Phenomenal! This Unique Building in Russia Turns Out to Be a Place of Worship for 12 Religions!!
Every religion in the world usually has its own place of worship. Places of worship are where people of the same faith gather to practice their religious rituals. The separation of places of worship for each religion is reasonable because the rituals and needs of each religion are different.
However, it's a different story in Russia. There is a building there that was constructed for 12 religions! This building is located in the city of Kazan, Russia, and its sheer uniqueness has made it a city landmark.
The Temple of All Religions, as this building is called, was built by a graduate of the Kazan Art School, Ildar Khanov. Ildar, an eccentric architect, planned and began constructing this building in 1992 with the help of several individuals.
The building consists of various domes and towers representing the religious architecture of 12 major world religions. The 12 domes represent the world's major religions: Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Chinese religions, and Japanese religions. What's unique is that each dome has diverse shapes, motifs, and colors. At the top of each dome, there are symbols of each respective religion, such as the Christian cross, the Muslim crescent moon, and the Star of David.
However, don't mistake the Temple of All Religions for an actual place of worship, as this building is only used as a cultural center and residence for Ildar Khanov and his closest associates. It turns out that Ildar had a noble goal in building the Temple of All Religions—to unite the differences in the world's religions, where people of various faiths can come together and promote religious tolerance.
The beauty of the Temple of All Religions bears witness to the harmony of people from various religions around the world who come to visit. Two golden Sphinx statues welcome visitors at the main gate, which is shaped like a gateway with brick walls.
The use of bricks as wall accents isn't limited to the gate; it extends to the main building as well. Zigzag brickwork is employed, creating a unique pattern. Moreover, Ildar Khanov pays great attention to the details of the building he created. This is evident in the carvings, murals, and mosaics he added to every part of the building, including the walls, doors, roofs, and windows.
Each detail forms a pattern and carries its own meaning. For example, mosaics form symbols of a religion, or murals depict writings.
Ildar Khanov also isn't afraid to use a variety of colors for one section, such as the windows of this building. The use of multiple colors aims to highlight the windows among the natural stone walls that surround them in a light brown color.
Ildar Khanov also remembered to add statues symbolizing religions in various parts of the building. These statues aren't just decorations; there are small altars surrounding them. It seems that Ildar truly wanted to create a religious atmosphere, even though the building isn't intended for religious worship.
Seen from the side, the building remains captivating. Millions of people from around the world come to visit and witness its beauty. Ildar Khanov, an activist in efforts to combat alcoholism, drug addiction, and various other diseases, still plans to add four more domes, making it a total of 16 domes. His former patients and close associates are helping him maintain and develop the Temple of All Religions.
Unfortunately, the brilliant architect who built the Temple of All Religions passed away in 2013 without completing his dream of constructing 16 domes. Nevertheless, through the building he created, he has transmitted a spirit of peace that should be emulated. Through this building, it is hoped that the harmony and religious tolerance among people of different faiths in the world will continue to thrive and be well-preserved.
For those of you who want to see the beauty of a building like the Temple of All Religions, with its many colorful domes, you don't have to go all the way to Russia. In Indonesia, there is already a building inspired by this one. Check out the article here on Bangunan Unik di Yogyakarta dan sekitarnya .
