Moscow Cathedral Mosque

Moscow Cathedral Mosque
Historic Cathedral Mosque amidst construction of the new mosque
Basic information
Location	Russia  Moscow
Affiliation	Islam
Status	Active
Architectural description
Architect(s)	Nikolay Zhukov
Architectural type	Mosque
Completed	1904
Specifications

Moscow Cathedral Mosque was a historical mosque in Moscow, Russia. It was built in 1904 and demolished in 2011. At the time it was demolished, it was one of the four mosques in Moscow. It was located on Olimpiysky Avenue, close to the Olympic indoor stadium in the center of Moscow.

Socially, the Moscow Congregational Mosque was often viewed as the central mosque in Russia. It was built in 1904 according to the design of the architect Nikolay Zhukov and has undergone some reconstructions since then. It was also sometimes called Tatar Mosque because its congregation consisted mainly of ethnic Tatars.

The mosque was demolished on September 11, 2011. The decision to demolish it was controversial.^[1] In June 2008, the mosque was recognized as an object of cultural heritage, however, in the end of 2008 it was removed from the list of historical and architectural monuments. Thus, at the time of demolition, it was not protected.^[2] There were plans to reconstruct the mosque, and the reconstruction project was designed by architect Ilyas Tazhiyev. One of the reasons for reconstruction was that the building deviated by several degrees from the direction to Mecca. The project included disassembling the mosque, collecting all the stones, and re-assembling it again with corrected orientation. In 2009, however, the Council of Muftis dismissed Tazhiyev, first claiming they will make another reconstruction project, and then demolishing the building claiming it was close to collapse.^[2] Tazhiyev stated after the demolition that the reconstruction was still possible, and the building was not close to collapse.^[2]

The Moscow Cathedral Mosque became the first demolished religious building in Moscow since 1978.^[2]

New mosque

A new mosque is currently being built at the site of the former Moscow Cathedral Mosque. Plans are to have the exterior of the new building completed by 2013 and fully completed by 2014 or 2015. ^[3]

References

1. ↑ Moscow Times Historic Mosque Demolished on 9/11 Anniversary
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Зачем снесли Соборную мечеть?" (in Russian). Радиостанция «Эхо Москвы». September 17, 2011. Retrieved 21 September 2011. 
3. ↑ "Moscow Central Mosque To Be Built By 2014-15". Radio Free Europe. Retrieved 6 December 2011. 

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Moscow Cathedral Mosque.

• (Russian) Official site of the Moscow Cathedral Mosque
• (Russian) History of Moscow Cathedral Mosque
• (Russian) The Mosque of all Russia
• Russian mosques

v t e Mosques in Russia Bashkortostan Lala Tulpan Mosque of Twenty-Five Prophets Tukayev Mosque Chechnya Grozny Central Mosque Moscow Old Mosque of Moscow Moscow Cathedral Mosque St. Petersburg Saint Petersburg Mosque Tatarstan Äcem Mosque Bornay Mosque Iske Tash Mosque Makhachkala Grand Mosque Märcani Mosque Nurulla Mosque Qolşärif Mosque Soltan Mosque The Thousandth Anniversary of Islam Mosque Other Khan's Mosque Mukhtarov Mosque Nizhnekamsk Mosque Nord Kamal Mosque Orenburg Old Mosque Perm Mosque Samara Mosque Yaroslavl Mosque Category Islam in Russia Mosques by country

Coordinates: 55°46′45″N 37°37′37″E / 55.77917°N 37.62694°E / 55.77917; 37.62694