How did the temple deserve such an award? Let's figure it out.
Tatars settled on Belarusian lands more than 600 years ago. Some of them arrived at the invitation of Prince Vitovt, while others were thousands of captured Tatars. However, despite their large numbers, they were not allowed to build churches for a long time. And only in the second half of the 19th century, a mosque began to be built in the town with the assistance and help of Countess Zamoyska. Full-scale construction was completed four decades later thanks to the financial assistance of Tatar emigrants.
There are five official mosques in Belarus, but Ivie temple is considered the oldest. The uniqueness of the mosque is that it has survived all the changes of time and is the only one that has been continuously operating since its existence.
Another peculiarity is that women are allowed into the temple. They do not participate in the service, but listen to it in their section. Sometimes representatives of other faiths – Orthodox and Catholic – come to the service. For the residents of Ivye, this is a common practice, and tourists are surprised to see an Orthodox priest or a Roman Catholic priest at the service in the mosque.
Currently, the temple, which is a historical and cultural value, receives many guests from distant foreign countries, as well as tourists who want to learn the rituals, culture and traditions of Muslims.