The restoration of three mosques of the 18th-19th centuries has completed in Kazan

The restoration of three mosques has been completed in Kazan. Among them are the Novo-Sloboda Mosque (Ak Machet), the Iske-Tash Mosque and the Al-Marjani Cathedral Mosque. The restoration was supported by the federal government, the republic and philanthropists. The head of the Old Town special territory Ayrat Faizov reported about this at the staff meeting.

«The Al-Marjani Mosque had always received due attention, it wasn’t closed during Soviet times and services were held in the mosque, while Ak Machet on Kyzyl Tatarstan Street hasn’t been functioned for a long time. Thanks to large-scale restoration, the mosque now has opportunity to welcome parishioners and calls to prayer», – said Mayor Ilsur Metshin.

«The Iske-Tash Mosque on Gafuri Street also had a challenging times, but all three buildings have now been restored», – the Mayor said. He emphasized that the restoration of the mosques was a significant achievement for the Old Tatar Settlement and their tourist attractions. «The most important thing was that God heard the prayers of all believers, regardless of their faith, in all churches, mosques, and synagogues», – the Mayor concluded.

The Novo-Sloboda Mosque is a cultural heritage site of regional significance. It was built between 1801 and 1805, replacing an earlier wooden building. The mosque functioned until 1928, but in the early 2000s, a fur factory was located within its premises. In 2008 and 2012, the first restoration works were carried out with the support of the Tatarstan Ministry of Culture. The work was continued in 2023.

Experts have restored the historical appearance of the mosque. Most of the work has now been completed, and the total financing amounted to more than 300 million rubles.

The Iske-Tash Mosque, a cultural heritage site of federal significance, is being restored in Novo-Tatarskaya Sloboda. Built in 1802, the Mosque was previously an important community center with 1,500 parishioners, but it closed during Soviet times. In 1994, it was returned to the Muslim community.

After almost 20 years, federal funding was allocated for restoration of the mosque began. The amount of funding amounted to 130 million rubles. All work is now complete.

The Al-Marjani Mosque is also a cultural heritage site of federal significance. It was constructed with the personal permission of Empress Catherine II of Russia between 1766 and 1770. This shrine served as the main Muslim temple in the city. Even during Soviet times, the mosque continued to serve.

The last restoration of the mosque took place in 2005. In 2006, at the initiative of Ilsur Metshin, restoration work was carried out in the women’s floor and 419 million rubles were allocated for this purpose from the republican budget.

Ayrat Faizov reported that the construction of the mosque's history museum and library was being completed. On the ground floor of the temple, one can find the personal seal of Shigabutdin Marjani, which is displayed in the form of a shamail. The great Tatar educator served as an imam at the mosque from 1850 to 1889. Previously, the shrine had been visited by the Rais of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov and Kazan Mayor Ilsur Metshin.