The Maryam Mosque, also known as the Maria Mosque ( ro, Moscheea Maria), is a

mosque A mosque (; from ar, مَسْجِد, masjid, ; literally "place of ritual prostration"), also called masjid, is a place of prayer for Muslims. Mosques are usually covered buildings, but can be any place where prayers ( sujud) are performed, ...

located in Rediu, in the

Bâra Bâra is a commune in Neamț County, Western Moldavia, Romania. It is composed of three villages: Bâra, Negrești, and Rediu. In Rediu, in the summer of 2014, the Maryam Mosque for Romanian converts to Islam Islam (; ar, ۘالِإس� ...

commune (

Neamț County Neamț County () is a county ( județ) of Romania, in the historic region of Moldavia, with the county seat at Piatra Neamț. The county takes its name from the Neamț River. Demographics Population In 2011, it had a population of 470,76 ...

) in

Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern, and Southeast Europe, Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the west, S ...

, for Romanian

converts Religious conversion is the adoption of a set of beliefs identified with one particular religious denomination to the exclusion of others. Thus "religious conversion" would describe the abandoning of adherence to one denomination and affiliatin ...

Islam Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic Monotheism#Islam, monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God in Islam, God (or ...

. It was inaugurated in the summer of 2014 by Daniel Cîniparu, a Transylvanian from

Turda Turda (; hu, Torda, ; german: link=no, Thorenburg; la, Potaissa) is a city in Cluj County, Transylvania, Romania. It is located in the southeastern part of the county, from the county seat, Cluj-Napoca, to which it is connected by the Europe ...

who moved to Rediu as the lands there were cheaper. He built there one house for his family and one building for practicing Islam, the Maryam Mosque. The Maryam Mosque was built through

funds Funding is the act of providing resources to finance a need, program, or project. While this is usually in the form of money, it can also take the form of effort or time from an organization or company. Generally, this word is used when a firm uses ...

donated by foreigners, Muslims from birth and converted Romanians. At its foundation attended the local authorities of Bâra and several Muslims throughout Romania. Cîniparu claimed that, at the time of the foundation of the mosque, there were about 12 Muslims within a radius around Rediu, although his family was the only Muslim one in the village. Daniel Cîniparu's wife, Maria Cîniparu, had willingly converted to Islam as well, and both had three children, all of them baptized

Orthodox Christians Orthodoxy (from Greek: ) is adherence to correct or accepted creeds, especially in religion. Orthodoxy within Christianity refers to acceptance of the doctrines defined by various creeds and ecumenical councils in Antiquity, but different Churc ...

. The mosque does not adhere to any specific branch of Islam. Cîniparu has said that he has received insults for his decision and that he admires

Dobruja Dobruja or Dobrudja (; bg, Добруджа, Dobrudzha or ''Dobrudža''; ro, Dobrogea, or ; tr, Dobruca) is a historical region in the Balkans that has been divided since the 19th century between the territories of Bulgaria and Romania. I ...

for the peaceful coexistence of religions there. As of 2015, the Maryam Mosque served 8 people. As of 2017, between 18 and 20 people had converted in the mosque, mostly Romanians but also some foreigners, who were originally Orthodox or

Greek Catholic The term Greek Catholic Church can refer to a number of Eastern Catholic Churches following the Byzantine (Greek) liturgy, considered collectively or individually. The terms Greek Catholic, Greek Catholic church or Byzantine Catholic, Byzantine Ca ...

References

{{Mosques in Romania Mosques in Romania Mosques completed in 2014 2014 establishments in Romania Buildings and structures in Neamț County

See also

References