His Holiness Patriarch Kirill visits historical sights of Bukhara
On 2 October 2017, after his visit to the Church of Archangel Michael, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia saw the historical sights of Bukhara.
First, His Holiness went to the spring of the Righteous Job the Long-Suffering (Chashma Ayub Mausoleum). According to a legend, Prophet Job (Ayub) once came to Bukhara as a preacher. Town dwellers who at the time suffered from drought and thirst asked him to give them water. Once the prophet struck the ground with his staff, a healing spring appeared. Nowadays the Orthodox Christians often read akathists at this place.
After that His Holiness Patriarch Kirill visited the Poi-Kalyan architectural complex that consists of three buildings dating back to the 12th-16th centuries. These are the Kalyan Minaret, the Kalyan Mosque and the Mir-i Arab Madrasah.
At the Mir-i Arab Madrasah, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church was shown some marvels of calligraphy. The Mir-i Arab Madrasah was built in the second half of the 16th century. From the time of its foundation and until its closure in the early 1920s, the Mir-i Arab Madrasah was one of the most prestigious educational institutions in the Central Asia. At the moment more than 100 students study there.
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill also visited the Kalyan Mosque, the main cathedral mosque of Bukhara, which was built in the early 16th century at a site of the 12th-century Friday mosque. Today the Kalyan Mosque can accommodate up to 12 thousand people.
While visiting the Poi-Kalyan complex, the Primate of the Russian Church gave an interview to the O`zbekiston TV channel.
Later that day His Holiness visited the Emir’s Winter Palace in Ark. The Ark Fortress is the oldest architectural site in Bukhara. Nowadays the Bukhara State Architecture and Art Museum-Reserve is located in the territory of the fortress.
In honour of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, a reception was given on behalf of the administration of the Bukhara region.
Patriarchal Press Service/
DECR Communication Service