The most beautiful and cosy spring holiday - Easter - has arrived, bringing a sense of awakening to everyone. Traditionally it’s a family celebration, so many of those reading this article may have already decorated their Easter eggs or are thinking about what to prepare for Sunday breakfast. As we wish you an inspiring time with your loved ones, we would also like to remind you of the exciting and enriching experiences you can find in Kaunas during the festive weekend.
16 April is the Holy Saturday. On Holy Saturday, there is no mass in the churches, and everyone looks forward to the evening and Easter vigil. This is when Christians rejoice in the resurrection of Jesus, and the ritual is performed using the symbols of light, water, the word and the Eucharist.
In Kaunas, The Easter Vigil will begin at 8 pm at the Cathedral Basilica of the Apostles Peter and Paul, the Christ’s Resurrection Basilica, and the Church of the Holy Cross (Carmelites). In the Church of St. George the Martyr (Franciscans) and the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Vytautas the Great), it will begin at 9 pm, and in the Holy Trinity Church at 10 pm.
Photo by Andrius Aleksandravičius
Easter Mass in many churches on Sunday morning will begin at 8 am and be celebrated several times. A procession around the Cathedral will precede the Mass. In many churches, services will also take place on the Second Day of Easter.
Music is an integral part of the second day of Easter. Every year in Kaunas, many concerts are devoted to this celebration of hope, and 2022 is no exception.
On Monday at 1 pm, you are welcome to attend a sacral music concert, “Easter Music” at St George the Martyr Church, with the Klaipėda Choir “Aukuras” and the Kaunas Wind Orchestra “Ąžuolynas”.
The bells of the Kaunas Carillon will also ring on the festive Monday. Austėja Staniunaitytė-Proietta will perform works by Juozas Naujalis, Kristina Vasiliauskaitė and Benediktas Andriuška in the concert "Easter Bell Songs". Lithuanian folk Easter songs and sutartinės will also be performed. Starting at 4 pm.
The Easter concert of the Kaunas Gospel & Worship Festival will take place at 6 pm in the KTU III Hall. On the same evening, opera diva Renée Fleming will perform for the first time in Lithuania. She will perform at Žalgirio Arena with the Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra and Kaunas State Choir.
Although Kaunas museums will be closed on Easter, the VMU Kaunas Botanical Garden will be open on Sunday. Film lovers will be able to choose from the repertoire of Forum Cinemas in Akropolis. Cinamon, the cinema in Mega, will only be open on Easter Monday.
Basketball lovers should check out the schedule of Žalgiris – the team is having a home game on Saturday!
Photo by VMU Botanical garden
Not in the mood to cook, or maybe you’re in Kaunas for a visit? The city’s restaurants have delicious festive ideas. For example, Two Senses at the Radisson Hotel Kaunas invites you to a festive brunch: “On Easter morning, we are looking forward to welcoming families, the Easter Bunny will entertain the children, and we are preparing a festive buffet for brunch.”
Other restaurants in Kaunas, such as Miesto sodas, Talutti, Višta Puode, Jurgis ir Drakonas, will also be open.
Photo by Cottonbro/Pexels
