Karaite Ethnographic Exhibition in New Trakai

The school of Trakai Karaims is located in Karaim Str. in the Old Town of New TrakaiToday, there are some 300 Karaims left in Lithuania, though other Karaim communities can be found in Istanbul, Cairo, and Jerusalem Karaites have made a clear mark on life in New Trakai. Their Kenessa and school are still standing and the main street in the Old Town of Trakai is called Karaim Str.All photos are copyrighted by Vladislav B. Sotirovic© Vladislav B. Sotirovic 2019

Tour № 1 – Vytauto StreetTrakai Russian Orthodox Church of the Nativity of the Most Blessed Virgin MaryTrakai Roman Catholic Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary with the painting of Trakai MadonaStatue (poleshrine) of St. John NepomukOld market placeOld post officeTour № 2 – Karaimų StreetTrakai Peninsula Castle and Sacral Art ExhibitionTrakai History MuseumKaraim Guest House established in a restored Karaim wooden houseKaraim (Karaite) Ethnographic ExhibitionKaraim Kenessa (praying house)Karaim schoolOld Karaim wooden housesInformation center with Lithuanian traditional art exhibitionOld Karaim CemeteryTour № 3 – Trakai Island CastleWalking tour around the castleEntrance tower gateThe Lower CastleBailey (Grand courtyard)Exhibition in the Lower CastleDungeon (donjon) towerDrawbridgeCanalThe Upper CastleGrand Ducal residenceExhibition in the Upper CastleWooden galleriesOld bricks of various shapes used in building the castleKaraim and Tartar exhibitionThe Grand HallTour № 4 – Užutrakis Manor Estate and ParkPalacePavilionsFormer carriage houseFormer granary and current information centrePondsSculpturesGreat BridgeSmall BridgePromenadeLake terraceGrottoFormer house of the ...

Kybyn (pl. Kybynlar) is the most popular Karaite dish in Lithuania, which is a roll made of leavened dough in the shape of a half-moon, whithlamb and beef insideA Karaite wooden house with its back stickling out into the street because of a lack of room, and always with three windows - one for God, one for Vytautas, and one for a guestA Karaime hiuse in New TrakaiAll photos are copyrighted by Vladislav B. Sotirovic© Vladislav B. Sotirovic 2018

A plate devoted to Napoleon's Army in New Trakai in 1812A plate devoted to Napoleon's Army in New Trakai in 1812A plate devoted to Napoleon's Army in New Trakai in 1812All photos are copyrighted by Vladislav B. Sotirovic© Vladislav B. Sotirovic 2018

The present building of the Karaites Kenessa is reconstructed at the beginning of the 20th century based on a design of the Russian architect Mihkail ProzorovThe Kenessa of New Trakai is small and almost rectangular in shape. The first floor is for mailes, and the balcony is for women. The cupola is covered with wooden planks painted blue There is a facet for washing your hands near the entrance. The services are held in Hebrew and the local dialect of Karaite languageAll photos are copyrighted by Vladislav B. Sotirovic© Vladislav B. Sotirovic 2018

The architect Michail Prozorov designed the rectangular building with three-walled apse according to the requirements of Karaim liturgyThe oriental-style exterior has a protruding central part and the onion-shaped dome over it. The distinctive exterior of the building emphasises its unique purposeIn 1949, the Kenessa, along with many other sacral buildings, was nationalized and closed down. In 1988, it was returned to the Karaim community. In 1993, it was re-consecrated and has remained open sinceAll photos are copyrighted by Vladislav B. Sotirovic© Vladislav B. Sotirovic 2020