery with a report from the Way of the Crucifixes as it currently stands can be seen here:
