Old Moscow Cathedral Mosque on ProspektThe world was remembered by the inhabitants of the city for its incredible popularity in the days of the main Muslim festivities - Kurban-bairam and Uraza-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.
More than a hundred years ago, at the site of the current luxurythere was a mosque. 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 temple 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 andother 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.
Visits of distinguished guests to the mosque passed fairlydifficult and often not according to 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.
Iranians left in the mosque on the windowsillsportraits of Ayatollah Khomeini, invited the Imam of the Moscow Mosque A. Mustafin to come to Tehran, although neither in the Soviet Union in general, nor Muslim religious leaders in particular, by that time had yet decided on the attitude towards the Islamic revolution that had taken place.
Nevertheless, it is thanks to the internationalthe status of the mosque it is preserved. This allowed open prayers in the Soviet capital. The Imams of the Moscow Cathedral Mosque became frequent guests on government receptions.
Among the imams who served in the different mosque years,should be identified: Bedretdin Alimov (the first imam), Safu Alimov, Abdulvadud Fattahetdinov, Ismail Mushtariya, Ahmetzyan Mustafin Rizautdin Basyrov, Ravil Gainutdin, Rais Bilyalov, Ildar Alyautdinov.
Сегодня в храме служат шесть имамов.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.
К концу ХХ века мечеть все чаще стали называть old and in need of renovation or reconstruction. Under this pretext, the building was tried to be demolished 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 ofa monument of cultural heritage, but not for long. Soon the status was canceled, recognizing the structure as decrepit and subject to demolition. In addition, by this time the mosque no longer held all believers, even on Friday prayers.
В 2011 году старое здание полностью разобрали.For several years, prayers were held in a temporary room. The construction was accompanied by numerous legal proceedings between the authors of the project 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.
September 23, 2015, the long-awaitedthe entire Muslim world of Russia. The magnificent Moscow Cathedral Mosque opened its doors. The address of the church is Vypesov lane, house 7. This holiday has gathered numerous guests. President Putin, politicians, prominent 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.
The Council of Muftis reported that the mosque MoskovskayaThe cathedral was built for 170 million dollars. This huge amount includes the donations of ordinary believers, as well as the means of large entrepreneurs. In their honor was published a book, all philanthropists are listed by name.
The current mosque can hardly be called a reconstructed structure. After all, from the old building remained only tiny fragments of the walls.
Moscow Cathedral Mosque occupies a hugethe area is 18,900 square meters (before the reconstruction it was 964 sq. m.). To strengthen the structure, 131 piles were driven into its base, as the metro line was laid nearby, and the underground river Neglinka carries its waters.
В архитектурном комплексе новой мечети there are several cultural and historical references. For example, the main minarets, whose height is more than 70 meters, resemble with their shape the Spasskaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin in the capital and the leaning tower of Syuyumbike of the Kazan Kremlin. This is not by chance. The architects resorted to such a decision as a symbol of unity and friendship between the Tatar and Russian peoples.
The huge 46-meter dome of the mosque, coveredtwelve tons of gold leaf, surprisingly harmoniously combined with the general appearance of the "gold-headed" Moscow. We took into account the architects and the original appearance of the mosque. Fragments of the old walls were re-assembled, and they successfully fit into the new interior, while retaining their former appearance. The top of one minaret is crowned with a crescent moon, which once decorated the old building.
Moscow Cathedral Mosque has certainfeatures of the Byzantine style. The magnificent six-story building is crowned with minarets of various sizes, domes and towers. The area of the new building is 20 times larger than the original version. Today, the prayer halls for women and men accommodate about ten thousand believers. There are also special rooms for an ablution ritual, a large and cozy conference and meeting room.
Leading Muslim imams hold services in the new mosque, they also perform traditional rites.
Московская Соборная мечеть внутри поражает гостей luxury and magnificence of decoration Exquisite patterns on the walls of the temple, carefully considered decorative elements fully comply with the traditions of Muslim architecture. The interior uses classic colors for Islam - green, emerald, white, blue.
The inside of the dome, as well as the walls and ceilingmosques, decorated with paintings. These are the sacred ayahs from the Koran, which were performed by Turkish masters. The Turkish government presented the grand mosque with magnificent front doors, unusual carpets (handmade) for the halls and luxurious crystal chandeliers.
The mosque covers more than three hundred and twenty.lamps that are placed on the ceiling and walls. Their main part follows the shape of the dome of the temple. The main (central) chandelier is a giant lamp. Its height is about eight meters, and this design weighs one and a half tons. It was created by fifty masters from Turkey for three months.
It should be noted that not necessarilybe a Muslim to see the mosque. Here, as in the mosques of Istanbul and other major cities, the doors are open to representatives of different religions. But you must follow certain rules.
Women should close their hair, and their clothes should be tight and closed. Before entering, remove your shoes, and try not to interfere with the worshipers.
Many guests of the mosque, who still knew the old building,note that the splendor and luxury of the new building delights. And this applies not only to the architectural features of the complex, but also to its interior decoration. I am glad that anyone (who observes the rules) can enter the mosque and get to know Islam, its history and traditions.
