Memorial sign – object of art, dedicated to Gothard Fridrich Stender

Marking the 300th anniversary of Old Stender, a memorial monument was unveiled in the centre of Sunākste Parish on 30 August 2014. The monument was created by artist Visvaldis Asaris. Its composition is based on a book, above which are depicted the first three letters of the alphabet and a rooster. These symbols reflect Stender’s contribution to Latvian writing, education, and the Enlightenment of the people, while the rooster symbolizes vigilance.

Gotthard Friedrich Stender was a theologian, linguist, and scholar who cherished the vision of enlightening the entire Latvian nation. In 1787, his famous Illustrated Alphabet Book (Bildu ābice) was published in Latvian for the first time and remains one of his most widely known and valued works. Old Stender is also regarded as one of the founders of Latvian secular literature. An outstanding linguist and clergyman, he spent the final years of his life in Sunākste.

A short distance from the centre of Sunākste, in the direction of Viesīte, visitors can find Old Stender’s final resting place on a small burial hill beside the white Stender Church of Sunākste. This is also the starting point of the Illustrated Alphabet Trail, which leads to the environmental art object Gates of Light, erected on the site of Stender’s former rectory manor.

The memorial monument in the centre of Sunākste stands as a living testament to the enduring bond between Old Stender and the people of Sunākste. His legacy in the development of the Latvian language continues to educate, inspire, and guide future generations.