In the United States more than five mosques named Isa ibn Maryam Mosque ie Esa Ibn Maryam Mosque, located in Stratford, Connecticut, was established in 2003. [1]; Isa Ibn Maryam Mosque in Newark, Delaware; Houston, Texas; in Columbus, Ohio; and the last one in Syracuse, New York. [2] Will, of the five mosques, Isa ibn Maryam Mosque in Syracuse is the most distinctive, because the building of this mosque was once a church of Catholics who are over 100 years old.
The change of building function of the church into the mosque is actually more due to changes in demographic structure in the city of Syracuse. God, the Holy Trinity is almost everyone in the city. So much the Church's problem for the people of the city, so he became an icon of this city. Almost all the residents who have long lived in this city have a deep emotional impression with this church.
But in the last few decades the situation changed. Many of the residents who decided to move to the suburbs. One by one worshipers disappeared. On the other hand, immigrants began to come to this city. One of the things that make this city a destination for immigrants, is nothing but a gag to fill it.
This nuance can not be separated from the function of the church which indirectly, become the center of educating the character of society in the city. The immigrants in this city are well received, so it can easily blend in with the local community. And indeed by chance around 75% of immigrants in the city are Muslims. They come from various countries such as Iraq, Iran, Syria, Somalia, Bosnia, Albania, and Nigeria. [3]
Whole immigrants are indirectly aware of the cultural significance of this church for local people. Since 2010, the Church has begun to experience significant depreciation of its congregation. And by 2013, the Holy Trinity Church administrator says it can no longer afford the care of the church, and the decision to sell it.
This hatching process is also not easy. So many offers are coming and interested in buying it. Among them they want to turn this Church into a Bar and so on. But managers are more likely to sell it to The Northside Learning Center, a foundation that helps immigrants to assimilate with US society. The reason is that The Northside Learning Center is planning to turn this place into a mosque. For the manager of this church, that is the best reason. They also want this place to remain "God's House". [4]
When it was built, the condition of this church building is very apprehensive. Even the roofs have been leaking a lot. According to Yusuf Soule, volunteer director of the North Side Learning Center, who bought the property and saw the construction of the mosque, the cost of buying and renovating the church has reached $ 300,000 and this is still growing. Although the physical structure of the building does not change, but so many church ornaments that must be changed, one of more than 10,000 pieces. Besides, there are also paintings and some other church attributes that are not so good when it's there when used as a mosque. [5]
ROOF CONDITION OF MASJID ISA IBN MARYAM BEFORE IN RENOVATION WITH 6 TRUE CROSS IN THE HEART. RESOURCES SOURCE: MASJIDISA.COM
In this regard, The Northside Learning Center claims to have received permission to remove the Christian symbols in the church from the Syracuse Historical Protection Council. It's just that, specifically for the physical structure of the building, almost nothing is altered. From the outside, the building is exactly the church. What distinguishes them only on the crests of the previously crucified roof is converted into small domes and the crescent symbol. Being in the interior, only the chairs are moved and replaced into a soft soft carpet.
CARPET MODEL IN THE MASJID ISA IBN MARYAM.
RESOURCES SOURCE: MASJIDISA.COM
This revonation process lasts for a year, since it was purchased in 2013 until it can be used properly in 2014. However, by 2012, when this building has begun to dormant in its function as a Church, the Muslims living in this place had leased it until finally officially purchased in 2013. When hired, no problems arise. But when this place was bought, there was concern from the Muslims there with the decision to transform the building into a mosque. Considering they really understand the value of this building for the local community.
This happened when they applied for permission from the Syracuse Historical Protection Council in April 2014 to transform this building into a mosque and to remove some of the church symbols in the building. At the meeting, there was also a member of Holy Trinity Church, who, when they heard of it, could not hide their disappointment.
This is why, by mosque managers, these buildings are not made exclusively and remain left as they are. Only certain symbols that they get rid of, the rest remain intact as before. They are fully aware, rather than renovating the building, it is much more difficult to build harmony. The same thing happened in the local people, according to Marnie Eisenstadt in his article, for the locals, watching the city landmark is transformed is not easy. But that is far less easy than that is "turning a stranger from a very different place into a friend." [6] With a very mature consideration, the mosque was later named Isa ibn Maryam Mosque, or Mosque of Jesus Son of Mary
MOOD IN THE MASJID ISA IBN MARYAM.
