Description of the attraction
For two centuries the kenassa, located in Yevpatoria, have been the spiritual center for the Karaites of the Crimea. They are located on Karaimskaya Street, in the historic center of the city. The ensemble of kenassas took shape in the first half of the nineteenth century. Later, it was rebuilt several times, but this did not make it less impressive.
The construction of the complex was carried out by an influential family of Karaites named Babovichi. After receiving the Highest permission, Samuil Babovich took up the architectural side of the project, and the financial problems were entrusted to Solomon, his brother. It is interesting that Samuil Babovich did not have any special education, but managed to create an amazing architectural ensemble.
The complex includes two kenass buildings (Big and Small), a portal of the main entrance, marble and grape courtyards, a courtyard where prayer is expected.
Kenasa Bolshaya and Malaya are buildings resembling in their shape a hall with windows that go into two levels. The northern facades have glazed galleries-verandas, where the elders were located before the beginning of the service. At the entrance to the buildings, pointed arches with stone carvings are made. The marble obelisk appeared here as a memory of Alexander I's visit to the Kenassa in 1859.
Both churches ceased their activities in 1927. Small Kenassa reopened in 1942, when there were German troops in the Crimea. At the same time, a museum of the Karaites was made in the Big Kenassa. In 1959, the temple was closed again. For many years, these premises housed various institutions: a museum of local lore, a museum of atheism, a kindergarten, sports clubs, and a bureau of technical inventory.
In 1991 V. Z. Tiriyaki became the head of the Karaite community in Evpatoria. Thanks to him, a fund was created to restore the Malaya Kenassa. All construction work in 1998-1999 was supervised by Tiriyaki. The restored kenassa was opened on September 13, 2005. The double-headed gilded eagle shone again at the top of the kenassa in 2007. The marble obelisk has been restored.
Today kenassa is an architectural monument of national importance. Tourist groups visit them, there is a library of special literature "Karai-bitikligi". The kenassa also has a museum of culture of the Karaites and "Karaman" - a cafe where dishes of Karaite cuisine are prepared.
