ST. PETERSBURG MOSQUE

The city of St. Petersburg was established by Peter the Great in the early 1700s and he called upon Russians from all over to gather and build a city suitable of being the empire’s capital. Among the earliest settlers was a group of Muslims from Crimea who were skilled builders and artisans, as well as merchants and soldiers. Their artistry was highly valued by the empire and an active community of Muslims developed in the expanding city.

Throughout history, many of Russia’s tzars entrusted Muslim guards with protecting the royal family. As a token of his appreciation, Emperor Nicholas II approved the purchase of land by the Muslim community to build the St. Petersburg Mosque, which was symbolically situated opposite of the Peter and Paul Fortress. The mosque opened in 1913 and at the time was the largest mosque in Europe, accommodating up to 5,000 worshippers. It was constructed of gray granite and decorated with bright colored tiles that were hand painted.

Upon arrival, your escort takes you to an obscure corner of the mosque where a section of tiles have been removed and in their place the monogram has been carved into stone. You are then handed nine tiles that look like they fit the space perfectly. Now it’s up to you to solve the puzzle and reveal the secrets held by the tiles.