About 60 years ago, a survey claimed there were as many as 3,000 holy wells in Ireland - read more...

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ALandmks/HolyWells.html

Popular piety in predominently (Roman) Catholic Lithuania still retains beliefs similar to the ones mentioned in this interesting article about holy wells in Ireland. There seems to be some kind of connection between the ancient Celtic and Baltic cultures...Lithuania was the last country of Europe to accept Chrisitanity (back in the 1400s, if I'm not mistaken) so it's no wonder elements of heathenism persist.

Sometimes I suspect my Christianity is only superficial & lamentably shallow - all one has to do is scratch the Christian veneer on me & a rank pagan might emerge...

Along these lines, there is an attempt in modern Lithuania to revive and practice the ancient pagan beliefs and customs. This movement/religion is called Romuva.

http://www.romuva.lt/en.html

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Neo-Paganism is on the move. In the US the most Popular form is Wicca. But there are those who are trying to bring some of these ancient faiths back like the Asatru which I think is recognized as an official religion in Scandinavia. Gotta keep these people in prayer. I was once a neo pagan and many of them are former Catholics and see themselves as "recovering from Catholicism" and seem to accept the many anti-catholic myths.

Kyrie eleison,

Manuel

Whatever does Lithuania have to do with the Holy Wells of Ireland? In many places the Holy Wells are the centers of Christian devotion; they are certainly not pagan.

Many, if not indeed most, traditional Churches incorporate folk customs which some other people find surprising.

Fr. Serge

Well, Father, the connection is a bit superficial, I'll admit that...I suspect what's devotional in Ireland might be rather pagan in Lithuania.

Father Sergius,
Have you visited any? I am eager to hear about your experiences.

Ray

What a lovely and pious custom!