Invitation to the Exhibition Opening and Reception for The Chapel of Šiluva 50 Years Later
Invitation to the Exhibition Opening and Reception for The Chapel of Šiluva 50 Years Later Guests of Honor Mrs. Loreta Graužinienė Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania Mr. Linas Linkevičius Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania Mr. Šarūnas Birutis Minister of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania
Thursday, the 30th of June
7 pm-8:30 pm
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
400 Michigan Avenue, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20017
RSVP by 6/25/16 rsvp.us@urm.lt
202 234 5860 ext. 111
This year - 2016 - marks the fiftieth anniversary of the Chapel of Our Lady of Šiluva in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.This beautiful, serene space is a landmark of Lithuanian culture in North America. It contains an exquisite Madonna and Child by Vytautas Kašuba, and murals by Vytautas Jonynas and Albinas Elskus, three Lithuanian artists of international repute. Dedicated in 1966, the Chapel celebrates not only the religious traditions and the strong Marian affection of Lithuanian-Americans, but is also a monument to the sustained support that this community provided to the cause of religious, cultural and political freedom in Lithuania during its unlawful occupation by the Soviet Union during and following the Second World War. It is therefore remarkable that 2016 also marks the twenty-sixth year of the restoration of political independence and religious freedom in Lithuania.The Basilica of the National Shrine joins with the Lithuanian American community to celebrate this golden jubilee. A solemn Holy Mass of Thanksgiving will be celebrated on October 9, 2016, followed by a reception. In anticipation of this event, an exhibit highlighting the religious history and Lithuanian folk-arts that are portrayed in the Chapel’s decoration, as well as some souvenir remembrances of the Chapel’s dedication in 1966, will take place in the Memorial Hall of the Basilica of the National Shrine.The exhibition will be open from June 30 through October 17, 2016.
