Photo: Oleg Varov/TASS
Moscow. 5th of April. INTERFAX.RU – Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ supported the decision of Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin to choose another place for the construction of a mosque in Kosin-Ukhtomsky.
“It is important that the mayor of Moscow confirmed the absence of a decision by the Moscow government regarding the construction of a mosque near the Holy Lake in Kosino-Ukhtomskoye; it was only a preliminary consideration of the issue. As it turned out, the information disseminated by unverified sources about the size of the prayer building is incorrect,” – said through the press service of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church.
He believes that the decision to choose another place for construction “undoubtedly meets the expectations of believers”, both Orthodox and Muslims, who “highly appreciate interreligious peace and harmony, which have become an indisputable value in the Russian capital.”
“We will not allow evil forces that want to destroy good-neighbourliness between Orthodox Christians and Muslims, sow discord between us, and we will jointly defend our common traditional values,” the patriarch concluded.
Earlier on April 5, Sobyanin promised to move the construction site of the mosque in the Kosino-Ukhtomsky district, noting that he had received such requests from both the patriarch and the chairman of the Council of Muftis of Russia, Ravil Gainutdin.
“Taking into account these requests, the location of the future mosque will be changed. A land plot will be allocated for its construction near the Kosino metro station, between the future MCD-3 diameter, the Moscow High-Speed Diameter and the Moscow Ring Road. Within walking distance from the metro and MCD stations,” the mayor said.
He assured that the mosque would not interfere with the residents of nearby houses, but would also be in good transport accessibility.
“The area around the mosque will be landscaped and accessible for walking in the same way as we do in Orthodox churches,” the mayor said.
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