One of the most interesting regions in Russia in its culture and religion is Tatarstan. The republic has a very interesting geographical location, because there you can meet an Orthodox person, as well as a Muslim and even a Buddhist. Two religions are officially recognized in the region - Christianity and Islam, among which the first one is characterized by a greater prevalence. Therefore, the subject of our careful consideration will now be the Tatarstan Metropolis, its origin, history, composition and features.
Region Briefs
To begin with, we consider what features that can affect the religious situation are characterized by Tatarstan. The republic is secular in its typology; here religious associations and communities are separated from the general state apparatus. Religion is free, there are no restrictions and mandatory installations. Over a thousand religious communities are officially registered in this region, the largest of which are Orthodox and Islamic.
Islam in Tatarstan
The discussion of sacred societies, which make up a very small part of the population of this region, we will omit and go straight to the two main categories - Orthodox and Muslims. The second largest and most significant religion of Tatarstan is Islam. Since 922, the Sunni type of Islam was adopted in the territory of the republic and the lands adjacent to it. When the Khan Uzbek ruled on the Volga Bulgaria in 1313, he officially assigned this religion to his possessions. To date, all Tatars are Muslims, and religion is still official in this region.
Basic evidence of Christianity
Unlike Islam, Orthodoxy in Tatarstan appeared only in the 16th century, after the Kazan Khanate officially joined the Russian state. From then until today, Christianity is practiced here by Russians, Mari, Udmurts, Chuvashs and Kryashens. Among the communities of this religion, the main here is Orthodox. The Catholic Church of Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutheran, Protestant, are considered much less extensive. Evangelical Christians, Old Believers, Baptists, Seventh-day Adventists, and others also live on the territory of the republic.
The history of the emergence of the metropolis in Tatarstan
In 1555, Tsar Ivan the Terrible held another council, during which it was decided to organize a new Kazan diocese under the Moscow Metropolitan Macaria. In the same year, hegumen Gury went to the lands of modern Tatarstan in the dignity of the Kazan and Sviyazhsky archbishop. With him he had a “punitive memory” compiled by the king himself. It contained the following lines: “I disdain not to convert Gentiles to baptism, treat them with emotion and give all sorts of privileges. Do not punish cruelly and free from the court those who did not deserve it. A few years later, the so-called sacred hierarchy formed in the state. The first place in it was occupied by the Moscow Metropolis, the second - the Novgorod Archdiocese, well, and the third, respectively, the Tatarstan Metropolis.
Ancient geography of the diocese
Since 1589, the Kazan newly-formed diocese was divided into several parts. The south-west, to the Sura River, was the Upland side, which included Vasilsursk, Tsivilsk, Cheboksary, Tetyushi, Sviyazhsk and Kozmodemyansk, as well as the Meadow side, which consisted of Tsarevokokshaysk and Sanchursk. The northwest of the region, down to the Vetluga River, was also part of the metropolis. Along the course of the Vyatka River, all lands that were not part of the Vyatka Diocese joined Kazan. Three main kingdoms of this region - Kazan Astrakhan and partly Siberian - remained baptized. Soon, the towns that were located along the Terek River became Orthodox. Tatarstan metropolis was characterized by such geography until 1917. Since then, it has narrowed a little, and the sacred power of the local metropolitans began to cover only the borders of the Kazan province.
The geography of our days
In 2012, the leadership of the Russian Federation adopted a new decision. Since June 6, the Chistopol and Almetyevsk dioceses became independent . As a result of this, the Tatarstan metropolis began to occupy only the northeast of the republic of the same name. Its main composition includes cities such as Kazan and Naberezhnye Chelny. The following areas can also be attributed here: Rybno-Slobodsky, Mendeleevsky, Laishevsky, Pestrichinsky, Kukmorsky, Mamadyshsky and many others.
Interesting fact
Now in the territory occupied by the Tatarstan Metropolis, in particular in Kazan, is the Ecumenical Church. Its construction fell on the nineties of the last century, and today this building represents the three major religions of the world, plus one: Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and Judaism. Here you can see a synagogue, an Orthodox church, a mosque and a pagoda. Rites are not held in the temple; it serves only as a sacred monument of architecture and proves the unity and equality of all peoples.