RESOURCES SOURCE: MASJIDISA.COM
SHABAT ATMOSPHERE IN THE MASJID ISA IBN MARYAM.
RESOURCES SOURCE: MASJIDISA.COM
But interestingly, according to Marnie, this Muslim community understands what local people feel. During construction, not a few residents who come menurngok development of the renovation. They were all greeted warmly by the mosque's managers and allowed to enter and see the renovation developments. The month of Ramadan, is the right time. Mosque Manager invites all residents to break their fast in this place for 30 days every Ramadan. In this process many things have changed. The tribes in that place are getting closer together from day to day.
RAMADAN FAST IN MOSQUE ISA IBN MARAYAM.
SOURCE OF RESOURCE: MASJIDISA.COM
THE EVENTS "NEIGHBORHOOD COOKOUT" IS PROVIDED BY THE MASJID ISA IBN MARYAM MASJID ENTERPRISE BY THE ENTIRE ARRANGEMENTS OF THE SOCIETY COMMUNITY. RESOURCES SOURCE: MASJIDISA.COM
(NEIGHBORHOOD COOKOUT).
RESOURCES SOURCE: MASJIDISA.COM
There is one interesting story that Marnie tells in her article. It was the final stage of the building renovation, which was to bring down all the crosses on the tops of the towers, which were six in number and replaced by a dome. Toni Franklyn, who is the front neighbor of the mosque, stared at the events. He is a congregation of Holy Trinity Church since 83 years ago. It was in this building that he married. As well as watching his mother leave Mass every day since she moved to that place at the age of 6 years. She cried when she attended the last Mass in 2010, and found the church to be closed.
Seeing Franklyn frozen in front of the building of worship, Soule, the administrator of the mosque approached him, and invited him to enter. When entering, Soule asks Franklyn to open his footwear, because this is the custom here. When he went inside, he felt instantly improved. He watched the leaking ceiling no longer exist. Altar and bench have also disappeared. But the building was alive again. He felt softly the luxurious carpet touching the soles of his feet. And the remaining pieces of the crosses were not thrown away. Stay in store neatly by the mosque manager.
When finished listening to the building, Franklyn later commented, "At first I started with an attitude .., I miss my Church. But they are very kind to me. I went inside and saw for myself how very good they looked after this building. (instantaneously) my feelings just disappeared ", he said
BUILDING INTERIOR BEFORE AND AFTER RENOVATED.
SOURCE GRAPHICS: FACTOR.AL
During the pilgrims of the Holy Trinity Movement, Franklyn is in charge of taking care of the garden in the courtyard of the building. Along with his increasingly dusk age, he stopped treating the page. However, he is the one who understands the properties of the plants that surround the building. At that time he had stepped 89 years. But when asked if he was willing to teach these young Muslims how to care for the plants around the building, he spontaneously said he was ready to help teach them. (AL)
Here is the profile of Isa ibn Maryam Mosque in Short Videos. Video Source: youtube.com
Footnote:
- [1] http://www.stratfordmasjid.com/
- [2] http://www.satuharapan.com/read-detail/read/di-as-dan-yordania-ada-masjid-yesus-kristus
- [3] https://www.kiblat.net/2014/09/14/komunitas-muslim-di-as-ubah-gereja-jadi-masjid/
- [4] https://www.voaindonesia.com/a/dari-gereja-menjadi-masjid-yesus-putera-maryam/4193380.html,
- [5] https://www.kiblat.net/2014/09/14/komunitas-muslim-di-as-ubah-gereja-jadi-masjid/
- [6] Marnie Eisenstadt, “From church to mosque: Syracuse Islamic group cuts crosses, tries to connect to neighborhood”, http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2015/08/from_church_to_mosque_syracuse_islamic_group_cuts_crosses_tries_to_connect_to_ne.html,