Karaite Kenesa in Kiev

The Karaite Kenesa of Kiev is a former Kenesa (Karaite synagogue) in Kiev, Ukraine. The synagogue, designed by Vladislav Gorodetsky, was built from 1898 to 1902 in the Moorish style. The building was defiled during the World War II by Nazis. Probably at this time it lost the dome which was part of the original structure (see picture, right). During the Soviet times a contemporary wing was added to the building and it was converted into the Ukrainian House of Actors, remaining as such today. Unlike most of the other synagogues in Ukraine it was not given back to the Karaite community after independence.