Russia is an unusual state, uniting the most diverse cultures, nations and religions into a single whole. That is why each of its regions and cities is unique and unique in its own way. One of these cities is Kazan - a kind of mix from the hot Caucasus and restrained and good-natured Central Russia. In this city, Islamic and Christian culture are organically intertwined. And first of all, Kazan will be interesting for tourists with its many mosques.
Mosque as an architectural object
Mosques, in essence, are unique architectural objects, real masterpieces of oriental architecture. Their voluminous domes, sharp and bursting sky-high minarets, and the wealth of architectural decor cannot leave anyone indifferent on earth.
This is a special place for prayer among Muslims - adherents of Islamic faith. The roots of the word mosque are hidden in the Old Arabic language, in which it sounded like "masjid". Literally, this translates as "a place of worship." That is, in other words, a mosque is a place where every Muslim can worship his god during prayer.
While in a mosque, you should be aware of the basic rules of conduct in this sacred place for Muslims. In particular, in no case is it possible to:
- kissing or holding hands;
- touch the holy book of the Qur'an or any architectural details of the interior;
- make noise;
- to go in dirty or untidy clothes;
- go to the mosque in shoes;
- go in shorts or a skirt above the knees.
It is also worth noting that the entrance to many mosques is available exclusively to Muslims.
Mosques of Kazan
Kazan is the oldest city in the Russian Federation, an important river port on the Volga. This major economic and cultural center is rightly called the third capital of Russia. And Kazan is often called the capital of all the Tatars on earth. Therefore, the Tatar mosque on the streets of this Russian city is not at all uncommon, there are two dozen of them here!
We bring to your attention the most interesting mosques of Kazan, photos of which are also presented in this article. Most of them are considered historical, since they were erected before 1917. But the largest mosque in the city - Kul Sharif - was built in our time.
The main mosque of Kazan
This mosque is the main in Kazan and throughout the Republic of Tatarstan. It is located in the western part of the so-called Kazan Kremlin and is one of the largest mosques in Europe in its size.
The Kul Sharif mosque was built on the site of an old mosque, destroyed at the time by the army of Ivan the Terrible. Construction lasted almost ten years: from 1996 to 2005. The estimated cost of this grandiose project is estimated at 500 million rubles. The bulk of this impressive amount was made by donations in which about 40 thousand citizens and various organizations took part. The grand opening of the mosque took place on June 24, 2005, just on the day of the celebration of the millennium anniversary of Kazan.
Interestingly, a book is kept inside the building indicating the names of all those people who participated in the construction. The Kul Sharif mosque is especially spectacular at night, thanks to a system of chic architectural lighting.
The oldest mosque in Kazan
In addition to Kul Sharif, there are other mosques in Kazan worthy of attention and interest.
The most ancient in the city is the Mardzhani Mosque, built back in 1770. For more than two centuries, it has been the center of Tatar culture and spirituality. The mosque was built in a medieval architectural style, while the building shows baroque elements. A two-story building is decorated with a beautiful three-tiered minaret.
The most unusual mosque in Kazan
Kazan mosques are amazing and extraordinary. The most unusual mosque in the city can be considered Zababannaya mosque, which was built in 1926. First of all, it is unique in its architecture, in which Muslim motifs, traits of romanticism and modernism are interwoven.
Another interesting fact concerns the history of the construction of this building. The fact is that Joseph Stalin himself gave permission to build this mosque in Kazan, and he did it personally. Today the building is a wonderful decoration of the architectural appearance of the city of Kazan.
The most elegant mosque in Kazan
This historical mosque is called Azimovskaya and impresses with its beauty and elegance. Its architecture skillfully combines two styles - eclecticism and romanticism.
Construction began in 1887 and lasted three years. The mosque is named after the merchant M. Azimov, who allocated funds for its construction.
The Azimov mosque is represented by a one-story building with one high minaret 51 meters high. Elements of oriental Muslim architecture were actively used in the decoration of the building.
The most "Russian" mosque in Kazan
But the Burnaev Mosque can be safely called the most "Russian" mosque of Kazan. After all, at first glance you won’t determine that this is an Orthodox church or a Tatar mosque? The architects very organically and skillfully combined elements of traditional Russian and Muslim Tatar architecture here.
It was built in 1872 at the expense of the merchant M. Burnaev (and in this case the mosque was named after its main philanthropist). The construction is a one-story brick building with a three-story minaret above the main entrance.
The Burnayev mosque in the city is also called "foreign", since most of its parishioners are precisely foreign citizens.
Kazan is truly a city of mosques. At the same time, the mosques here are the most diverse - small and impressive in size, ancient and modern, brick and wooden, traditional and unusual in their architecture. Therefore, if you are attracted to such an architecture, go to the "third capital of Russia." Amazing mosques of Kazan certainly will not leave you indifferent!