Government of the Republic of Tatarstan

10 June 2012, Sunday

Complex of White Mosque was opened in Bolgar within the framework of anniversary of official adoption of Islam by the Volga Bulgaria today. The Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov, RT State Counselor Mintimer Shaimiev, Prime Minister Ildar Khalikov, Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu and leaders of the Islamic clergy took part in the solemn ceremony.

The complex of White Mosque is located not far from the entrance to Bolgar near the southern gates of the museum-reserve. The complex comprises the mosque, residence of mufti, medrese, and prayer zone. The height of two minarets is 46,5 meters, diameter of the main dome is 17 meters. Walls are decorated with traditional picturesque elements.

Construction was implemented at the expense of investors – “Metalloinvest” holding, the charitable fund “Development of Ukraine”, JSC Tatneft and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Rustam Minnikhanov noted that every year the number of participants at the holiday “Izge Bolgar zhieny” increases. “I sincerely thank all imams, foreign guests, who have come here,” the RT President said.

“Today we are witnesses of revival of such a holy place – Bolgar. I am sure that everything we do we do for the good, friendship and consent,” Rustam Minnikhanov said.

President of Tatarstan thanked RT State Counselor Mintimer Shaimiev for his work on revival of Bolgar and Sviyazhsk, and investors who supported construction of the mosque, - Chief of “Metalloinvest” holding Alisher Usmanov, founder of the charitable fund “Development of Ukraine” Rinat Akhmetov, Director general of JSC Tatneft Shafagat Takhautdinov, the OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu.

Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu thanked Rustam Minnikhanov for invitation to take part in today’s event and greeted the audience on behalf of all 57 states – the OIC members. RT State Counselor Mintimer Shaimiev noted that Muslims from Tatarstan, Russia and abroad support revival of Bolgar. He thinks that the complex of White Mosque can be used not only for worship services. Training of religious figures can also be organized in medrese.

President of Tatarstan and RT State Counselor handed letters of gratitude of the RT President to builders and architects. Letters of gratitude of the “Vozrozhdenie” Fund were granted to investors who took part in construction of the mosque.

After official speeches, honorable guests looked over the building from the inside. Rustam Minnikhanov, Mintimer Shaimiev and leaders of the Muslim clergy performed first prayer in the new mosque. Rustam Minnikhanov also met with leaders of the Muslim clergy in the mufti residence.

He thanked imams for the visit to Bolgar. Attendees of the meeting discussed issues of training Muslim religious figures and other issues of Islam development in Russia.

Finally, Rustam Minnikhanov and Mintimer Shaimiev visited the Memorable Sign dedicated to adoption of Islam by the Volga Bulgaria.

RT President press service. Mikhail Mironov

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Rustam Minnikhanov opens complex of White Mosque in Bolgar