Märcani Mosque
Encyclopedia
The Märcani Mosque also spelled al-Marjani, Mardjani and Mardzhani is a mosque in Kazan
, Russia
, built in 1766-1770 by Catherine the Great's authority and on the city's population's donations.
After several decades of persecution of the Muslims in Imperial Russia the Märcani Mosque was the first mosque, built in Kazan
. It is the oldest acting mosque in Tatarstan
and it was the only mosque in Kazan that escaped closure during the Soviet period.
The mosque was built in traditions of the Tatar medieval architecture combined with provincial baroque style, and it represents a typical Tatar mosque
. It is believed that the architect was Vasily Kaftyrev. The mosque is situated in the Old Tatar Quarter (İske Tatar Bistäse) of Kazan at the bank of the lake Qaban.
Märcani Mosque is two-storied and has two halls. The interior is designed in The Petersburg Baroque style. In 1861 merchant İ. Ğ. Yunısov donated the addition of stairs, and in 1863 he donated the extension of mirhab and the breaching of new window. In that period the mosque was called Yunısovs' mosque after his family. In 1885 merchant Z. Ğosmanov donated the renovation of the minaret
. In 1887 merchants W. Ğizzätullin and M. Wälişin added the tracery balcony to the minaret.
The mosque is currently named after Tatar scholar Şihabetdin Märcani
who worked there as imam
since 1850.
Kazan
Kazan is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia. With a population of 1,143,546 , it is the eighth most populous city in Russia. Kazan lies at the confluence of the Volga and Kazanka Rivers in European Russia. In April 2009, the Russian Patent Office granted Kazan the...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, built in 1766-1770 by Catherine the Great's authority and on the city's population's donations.
History
Kazan
Kazan is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia. With a population of 1,143,546 , it is the eighth most populous city in Russia. Kazan lies at the confluence of the Volga and Kazanka Rivers in European Russia. In April 2009, the Russian Patent Office granted Kazan the...
. It is the oldest acting mosque in Tatarstan
Tatarstan
The Republic of Tatarstan is a federal subject of Russia located in the Volga Federal District. Its capital is the city of Kazan, which is one of Russia's largest and most prosperous cities. The republic borders with Kirov, Ulyanovsk, Samara, and Orenburg Oblasts, and with the Mari El, Udmurt,...
and it was the only mosque in Kazan that escaped closure during the Soviet period.
The mosque was built in traditions of the Tatar medieval architecture combined with provincial baroque style, and it represents a typical Tatar mosque
Tatar mosque
Tatar mosque — is the typical mosque architecture in Tatarstan and other Volga Tatar-populated areas of Russia. Occasionally found in other regions of Russia, modern Tatar religious architecture was developed in the late 18th century and gained popularity in the 19th century Idel-Ural.- History...
. It is believed that the architect was Vasily Kaftyrev. The mosque is situated in the Old Tatar Quarter (İske Tatar Bistäse) of Kazan at the bank of the lake Qaban.
Märcani Mosque is two-storied and has two halls. The interior is designed in The Petersburg Baroque style. In 1861 merchant İ. Ğ. Yunısov donated the addition of stairs, and in 1863 he donated the extension of mirhab and the breaching of new window. In that period the mosque was called Yunısovs' mosque after his family. In 1885 merchant Z. Ğosmanov donated the renovation of the minaret
Minaret
A minaret مناره , sometimes مئذنه) is a distinctive architectural feature of Islamic mosques, generally a tall spire with an onion-shaped or conical crown, usually either free standing or taller than any associated support structure. The basic form of a minaret includes a base, shaft, and gallery....
. In 1887 merchants W. Ğizzätullin and M. Wälişin added the tracery balcony to the minaret.
The mosque is currently named after Tatar scholar Şihabetdin Märcani
Sihabetdin Märcani
Şihabetdin Märcani was a Tatar theologian and historian.He studied in madrassas of Tashkichu , Bukhara and Samarqand. Beginning in 1850 he served as the imam of the First Cathedral Mosque. Later, in 1867, he became a muhtasib of Kazan. At the same time, in 1876-1884 he lectured on religion in the...
who worked there as imam
Imam
An imam is an Islamic leadership position, often the worship leader of a mosque and the Muslim community. Similar to spiritual leaders, the imam is the one who leads Islamic worship services. More often, the community turns to the mosque imam if they have a religious question...
since 1850.