MARIUPOL MOSQUE

Mariupol Mosque is one of the majestic decorations of the Seaside Park in Mariupol (the city in the Donetsk Oblast). An ancient mosque was built on this site in 1906, which was destroyed by the Bolsheviks in 1936. In order to restore the architectural monument, it was decided to build a new mosque in honor of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and his wonderful wife Hurrem Sultan (Roxelana). One of the interesting facts is that the prototype of this building was the mosque in Istanbul, which was founded by Sultan Suleiman.

The process of construction of the Mariupol Mosque began in 2005 and lasted for three years. During this period, the project was financed with the support of SalihCihan (a Turkish businessman) and the Azerbaijani diaspora in Mariupol. The basis of the building was formed by the Turkish marble, which was specially delivered to the construction site from Turkey by sea. The official opening of the Mariupol Mosque, which became the Islamic Cultural Center, was in autumn 2007.

Mariupol Mosque is a striking embodiment of Ottoman architecture, which traces the influence of Byzantine, Iranian and Armenian cultures. The evidence is the presence of a large amount of interior space, formed by the domes and vaults. Moreover, the stained glass windows became the amazing decoration of the Mariupol Mosque. The building, as well as the area around it was a popular place among visitors to the city and a great location for wedding photo shoots.

On March 12, 2022, the Embassy of Ukraine in Turkey announced on Twitter that the Russian army had hit the Mariupol Mosque by the artillery shelling, which resulted intothe significant damage. In accordance withthe preliminary investigation, 86 civilians were sheltering from the enemy attacks inside the building. The number of wounded and dead could not be determined due to the blockade of the city of Mariupol by the Russian occupation forces.