Vilnius Kenesa
Karaite synagogue in Vilnius, Lithuania
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Vilnius Kenesa (Lithuanian: Vilniaus kenesa) is a Qaraite Jewish congregation and synagogue, or kenesa, located at 6 Liubarto Street, in Žvėrynas, one of the neighborhoods of Vilnius, in the Vilnius County of Lithuania.
- Kenesa (1923–1941)
- Profane use (1949–1988)
- Kenesa (since 1993)
| Vilnius Kenesa | |
|---|---|
Lithuanian: Vilniaus kenesa | |
The façade of the kenesa, in 2007 | |
  Location of the kenesa in Vilnius | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Judaism |
| Rite | Karaite Judaism |
| |
| 1923 | |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | 6 Liubarto Street, Vilnius, Žvėrynas, Vilnius County |
| Country | Lithuania |
| Coordinates | 54°41′19″N 25°15′20″E |
| Architecture | |
| Architect | Mikhail Prozorov |
| Type | Synagogue architecture |
| Style | |
| Groundbreaking | 1908 |
| Completed | 1923 |
| Specifications | |
| Dome | One |
| Materials | Brick |
| [1] | |
History
Designed by Mikhail Prozorov in the Historicist and Moorish Revival styles, the synagogue was completed in 1923.[2][3][4][5][6] Its windows have a Moorish Revival–style decor on the exterior.[2]
In 1949 the Kenesa was nationalized and a club, an archive and flats were established in it.[2][3] On 23 September 1988 the Kenesa was returned to the Karaites community.[2][6] In 1989–1993 the Kenesa was reconstructed and original interior plan with its decor elements were restored.[2][6]
Gallery
Interior of the Kenesa in 1927
Interior plan of the Kenesa, 1912
Side-view plan of the Kenesa, 1911
Lithuanian Post stamp with the Kenesa, released in 2014
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