The Moscow Cathedral`s Mosque is the main mosque of the city and one of the most important mosques in Russia. Here is the residence of the Mufti of Russia (head of the spiritual administration of Muslims). Up to 15 thousand people can pray at the same time in the Moscow mosque. In terms of capacity, this mosque is the largest in Europe.
The Moscow Cathedral`s Mosque is located on Olympic Avenue, in the northern part of the Garden Ring. It is built in the style of Sunni mosques typical of the Persian Gulf countries. A golden dome rises above the main hall of the mosque. Its height is 46 meters, and the height of the two minarets reaches 72 meters. The diameter of the dome is 27 meters.
The first mosque on this site was founded in 1904. The building of the first mosque was small. This mosque was not closed even in the 1930s, when many Christian churches and Muslim mosques were closed, and some were destroyed. Divine services continued in the Moscow Mosque, and it was given the status of a Main (Cathedral`s) Mosque of Russia. It has become the only functioning mosque in Central Russia.
By the 2000s, the Moscow Muslim community had significantly increased. Only a small part of the people who came to prayer could fit inside the mosque. Many had to pray on the street. In 2011, the building of the old mosque was dismantled, and in 2015 the doors of the new mosque were reopened to worshippers. The area of the old Cathedral`s Mosque was only 964 square meters, the area of the new Cathedral`s Mosque reaches 18900 square meters.
Excursions are held in the Moscow Cathedral`s Mosque every day, except Friday. You can see the interior of the mosque, get acquainted with the Muslim traditions of worship. The mosque has a small exposition with gifts and relics from other countries.
