MOSCOW – More than 226,000 of Muslims have gathered at mosques in the Russian capital for one of the most important Islamic holidays, Eid-ul-Azha. The largest in Europe, Moscow Cathedral Mosque has become the epicenter for celebrations.
The celebration of Eid-ul-Azha, called Kurban Bayram in Russia, began with morning prayers in the Russian capital early on Tuesday. Muslims are the second-largest denomination in Russia after Orthodox Christianity. The holiday, also called the Feast of Sacrifice, commemorates the story of the Muslim Prophet Ibrahim’s (AS) test of faith.
The Moscow Cathedral Mosque is traditionally the most popular place for those of Muslim faith. Every year, and this has not become an exception, the number of worshipers exceeds the mosque’s capacity of around 10,000 people, making the believers to place their prayer mats in the streets outside the premises. Authorities introduced special security measures and cordoned off the area.
The Eid-ul-Azha festival was celebrated in four Moscow mosques and at several specially organized prayer sites in the city parks, according to Ria Novosti. Another 39 sites located in the Moscow Region are capable to receive around 100,000 people, Tass reported.
