The Cathedral Mosque stands as a magnificent symbol of Islamic culture in Moscow. This grand structure was erected in 2015, replacing an older mosque dating back to 1904. However, it’s important to note that it wasn’t the city’s earliest mosque.
Moscow’s first Muslim residents arrived in the 15th and 16th centuries, primarily Tatars with roots tracing back to the Mongol Empire. After several centuries of conflicts with the Golden Horde, a more peaceful integration of Islamic culture occurred in Russian life.
The city’s inaugural mosque emerged in the late 18th century during the reign of Empress Catherine the Great. Catherine II displayed remarkable tolerance toward the religious and cultural identity of Russia’s sizable Muslim population, thus eliminating restrictions on mosque construction. Regrettably, the oldest mosque in the Zamoskvorechie district hasn’t endured to the present day.
Throughout Soviet times, the Moscow Cathedral Mosque remained the sole functioning mosque. However, in 2005, city authorities embarked on a renovation project that expanded the mosque dramatically. After reconstruction, the mosque’s size increased by a factor of 20, encompassing an impressive area of 18.9 thousand square meters and providing seating for over 10 thousand people.