© Alexei Druzhinin / RIA NovostiSeptember 23, 2015. President Vladimir Putin, front third right, during the visit to the Moscow Cathedral Mosque after the ceremonial opening. Third left: Ravil Gainutdin, Chairman of the Russian Mufti Council. Second right: President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The mosque was officially opened by the Russian president and Russian Grand Mufti Rawil Gaynetdin on Wednesday.
The Moscow Cathedral Mosque was built back in 1904. Since 2011 the building has undergone complete reconstruction. The size of the complex has been increased 20 times and is now more than 19,000 square meters which enables it to hold at least 10,000 worshipers. The six-story temple has seven elevators. The main dome has a height of 46 meters and is 27 meters in diameter.
The opening ceremony was also attended by the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.
"There are many elements that have been made exclusively for Moscow Cathedral Mosque," Gaynetdin said, adding that among these elements are a minbar (a pulpit where the imam stands), minarets, stained glass and ornaments unique of Russia.
The majority of the elements in the mosque have been made in Turkey - marble ornament, a mihrab (a niche that points in the direction of Mecca), as well as the chandelier in the main hall, according to the Russian Grand Mufti.
© Vladimir Astapkovich / RIA NovostiBelievers in the Moscow cathedral mosque which opened after reconstruction in Moscow.
"The construction of this mosque confirms Russia's high position in the world and its importance for the Arab and Muslim world," Mahmoud Abbas said at the mosque's opening ceremony. He added that he hopes the place of worship will become "a center spreading the spirit of peaceful coexistence of religions and peoples."
According to President Erdogan, Russia has set a very "vivid example of how to be good neighbors and how people of various religious and ethnic roots can coexist peacefully."
"And today we see Moscow gathering the variety of nations, uniting their common spiritual values, creating a single living space and setting a wonderful example for the future," the Turkish president added.
Around two million of Moscow's diverse population consider themselves Muslim or of Muslim descent.
Comment: Regarding the sight of 150,000 Muslims gathered in prayer on Moscow streets to mark the re-opening of this enormous mosque, compare and contrast with the treatment of Muslims in the West, where hysteria about 'Muslims taking over and instituting Sharia law' has Europeans and Americans freaking out about what will happen to their 'white Christian country'.
That's never been a problem in Russia, where Islam is the second official religion.
Note also the guests of honor at this event: Erdogan of Turkey and Abbas of Palestine. Will Turkey support Russia's push into Syria or not? A possible clue came from their side-meeting, the outcome of which saw Erdogan and Putin agree to triple trade between Russia and Turkey within 7 years, and that can't happen as 'enemies'.
Coming just two days after Netanyahu's visit to Moscow, the message could not be clearer: Russia is not with you in your 'clash of civilizations'.
Can anyone dispute that Russia is the Great Civilizer?
And now Putin is going into the lion's den (New York City, where mosque-building precipitates outbreaks of foaming at the mouth) to speak at the 70th UN General Assembly, where he'll be lectured on the ways of 'peace, tolerance, and how to end the madness in the Middle East'.
Oh the irony...