Dear creators and friends of Likteņdārzs,
Dear audience,
The history of a nation is not material, it is immaterial. Yet the history of a nation and historical memory needs a place and space where it can be brought to life and demonstrated, where it can be taught to the young generations and our guests. Therefore, this Assembly Hall holds a symbolic meaning – it is a place where our tragic, yet heroic history of the 20th century and our national memory can be brought to life.
Assembly halls have always played a special role for the Latvian people throughout history. 200 years ago Herrnhuter assembly halls in Vidzeme were the places where the emancipation of the Latvian nation began. One could say that there Latvians learned democracy skills, learned to come together (hence – an assembly hall), learned to organise meetings and hold discussions. 100 years later conscious Latvia emancipation was born from these assembly halls. An assembly hall (in Latvian – “saieta nams”) is also the namesake of our parliament – the Saeima. The word “Saeima” originates from the word “saiets”.
Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has torn open scars in the memory of the Latvian nation which had already healed. It is of crucial importance that we, Latvians, and other nations in Eastern and Central Europe preserve our memories and thus also hold a proper compass of justice in the situation at hand today. Latvians and the other nations which suffered the most from the injustices of the 20th century, today are the driving force behind the common position of the European Union and channelling it into the riverbed of justice. This Hall and Likteņdārzs have a special role to play.
Knowledge of history and national memory is extremely important for the sustainability of the nation, because a nation is a string of generations, and generations are held together through historical, national memory. This is a never-ending task, because a person is born as a clean slate, and every generation must once again learn the same lessons. Those who are slightly older must pass on the national memory of the nation to the younger generation. And this task will be possible in a very clear and modern way in this Assembly Hall.
I agree with Mrs Kalniete in that this is a place where national memory and ideas for the future come together, as we are just one generation within a string of generations.
I would like to thank Vilis and Marta Vītols for the wonderful idea, Sandra Kalniete and the Koknese Foundation for its implementation, architect Andris Kronbergs for the excellent architectural design and everyone who has donated for the creation of this Hall and Likteņdārzs.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone!
