The last stage of Kaunas mosque restoration is finally finished: stained glass windows

In 2018, the head and imam of Kaunas muslim religious community S. Okat, in cooperation with Kaunas branch heritage department and responsibles of the TIKA institution of the Republic of Turkey, have begun to implement a technical project: Kaunas mosque restoration. Due to a robbery on September in 2019 (thieves and burglars not yet identified)  and acts of vandalism (the case is closed, and the verdict shall be passed in the nearest possible future in november), the community has had difficulty finishing the project in time. More work was needed, which delayed the Kaunas mosque stained glass window restoration.

The mosque of Kaunas is a house of Allah, and only with the help of Allah, and the work of the community – all of these hardships are behind us. Finally, in November of this year, the community managed to repair the broken windows and finish that which the entire community of Lithuanian muslims so eagerly awaited – Kaunas mosque stained glass windows restoration. The windows were fixed on the inside and the outside. Another stained glass window was made for the windows that were not affordable back in 1996, made during the regency of chairman Mr. J. Ridzvanavičius by R. Pelackas. All windows have been restored and beautifully adorn the mosque’s interior as well as decorating the vicinity of Kaunas city eldership municipality centre.

The community of Kaunas muslims is glad that all Kaunas mosque restoration works are finally finished as well as to witness the changes. It is important to remember that the Kaunas mosque has the state heritage status, and its maintenance and caretaking is a very heavy burden on its small community.

The community sincerely thanks all its members, the embassy of the Republic of Turkey, Kaunas branch heritage department and the ministry of culture of the Lithuanian Republic for the opportunity to make use of the financial support while organizing projects, the Council-Muftiate of religious communities of the muslims of Lithuania and the famous stained glass master and artist Artūras Rimkevičius for the completed restoration of the stained glass windows and metal frames. (For a detailed interview with Artūras Rimkevičius read the newspaper “Lietuvos totoriai with the journalist Galimas Sitdykovas).

Let our people’s history and sacred architectural heritage symbolize a fruitful interreligious and intercultural connection.

By @islamasvisiems.lt