Kazan is a city in the architecture of which two civilizations intertwined, since throughout its long history the current capital of Tatarstan has been a mediator between the west and the east and played a crucial role in the formation of international cultural and economic ties.
In what other city are Muslim and Orthodox religious buildings so harmoniously coexisting? This largely determines the flavor of this place.
Kazan is one of the largest Russian cities and the capital of Tatarstan, located on the banks of the Volga (on the left). In the capital of Tatarstan there are many temples and Orthodox churches. Moreover, the ancient are restored annually and new churches of Kazan appear. In this article, we will be able to introduce you only some of them.
Churches of Kazan (addresses, description) are represented in almost all city guides, but we will talk about the most interesting of them.
Peter and Paul Cathedral of Kazan (21 Musa Jalil St.)
During the reign of Peter I in Russia, many wonderful temples were created. The Peter and Paul Cathedral of the capital of Tatarstan is one of the brightest examples of architecture of that period, although it can be considered exceptional for regional architecture.
This cathedral has always been the most impressive, taking pride of place in the necklace of city temples. He was visited by all Russian emperors (the exception was only Nicholas II) and, regardless of their religion, very many famous people who visited Kazan. Descriptions of this unique structure can be found in the works of Alexander Dumas and Alexander Humboldt, A.S. Pushkin visited here, and F.I. Chaliapin sang in the cathedral choir.
Kul-Sharif Mosque (Kremlevskaya St., 13)
This is the main mosque not only in Kazan, but also in Tatarstan. Its construction was completed in 2005, and the end was timed to coincide with the millennium of Kazan. Architects and builders planned to recreate the ancient mosque of the Kazan Khanate, which was destroyed in 1552 by the troops of Ivan the Terrible. And I must say, they coped with the task brilliantly.
The mosque was named after the last imam. The winners of the republican contest were engaged in design and construction. The opening ceremony was held in 2005.
The composition of the temple is symmetrical. Two pavilions are located on its sides, which connect it with the architecture of the building of the cadet school located next door.
The mosque seats one and a half thousand people at a time. Its interiors were designed by A. G. Satarov. Marble and granite were used in the decoration. Carpets donated to the temple by the Iranian government. A crystal chandelier with a diameter of more than 5 m was made to order from colored glass in the Czech Republic. Its weight exceeds 2 tons.
Temple of the Great Martyr Paraskeva (Big Red, 1/2)
The churches of Kazan are all very different both in architectural design and in the interior. This church was erected in 1730 at the expense of I.A. Mikhlyaev. Often it is called Pyatnitskaya, after the name of the left chapel in honor of St. Paraskeva Friday.
The temple is a high octagon, located on a squat four, occupying the upper section. A small cupola has been created above the vault, sitting on a deaf, faceted drum. A large semicircular apse below the quadrangle covers it from the east. Down the slope, a one-story refectory descends, to which the northern aisle adjoins. The surviving lower tier of the bell tower is buried in the refectory volume.
The decoration of this church of Kazan is rather concise. Walls are fixed at the corners with enveloping shoulder blades. They seem to cut through rare, symmetrically located rectangular windows decorated with curly platbands.
Temple of all religions (village of Old Arakchino, 4)
I am glad that the modern religious buildings of the city are no less beautiful than buildings created by ancient masters. In the village of Old Arakchino, located on the banks of the Volga, there is an amazing temple, which is considered one of the unique structures in Russia. The temple has another name - the Temple of the Seven Religions.
This is a unique complex of structures, which consists of the Catholic and Orthodox churches, Buddhist and Muslim mosques, a synagogue, a Chinese pagoda and even the altars of religions that have already disappeared. It was not created at all in order to gather representatives of various faiths under one roof. The temple is evidence that it is possible to unite all faiths in one building.
The author of the project is Ildar Khanov, who is a well-known public figure in Tatarstan, an architect, artist and healer. He traveled a lot, visited Tibet and India, where he got acquainted with the cultural heritage of the East, studied ancient Chinese and Tibetan medicine, Buddhism, yoga. After returning from trips, he felt the gift of a healer.
Church of the Yaroslavl Wonderworkers (St. Nikolai Ershov, 25)
This church of Kazan was given the name of the holy princes Fedor, Constantine and David in 1796. The chapel of the temple was consecrated in the name of Nicholas the Wonderworker. The left chapel, consecrated in the name of the saint, the patriarch of Tsaregradsky, was added in 1843. A year later (1844), the right side chapel was rebuilt.
It is interesting that from 1938 to 1946 this temple remained the only one operating in the city, therefore it was considered a cathedral. During the war years, clothes and equipment were collected here for the soldiers of the Soviet army. The church remained the only one that was not closed during the Soviet period. Today it is one of the most revered in the city.