Raižiai Mosque Explained

Raižiai Mosque
Native Name:Raižių mečetė
Native Name Lang:lt
Religious Affiliation:Islam
Tradition:Sunni
Festivals:-->
Organizational Status:-->
Location:Raižiai, Lithuania
Map Type:Lithuania
Map Size:220px
Map Relief:yes
Coordinates:54.4798°N 24.1877°W
Architecture Type:mosque
Year Completed:1889
Date Destroyed:-->
Elevation Ft:-->

Raižiai Mosque (Lithuanian: Raižių mečetė) is a wooden mosque located in the village of Raižiai, Alytus County in Lithuania. The mosque was the only one to operate during the Soviet era. The mosque remains open, with local Muslim religious gatherings during major holidays. The mosque serves as a center for activities for the 500 Tatars that live in the village.[1]

Since 1999, the mosque has been designated a cultural heritage site (unique code 24828).[2] In the village of Raižiai there are several Tatar cemeteries, where Lipka Tatars and Muslims of other nationalities are buried.

History

The mosque was first mentioned in sources dated from 1663, the current mosque was built in 1889. Renovated in 1993. The mosque houses the oldest remaining minbar from the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (built 1686).[3]

In 2010, to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Battle of Grunwald, two sundials were installed near the mosque (constructed by Jonas Navikas), one of which shows the local time, the second in Grunwald, Poland.[4]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hussain . Tharik . Tharik Hussain . March 2017 . The European Muslims You Have Never Heard About . 2022-09-06 . Bahath Redefining Muslim Media . en-GB.
  2. Web site: Kultūros paveldo departamentas . kvr.kpd.lt . 12 February 2021.
  3. Book: Drozd . Andrzej . Zagadnienia współczesnego islamu : materiały sympozjum naukowego zorganizowanego w Poznaniu, 14 października 2002, Katedra Orienatalistyki Uniwersytetu im. Adama Mickiewicza . 2003 . KO UAM . Poznań . 8391079961 . 47 . Współczesne oblicze kultury Tatarów Rzeczypospolitej.
  4. Web site: Akińczo . Aleksandra . Litwa/Tatarzy wznieśli pomnik upamiętniający bitwę pod Grunwaldem . dzieje.pl . 12 February 2021 . pl.