Legend says the governor-general thought synagogue was a church

Taken down in the 1880s on the orders of Tsar Alexander III after only a year in existence, the missing dome came to represent the repression of Judaism first in Russia and later in the Soviet Union.

Historians say the Tsar was bending to the wishes of the Russian Orthodox Church at the time, which insisted that only its own symbols mark the city skyline.

But Moscow legend has it that the order came after the governor-general confused the building for a church, crossed himself and then, realising his mistake, angrily demanded that the dome be dismantled.

Years of totalitarianism

Since its removal the authorities had never allowed the domed roof to be rebuilt.

The new dome is now a prominent sight on the Moscow skyline

"It's the rebirth of the Jewish community after 70 years of totalitarianism," President of the Russian Jewish Congress Leonid Nevzlin said at the ceremony for the new dome.

Chief Rabbi Adolf Shayevich was joined by the head of Russia's Roman Catholic Church Tadeush Kondrusevich, Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov and Deputy Prime Minister Valentina Matviyenko amid tight security at the celebrations.

The US and Israeli ambassadors looked on as Mr Luzhkov laid a cornerstone of a new community centre which is to be built alongside the synagogue.

Laser show

Musicians played traditional Klezmer fiddle tunes while a group of children released a flock of white doves with ribbons tied to their tails and a laser light show illuminated the new dome.

The Jewish community turned out in force

The ceremony came on the same day that the Jewish Congress elected Mr Nevzlin as its new president following the resignation of Vladimir Gusinsky.

Mr Gusinsky fled to Spain last summer to avoid prosecution for what he says are politically motivated fraud charges.

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