The Church of Transfiguration in New York faces the threat of closure and a real risk of demolition. This church is yet another example of the growing threats to Lithuanian cultural heritage abroad. Yesterday, on March 26, 2025, the Seimas and World Lithuanian Community Commission discussed how to address these alarming trends, which affect not only the United States but also many other countries where Lithuanians have left their mark over the course of history.
Speaking at the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania, the Chair of the Heritage Commission, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vaidutė Ščiglienė, highlighted the key challenges faced in efforts to preserve Lithuanian heritage sites abroad. She outlined the Heritage Commmission’s ongoing initiatives and proposed concrete, necessary state-level solutions to ensure that such heritage is finally protected in a systematic and sustainable manner.
Heritage Commission is an expert and advisor to the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania, President of the Republic of Lithuania and to Government of the Republic of Lithuania regarding the national policy of cultural heritage protection, its implementation, evaluation and improvement.