Raižiai Mosque

The Raižiai Mosque (Lithuanian: Raižių mečetė) is a Sunni Islam wooden mosque, located in the village of Raižiai, in the Alytus County of Lithuania. The mosque was the only one to operate during the Soviet era. The mosque is active, 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
Lithuanian: Raižių mečetė
The mosque in 2016
Religion
Affiliation	Sunni Islam
Ecclesiastical or organisational status	Mosque
Status	Active
Location
Location	Raižiai, Alytus County
Country	Lithuania
Location of the mosque in Lithuania
Geographic coordinates	54°28′47″N 24°11′16″E
Architecture
Type	Mosque architecture
Founder	Lipka Tatars
Completed	1663 (first mention) 1889 (current structure)

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; and renovated in 1993. The mosque houses the oldest remaining minbar from the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, that was 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 sundial shows the time in Grunwald, Poland.^[4]

See also

• Islam portal
• Lithuania portal

• Islam in Lithuania
• List of mosques in Lithuania
• Kruszyniany Mosque, in Poland
• Navahrudak Mosque, in Belarus