Moscow (AsiaNews) – The Moscow Cathedral Mosque, Europe’s largest mosque, opens tomorrow in the Russian capital in the presence of top Muslim political and spiritual leaders.
The building is located near the Olimpisky sports complex, in the north of the city, on the site of a previous mosque that was demolished four years ago because of the partial collapse of its walls.
In 2005, work had begun to build a larger structure, increasing its surface 20-fold, up to 19,000 square metres, to accommodate up to 10,000 believers.
Russian media have reported that reconstruction came with US$ 170 million price tag, paid by donations.
In addition to becoming the reference point for Russian Muslims, the new mosque will also house the administrative centre of the Muslim community in the Russian Federation, including its leader, Mufti Rawil Gaynetdin.
The high security ceremony will be held on the eve of Kurban Bayram (Eid el Adha in Arabic), one of the main holidays on the Muslim calendar.
The list of VIPs expected at the event include Iranian President Hassan Rohani, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
All will hold separate meetings with their Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, who is playing an increasingly important role in the Middle East, especially after his recent decision to increase Russia’s military presence in Syria.
The imposing six-storey building is in white and green granite from Canada and marble from Turkey. A golden dome crowns the structure with a diameter of 46 metres (3 metres more than the dome of St Peter's) and two 80-metre minarets.
The mosque that once stood on the same site had been built in 1904 paid by Salih Erzin, a rich businessman of Tatar origins. During the Soviet era, the building was never closed and continued to be the only functioning mosque in the capital.
Before the Moscow Olympic Games in 1980, the mosque was in danger of demolition due to its proximity to Olimpisky stadium. The intervention of religious leaders and the ambassadors of the Arab countries saved the building.
Since 1996, the vast mosque compound has also been the headquarters of the Council of Muftis of Russia and Mufti Gaynetdin’s offices, this according to Tass. (N.A.)