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]
| Raižiai Mosque | |
|---|---|
Raižių mečetė | |
 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Islam |
| Branch/tradition | Sunni |
| Location | |
| Location | Raižiai, Lithuania |
  Shown within Lithuania | |
| Geographic coordinates | 54°28′47″N 24°11′16″E / 54.4798°N 24.1877°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | mosque |
| Completed | 1889 |
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
editThe 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
edit- Islam in Lithuania
- Kruszyniany Mosque, Lipka Tatar mosque in Poland
- Navahrudak Mosque, Lipka Tatar mosque in Belarus
References
edit- ^ Hussain, Tharik (March 2017). "The European Muslims You Have Never Heard About". Bahath | Redefining Muslim Media. Retrieved 2022-09-06.
- ^ "Kultūros paveldo departamentas". kvr.kpd.lt. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
- ^ Drozd, Andrzej (2003). "Współczesne oblicze kultury Tatarów Rzeczypospolitej". Zagadnienia współczesnego islamu : materiały sympozjum naukowego zorganizowanego w Poznaniu, 14 października 2002, Katedra Orienatalistyki Uniwersytetu im. Adama Mickiewicza. Poznań: KO UAM. p. 47. ISBN 8391079961.
- ^ Akińczo, Aleksandra. "Litwa/Tatarzy wznieśli pomnik upamiętniający bitwę pod Grunwaldem". dzieje.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 12 February 2021.
