Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin and Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov took part in the solemn ceremony of laying a memorial stone at the construction site of the Kazan Cathedral Mosque on Friday, the RIA Novosti correspondent reports.
The construction of the Kazan Cathedral Mosque is included in the Federal Plan of the preparation and celebration of the 1,100th anniversary of the adoption of Islam by the Volga Bulgaria Empire in 2022. The federal organizing committee is headed by Khusnullin.
"In 922, the ancestors of the Tatars made a historic choice, joining one of the world's religions - Islam. This served as a powerful impetus for their cultural, economic and political development. We meet in difficult conditions of foreign political pressure, but the unity of our citizens and common moral ideals fixed in religious scriptures today still unite our society", said Khusnullin at the solemn ceremony.
He reminded that President Vladimir Putin has mentioned more than once that Muslims of Russia always treat traditions and customs of their ancestors with respect and keep their firm adherence to high ideals of patriotism and justice.
According to the President of Tatarstan, there are several examples in history when the construction of mosques marked crucial moments in the life of Tatar people. One of them was Catherine II's permission to build a stone mosque in Kazan in 1767. Today it is the oldest functioning mosque in Kazan. Another such moment is the beginning of construction of the Kul Sharif Mosque in the Kazan Kremlin in the 1990s on the initiative of the republic's first president, Mintimer Shaimiyev.
"It is significant that these and our other mosques were built with public donations, and the new cathedral mosque will be no exception. The Izgelek-Dobrota charitable foundation will be collecting funds, and anyone who wishes will be able to contribute to this holy cause," said Minnikhanov.
The mosque will be located on the bank of the Kazanka River opposite the walls of the Kazan Kremlin and will be able to seat at least 10,000 people at a time. It is planned to lay the ancient stones brought from Bolgar, the place where Islam was adopted, in the foundation of the mosque. The open international competition to develop a draft design and architectural concept for the mosque and its surrounding area was announced on April 1. The results of the contest will be announced in three months, on the eve of Eid al-Adha. Construction work is to start this autumn.
The customer of the cathedral mosque construction will be the Republican Foundation for assistance to spiritual and moral development of the society "Igelek-Dobrota" which Supervisory Board is headed by the President of Tatarstan, the general contractor is OOO "Eurostroikholding+" (this company worked on reconstruction of Our Lady of Kazan Mother Cathedral).
GSV "Russia - Islamic world"
Photo: Creative Commons
Based on materials from RIA Novosti