In the village of Old Arakchino near Kazan there is a unique building – the Temple of all religions, or the International Cultural Center of spiritual unity – the work of the architect Ildar Khanov. The complex is an architectural mixture of religions, cultures and civilizations. According to the project, here are the domes and other elements of religious buildings of 16 world faiths – churches, mosques, synagogues, pagodas, and lost civilizations. On its domes are easily recognized Christian cross, the Muslim crescent, Star of David, the other signs are not so obvious. It is noteworthy that the Temple of all religions is not intended for religious ceremonies and worships; All religions Temple in Russia is a symbol, which highlights the possibility of combining beliefs.
The construction of the building began in 1992 and continues to this day. The completed constructions are used for Observatory, Children’s Theater, art exhibitions, concerts and literary evenings, in the future it is planned to open children’s clubs, yoga club, children’s railway, sailing club, horse-riding school, a rehabilitation center for drug addicts, martial arts club, and other objects.
The architect himself claims that the temples will have 16 domes, according to 16 religions, including those lost in the mists of time. In particular on some of the walls can be found Roerich symbol of Agni Yoga (Ildar Khanov was familiar with Svyatoslav Roerich). Frescoes, mosaics, stained glass windows combine different styles in their apparent Indian, Chinese, Japanese influence. Somehow the idea of this temple echoes the Baha’i faith and recall – Universal House of Justice.
The creator of the Universal Temple says that a lot of what he was doing, came to him during meditation. In addition to the talent of the artist and architect (he graduated from the Surikov Institute, was a member of the Union of Artists of the USSR), Khanov developed his other abilities – engaged in yoga, meditation and healing. His traveling to India and Tibet has had a strong influence on him.
Funds for the establishment of the temple come from a variety of sources – someone gives materials, others donate money, someone comes to work at a construction site. And what is surprising – for 16 years, this stream does not dry out.
Time will tell what this strange building will turn into – whether it will be a new philosophical center, attractting tourists or will decline. In any case, even now, this creation is worthy to bring it to the list of wonders of the Russian land.
