The history of Islam on the territory of Russia counts more than one thousand years. Islam spread shortly after its appearance mainly in the Volga region and throughout the history of Russia played a significant role in the life of the state. By the last population census more than 20 million people practice Islam all over modern Russia.
Travel Russia has wealth of experience in handling FITs and groups from Middle East and Asia - among our guests are Sultan Quaboos Univeristy groups (annual trip for best students sponsored by Sultan)/Oman, Toshiba group /UAE, members of Royal familly/UAE and many other. We invite you to visit Moscow, St. Petersburg and Republic of Tatarstan- the land of medieval Muslim cities and elegant Mosques. Please find the information on traditional sights and mosques. There are plenty of restaurants now that serve hahal meals and some of the hotels will prsent a special prayer set in your room.

Sincerely,
Helen Isaeva

The Moscow Cathedral Mosque

The Moscow Cathedral Mosque today impresses with its magnificence. Its history starts with the year 1904, that's when the first cathedral mosque was built in Moscow. Moscow architect Nikolay Zhukov developed the project, and the famous Tatar merchant Salih Erzin became the patron. In the era of the Soviet Union, it was the only mosque in the city, which was not closed and held worship services. The new building was constructed in 2005-2011 by the architects Ilias Tažieva and Alexei Kolenteeva.

In the architectural ensemble of the new Cathedral Mosque in Moscow you will notice several historical and cultural throwbacks: the two main minarets are taller than 70 m and very similar in shape to the famous leaning tower of the Kazan Kremlin (Söyembikä) and to the Spasskuû Tower of the Moscow Kremlin. This idea is a symbol of unity and friendship of the Russian and Tatar peoples. A huge 46-metre golden dome mosque, on whose cover together with minarets about 12 tons of gold leaf was spent located in the central part of the city. Old walls have been collected anew, they successfully fit in with new interior, while retaining the old look, and on top of one of the minarets a Crescent was placed , which adorned the old building.

The new mosque has traits of a Byzantine style, this 6-storey building is crowned with a few different sizes of minarets, domes and towers. Prayer rooms for men and women now accommodate about 10,000 people. In addition, there are rooms in the mosque, where the ritual ablution, a large hall for imams, traditional ceremonies: five times daily, Friday, and holiday prayers, Nikah, janaza (funeral prayer) and the naming of children.

Tourists visiting the mosque for cultural and educational purposes, are struck by the pomp and splendor of the interior decorations. Numerous patterns and decorative elements meet the traditions of Muslim architecture, colors used in classic designs for Islam such as emerald, green, blue and white.

The mosque is open to tourists, both independent and tour groups. Appropriate religious place clothing and headgear is required.

Saint Petersburg Mosque

The Great Mosque of St. Petersburg is the biggest Mosque in the European part of Russia. The building was constructed in 1909-1921 by the architect Nikolai Vasilyev, also involving the engineer S. Krichinsky and the architect A. von Gauguin. Its construction in 1913 was dedicated to the tercentenary of the Romanov house. However, it took another seven years to finish the work on the interior decoration of the temple. The St. Petersburg Mosque is one of the largest in Europe - it can accommodate up to 5,000 people.

The Saint Petersburg Mosque when opened in 1913, was the largest mosque in Russia, its minarets attaining 49 meters in height and the impressive dome rising 39 meters high. The mosque is situated in downtown St Petersburg, so its azure dome is perfectly visible from the Trinity Bridge across the Neva. The founding stone was laid in 1910 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the reign of Abdul Ahat Khan in Bukhara. The architect Nikolai Vasilyev patterned the mosque after Gur-e Amir, the tomb of Tamerlane in Samarkand. Worshippers are separated by gender during a worship service; females worship on the first floor, while the males worship on the ground floor.

Kazan

Kazan is the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan and is the “third capital of Russia”, after Moscow and St. Petersburg. It is one of the most beautiful and famous cities on large Volga river, which has a thousand-year-old rich and unique history. Kazan history is linked with the Golden Horde, Khanate, Ivan the Terrible and the revolutions of the early 20th century.

The main Kazan landmark is the Kazan Kremlin, an outstanding architectural and sacred monument, listed as World Heritage by UNESCO. It was built on order of Ivan the Terrible on the ruins of the former castle of Kazan khans. Kul-Sharif Mosque was built in the Kazan Kremlin previous to XVI century. Besides the main Mosque building it includes a library, publishing house, Imam's office and Museum of Islamic culture. You will touch the walls of Suyumbike falling tower. Also you can take a look an ancient Annunciation Orthodox Cathedral dated of XVI century and Governor Palace where is the official residence of the President of Tatarstan.

No farfrom the Kremlin you will visit Bauman Street – the main walking street of 4 latest centuries where you can see the ensemble of monuments and architectures of the city: Bell tower of the Epiphany’s Church, State Bank, which kept the gold reserves of Russia during the Civil War and a copy of the carriage of the Empress Catherine II.

Then we will see the Old-Tatar Settlement (Slobodа), Kaban lake, Al-Marjani Mosque (XVIII century; the first stone Mosque in Kazan of two which were allowed to build by Empress Catherine II after Ivan the Terrible captured the Kazan in 1552), Apanaev Mosque (XVIII centuryAzimov Mosque (1890), Nurulla Mosque (1849), Galeev Mosque (end of XVIII century), Yardem Mosque and Reabilitation Muslim Center, the Tatar drama Theater of G. Kamal, stylized village "Tugan Avylym" ("The native village" in Tatar), Park of 1000th anniversary of Kazan, the Opera and Ballet Theatre, Liberty Square, the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross where the miraculous Icon of Kazan God’s Mother is, which was returned to Russia from Vatican by the will of the Pope John Paul II.

Bulgar

We suggest to make the original and fascinating travel along the Volga river by vessel in summer time (or by bus the whole year) to the most ancient city of Tatarstan - Bulgar, where you will have the opportunity to plunge into the historic atmosphere of the ancient Bulgar Khanate. Volga Bulgars are considered to be the ancestors of Kazan Tatars. They have chosen Islam as their religion in the Xth century and laid the foundation for the very specific Tatar culture. The city of Bulgar was destroyed in early 15th century and since that time Kazan started to be a new capital of Volga Bulgaria and Kazan Khanate.

Nowadays Bulgar is called as “North Mecca” and is a place of pilgrimage as the city of the Muslims of Russia. It is listed as a UNESCO heritage site where visitors can admire the architectural memorials of 13-14th centuries: The Red, Black and White Chambers and Eastern Baths, Cathedral Mosque and Big Minaret of the Khan Sepulcher, The Northern and the Eastern Mausoleums. There are some modern objects as well. An elegant White Mosque (which resembles the well-known Taj Mahal) was built to celebrate the date of adoption of Islam in a region and to host the world’s largest printed Quran with 2 meters’ tall pages and solid malachite cover.

You can have accommodation in the 5 stars hotel “Kol Gali” (Spa & Resort) on the bank of Volga river.