Guest speakers and musical talent during dedication ceremony of Erlanger’s new Chapel: Bill Lapoint, musical talent; Olen Grubbs, Director of Pastoral Care and Education; Amelia Sullivan, Erlanger Auxiliary President and Volunteer; Reverend Keith Jones; Dr. Howiada Salim; Herb Cohn, Erlanger Volunteer; Dr. Mukta Panda; and Katharine Toledano, Erlanger Chaplain.
Artist Daud Akhriev, Erlanger Auxiliary President and Volunteer Amelia Sullivan, and artist Timur Akhriev
Guests viewing mosaic in the chapel
Erlanger Health System employees, donors and volunteers celebrated the opening of a new chapel at Erlanger Hospital on Friday.
The dedication and blessing of the chapel featured readings, prayers, and songs by local representatives from various faiths and musical backgrounds and recognized those who have supported the design of the chapel through the Arts at Erlanger committee and fundraising initiatives.
The interfaith chapel is a sacred location where members of the community, patients, staff, and families can gather for spiritual renewal, refuge and prayer –a place that reflects the sacredness of the work that takes place each and every day at Erlanger.
The chapel is a collaboration of acclaimed artist Daud Akhriev, his son, Timur Akhriev and award-winning designers Hefferlin+Kronenberg Architects. Born in the Chechen-IngushRepublic, part of the former Soviet Union, Daud Akhriev is known internationally and has created several prominent works of public art in Chattanooga.
Over the course of this summer, Mr.
Akhriev and his son created a mosaic from hundreds of hand-painted and designed mosaic tiles. Avoiding traditional religious iconography, the artist imagined Spirit as floating and ethereal, arriving at the image of the bird, a symbol in many cultures of spirit and peace. The central focus of the mosaic is an abstracted circular bird’s nest sheltered by encircling wings. The nest associates the hospital with a place of safety and care where one heals for a time. To either side of the nest are birds in flight who have already left the nest to fly.
The chapel was made possible by a generous donation of $75,000 by the Erlanger Hospital Auxiliary, a volunteer group that supports Erlanger services through proceeds from special events and donations.