Akhmat Kadyrov’s Heart of Chechnya Mosque
The Cathedral Mosque with the poetic name “Heart of Chechnya”
is a grandiose Muslim temple located in Grozny, the capital of the Chechen Republic. The mosque with its slender minarets dominates the Islamic complex, which was completed in 2009. The mosque is named after Akhmat-Khadji Kadyrov, the first president of the Chechen Republic.
Video: “Heart of Chechnya” mosque
Contents- Highlights
- History of the “Heart of Chechnya” Mosque
- Architecture of the mosque
- Tourist information
- How to get there
Highlights
The design of the “Heart of Chechnya” mosque was created by architects from the Turkish city of Konya, the prototype being the famous Blue Mosque in Istanbul, a jewel of Ottoman architecture. In the outlines of the Grozny mosque connoisseurs also see a noticeable influence of Byzantine temple architecture. The interior decoration was designed and realized by the masters of Turkish design studios.
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History of the Heart of Chechnya Mosque
The idea of erecting a mosque in Grozny had been discussed since the late 1980s, but for various reasons construction was postponed.
Full-scale construction began only in the spring of 2006. The opening of the mosque took place in October 2008 and became a landmark event in the life of Muslims in the Chechen Republic..
In 2013, the Heart of Chechnya mosque was one of the nominees of an all-Russian TV project that offered an interactive vote to determine the top-ten symbols of the country. Millions of viewers appreciated the architectural perfection of the Chechen shrine. In 2015, the Russian Central Bank minted a commemorative silver coin of 3 rubles with the image of the Grozny mosque at the Moscow Mint as part of the “Symbols of Russia” collector’s series. The circular inscription reminds that the mosque is named after Akhmat Kadyrov. Now this coin is a numismatic rarity.
.Architecture of the mosque
The Heart of Chechnya Mosque looks great from different angles. Its facades are finished with warm light-brown travertine slabs and decorated with red and blue bustam tile ornaments, traditional in Chechen culture. The blue dome rises 32 meters and is surrounded by four half-domes. The complex roof is decorated with smaller domes, resting on drums with arched windows that let sunlight into the interior. The vault of the central dome is illuminated from within by diffused rays of bluish light, as a reminder that it symbolizes the firmament. The vault is decorated with a surah from the Qur’an magnifying Allah.
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Tourist information
The majestic mosque has become the most popular tourist attraction in the city, but when visiting it, you should take into account that you are visiting not only an outstanding architectural monument, but also a functioning Islamic temple. It is necessary to observe the traditional requirements for appearance. Men should not go to the mosque in shorts and T-shirts, women should choose a modest outfit – a long skirt, hair should be covered with a headscarf or a soft scarf. If necessary, you can borrow a cape and a scarf from an attendant at the entrance to the Heart of Chechnya. Women can change their clothes in special stalls. Shoes must be removed at the entrance, and loud talking is not allowed in the prayer hall.
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The Heart of Chechnya Mosque is open from 09:00 to 20:00. It is better for vain tourists not to visit it during the hours when namaz is performed, so as not to interfere with the believers’ prayers.
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To remember your visit to the “Heart of Chechnya” mosque, you can buy rosaries made of ornamental stones from the Caucasus Mountains, embroidered prayer rugs, luxury editions of the Koran, Islamic educational literature, posters and postcards at the nearby Central Market. Stalls sell pretty decorative dishes, beautiful ceramic tea cups with the image of the famous Grozny mosque.
.How to get there
The “Heart of Chechnya” mosque is located on Vladimir Putin Avenue, in the very center of Grozny. If you get here by city bus, get off at the “Prospect Hussein Isayev” stop or at the Grozny-City Hotel.
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