The Moscow Mosque. Moscow Cathedral Mosque: description, history and address

The old Moscow Cathedral Mosque on Mira Avenue was remembered by the residents of the city for its incredible popularity in the days of the main Muslim festivities - Kurban Bairam and Uraz-Bairam. These days, the surrounding neighborhoods overlapped, and thousands of worshipers filled them.

And this is not surprising. The former building of the temple was much inferior to its present size. Today Mosque Moskovskaya Sobornaya is one of the most interesting architectural objects of the capital. Its tall minarets are visible far behind the Olympic Avenue.

The First Mosque

More than a hundred years ago the mosque was located on the site of the present luxurious building. The Moscow Cathedral Church was erected in 1904. The building will be built according to the project of the Moscow architect Nikolai Zhukov, mainly with the funds of a well-known patron, merchant Salikh Yerzin. This mosque became the second Muslim temple in the capital, but after the mosque was closed in Zamoskvorechye (in 1937), the address of Vypolzov Lane, 7, became a symbol of Soviet Islam.

The church received a letter of protection from Stalin himself, which was a thank-you telegram for helping the front during the Second World War. In addition, visits of well-known leaders of Muslim states in the post-war years in Vypolzov pereulok reliably protected the religious life of the church.

Gamal Abdel Nasser, Sukarno, Muammar Gaddafi and other well-known politicians who sought the favor of the leadership of the Soviet Union, visited not only the Kremlin during their visits to the capital, but also drove to some advanced enterprise, and without fail to the mosque.

Interesting Facts

Visits of high guests to the mosque were rather difficult and often not in accordance with the scenario. For example, in 1981 the leader of the Libyan Jamahiriya, who visited the mosque, did not follow the diplomatic protocol. Gaddafi was interested in the imams, why there are no young people in the church in the prayer hall, where in Moscow you can buy religious literature, offering mosques money support.

The Iranians left portraits of Ayatollah Khomeini in the mosque on the sills, invited the imam of the Mosque of A. Mustafin to come to Tehran, although neither in the Soviet Union in general, nor Muslim religious leaders in particular, had yet decided on the Islamic revolution.

Nevertheless, it was thanks to the international status of the mosque that it survived. This allowed open prayers in the Soviet capital. Imams of the Moscow Cathedral Mosque became frequent guests on government receptions.

Imams of the mosque

Among the imams who served in the mosque at different times, it is necessary to single out such: Bedretdin Alimov (the first imam), Safu Alimov, Abdulvadud Fattahetdinov, Ismail Mushtari, Ahmetzyan Mustafin Rizautdin Basyrov, Ravil Gainutdin, Rais Bilyalov, Ildar Alyautdinov.

Today there are six imams in the temple. Ildar Alyautdinov is the main imam of the Moscow Cathedral Mosque. To him help Mustafa Kutyukchyu, Rais Bilyalov, Anas Sadretdinov, Islam Zaripov and Vais Bilyaletdinov - the oldest imam (30 years of service). In Soviet times it was the only mosque in the city, which did not stop its work and regularly held divine services.

Construction of a new church

By the end of the twentieth century, the mosque was increasingly called decrepit and in need of renovation or reconstruction. Under this pretext, the building tried to demolish on the eve of the Olympics-80, it was saved only by the interference of the Muslim community of Moscow and the ambassadors of some Arab countries.

At the beginning of the XXI century the mosque received the status of a monument of cultural heritage, but not for long. Soon the status was canceled, recognizing the structure as dilapidated and subject to demolition. Moreover, by this time the mosque no longer held all believers even on Friday prayers.

In 2011, the old building was completely dismantled. For several years the prayers were held in a temporary room. The construction was accompanied by numerous legal proceedings between the authors of the project by Alexei Kolenteev and Ilyas Tazhiyev with the customer, represented by the Spiritual Directorate of Muslims. Nevertheless, in 2005 it was decided to carry out a large-scale reconstruction. And in 2011, the construction of a new mosque building was started on the project of Alexei Kolenteev and Ilyas Tazhiev.

