On September 23rd, ahead of Eid al-Adha, the complex of the Moscow Cathedral Mosque will open; its capacity will be 10 thousand believers.
Rushan Abbyasov, the first deputy chairman of the Russian Council of Muftis, recalls that the Moscow Cathedral Mosque has played a very important role at all times: “This is the only temple which was opened in Moscow even in the most difficult times of the Soviet period. There were attempts to destroy this mosque before the Olympic Games in 1980. But the government made the right decision and kept our current cathedral mosque. The Moscow Cathedral Mosque played an important role in the Great Patriotic War. Moscow Muslims even received a letter of appreciation from Stalin, as the mosque raised funds and donations for the maintenance of a tank division, as well as supporting our troops. In 1941 the mosque urged the Muslim Ummah in Moscow and all over Russia to defend our Homeland.”
According to Abbyasov, we are experiencing a spiritual revival today. “Probably the Moscow Cathedral Mosque that is to open its doors to our believers on September 23rd is a bright indicator of this spiritual revival. The mosque complements the architecture of "golden-templed Moscow". The temple of the Moscow Cathedral Mosque is covered with gold leaf. The minarets reflect the towers of the Moscow and the Kazan Kremlins. They look like the Spasskaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin and also the Syuyumbike Tower, which is located on the territory of the Kazan Kremlin. It is our unique Russian project based on our architectural traditions. The interior is also rendered in the national colors and national decorations of those Muslim peoples who live in our country.”
The building will also have an exhibition gallery, where various exhibitions are to take place. There will be a conference hall, which can host all-Russia people's conferences, seminars and meetings. The complex covers about 19 thousand square meters. The old building covered about 980 square meters. The mosque has become 20 times bigger. More than 10 thousand believers can pray together. Disabled people can use special ramps. 7 elevators will lift our believers to the necessary floor. “Each room is equipped with all new technologies, i.e. those who failed to enter the central hall will be able to watch the event on special screens,” Rushan Abbyasov said.
