Kul-Sharif mosque opening

On July 24 was the holly day for all Muslims. Kul-Sharif mosque solemn opening took place in the Kazan Kremlin.

RT President Mintimer Shaimiev opened the official part of the ceremony. The following officials participated in it: Secretary General of Organisation of Islamic Conference Ekmeletdin Ihsanoglu, Head of RF President Administration – RF President Aide Vladislav Surkov, Chairman of Muftis Board of Russia Ravil Gainutdin, RF Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yury Fedotov, muftis of Tatarstan, Rector of Russian Islamic University Gusman hazrat Iskhakov, Archbishop of Kazan and Tatarstan Anastasi and others.

Apart from serving the Kazan Kremlin’s architecture accomplishing role it is called to symbolise peaceful co-existence of two major religions in Tatarstan: Islam and Orthodoxy. A dome building with four minarets on its corners, - centre of all the composition, - symbolically reconstructs mosque Al-Kabir demolished many centuries ago in Bolgar town – an ancient symbol of the Volga-region Islam.

A legend about eight-towered Kul-Sharif mosque of the 16th century was incarnated in the present multi-minaret architecture; the dome was constructed in a shape to be associated with “Kazan shapka” - the crown of Kazan khans, that was taken to Moscow after Kazan fell, and now is exhibited in the Moscow Kremlin Armoury Chamber.

About 375 mln roubles were spent for its building. Over 40 thousand citizens and companies donated money for its construction. JSC “Tatneft” donated 155 mln roubles for the interiors and 43 mln for lightning. In 1996 agricultural companies of Tatarstan donated all their income for revival of Kul-Sharif mosque and Annunciation Cathedral.