Moscow Cathedral Mosque: opening

September 23, 2015, the long-awaited event for the entire Muslim world of Russia took place. The splendid Moscow Cathedral Mosque opened its doors. The address of the temple - Vypesov lane, house 7. This holiday has gathered numerous guests. President Putin, political figures, famous representatives of science and culture took part in the solemn and very memorable ceremony. It should be noted that famous and honorable guests in the mosque are not uncommon - both before and after reconstruction it remains the center of Islam of Russia, it is visited by many politicians, representatives of culture from around the world.

Cost of construction

The Council of Muftis reported that the mosque Moskovskaya Sobornaya was built for $ 170 million. This huge amount includes donations of ordinary believers, as well as funds of large entrepreneurs. In their honor was published a book, all philanthropists are listed by name.

The current mosque is hardly called a reconstructed structure. After all, from an old building there were only tiny fragments of walls.

Architecture

Mosque Moskovskaya Sobornaya occupies a huge area - 18,900 square meters (before reconstruction it was 964 square meters). To strengthen the structure, 131 piles were driven into its base, as the metro line is laid alongside, and the underground river Neglinka carries its waters.

A number of cultural and historical references are seen in the architectural complex of the new mosque. For example, the main minarets, whose height is more than 70 meters, resemble the Spassky tower of the Moscow Kremlin in the capital and the falling tower of Syuyumbike Kazan Kremlin. This is not accidental. Architects resorted to such a decision as to the symbol of unity and friendship between the Tatar and Russian peoples.

The huge 46-meter dome of the mosque, covered with twelve tons of gold leaf, is surprisingly in harmony with the overall appearance of the "golden-domed" Moscow. They took into account the architects and the original appearance of the mosque. Fragments of old walls were assembled anew, and they successfully blended into the new interior, while retaining its former appearance. The top of one minaret is crowned by a crescent moon, which in its time adorned the old building.

Mosque Moskovskaya Sobornaya has certain features of the Byzantine style. A magnificent six-storey building is crowned by minarets of various sizes, domes and towers. The area of the new structure is 20 times higher than the original version. Today, prayer rooms for women and men accommodate about ten thousand believers. There are also special rooms for the ritual of ablution, a large and cozy hall for conferences and meetings.

Leading Muslim Imams conduct worship services in the new mosque, they also perform traditional rituals.

Interior decoration

The Moscow Cathedral Mosque inside amazes visitors with luxury and magnificence of decoration. Exquisite patterns on the walls of the temple, carefully thought out details of the decor completely correspond to the traditions of Muslim architecture. The interior uses classical colors for Islam - green, emerald, white, blue.

The interior of the dome, like the walls and ceiling of the mosque, is decorated with paintings. These are sacred verses from the Qur'an, which were performed by Turkish masters. The Turkish government gave the cathedral mosque magnificent front doors, unusual carpets (handmade) for the halls and luxurious crystal chandeliers.

The mosque is illuminated by more than three hundred and twenty lamps, which are placed on the ceiling and walls. Most of them repeat the shape of the dome of the temple. The main (central) chandelier is a giant lamp. Its height is about eight meters, and this structure weighs one and a half tons. It was created by fifty masters from Turkey for three months.

Tips for tourists

It should be noted that it is not at all necessary to be a Muslim to see the mosque. Here, as in the mosques of Istanbul and other major megacities, the doors are open to representatives of different religions. But you must follow certain rules.

Women should close their hair, and their clothes must be strict and closed. Before entering, you should take off your shoes, and try not to interfere with the prayers.

Reviews

Many guests of the mosque, who knew the old building, note that the magnificence and luxury of the new building is admirable. And this applies not only to the architectural features of the complex, but also to its interior decoration. I am glad that anyone can enter the mosque (observing the rules), and get acquainted with Islam, its history and traditions.