Kazan
Overview
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59.934116, 30.324432 |
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Kazan is one of Russia's oldest cities, located on the Volga River, 820 km away from Moscow. It is the capital of Tatarstan which is home to 115 nationalities. Over 50 % of population are tatars, with Russians constituting the second largest population group. Russian and Tatar are the two official languages of the region, with completely equal status. Tatarstan is a secular republic that has over 1,000 registered religious organizations. Islam and Orthodox Christianity are the most widespread. Here you'll find mosques, Orthodox, Catholic churches and cathedrals, a synagogue, and other religious buildings and centres. Kazan is also honored as the third capital of Russia. It is a famous sports center in Russia. The city hosted 2013 Universiade and many national hockey, boxing and swimming championships. It is also one of the hosting cities of 2018 FIFA world cup. Muslim Volga Burglars and Tatars of Golden Horde were the founders of the city.
Places to Go
Kazan Kremlin
The Kazan Kremlin is a unique Complex of Archeological, Historical and Architectural Monuments arisen and functioning from the basis of a city up to now. In 2000 year the Kazan Kremlin has been included into the List of the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage. Objects of a Complex are under the authority of the “The Kazan Kremlin” State Historic-Architectural and Art Museum-Reservation. Built on an ancient site, the Kazan Kremlin dates from the Muslim period of the Golden Horde and the Kazan Khanate. It was conquered by Ivan the Terrible in 1552 and became the Christian See of the Volga Land. The only surviving Tatar fortress in Russia and an important place of pilgrimage, the Kazan Kremlin consists of an outstanding group of historic buildings dating from the 16th to 19th centuries, integrating remains of earlier structures of the 10th to 16th centuries.
Qolsharif mosque
The Qol Sharif Mosque – the Greatest Mosque within the territory of Russia has been constructed in the Kazan Kremlin in 2005 year due to the date of celebrating the Kazan Millennium. In the 16th Century prior to the invasion of Kazan a mosque stood here which was named after its leading teacher Qol Sharif. Qol Sharif died alongside his students trying to save the mosque from the Tsar’s forces, but unfortunately it was destroyed in 1522 and for centuries the site remained empty. Following the fall of the Soviet Union, with the help of many other counties including Saudi Arabia and UAE, the mosque was rebuilt, albeit in a modern style. The impressive new mosque was finally inaugurated in 2005 when Kazan celebrated its millennium and now stands as a prominent symbol of the city, rightly recognized as one of Kazan’s most worthy sights as well as Europe’s largest mosque. The Qol Sharif largely functions as a museum although thousands of Muslims do gather here to pray on major religious holidays.
Temple of All Religions
Located in the Russian city of Kazan, the colorful Temple of All Religions, or Universal Temple is a mish-mash of architectural flourishes culled from most of the major world religions to create an uber-complex where all religions can come together in harmony. Established by philanthropist Ildar Khanov in 1992, the site is not actually a chapel in the traditional sense but is instead a center meant to stand as a symbol of religious unity. Inclusion has never looked so good as it does in a multicultural Russian city where an eccentric architect and psychic healer dedicated 20 years to building a structure that represented all the world’s theologies.
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