Fatih Sultan Mehmet Mosque

De **Fatih Sultan Mehmet Mosque** (Albanian: *Xhamia e Sulltan Mehmet Fatihut*), dem sanso know am as de **St. Stephen's Cathedral of Shkodër in Rozafa** (Albanian: *Katedralja e Shën Shtjefnit në Rozafë*, Latin: *Ecclesia cathedralis Sancti Stephani de Scutaro*), be a 13th-century building within de Rozafa Castle near Shkodër, Albania.

## History

Na dem build de cathedral insyd de castle of Rozafa insyd de 13th century, wey dem enlarge am insyd de 14th den 15th centuries while ns e be under Venice possession. Insyd 1319 Don Andrea of Shkodër bring from Ragusa carpenters make dem assist insyd de renovation of de area of de church dem dedicate to de choir. Na dem mention anoda renovation insyd 1403 from de then captain general of Shkodër, wey bring from Ragusa 5000 tiles make dem use for coverage of de church ein roof.

De construction typology be similar to dat dem use insyd de Ratac Abbey, for today Montenegro, wich na dem later build, as well as plus a church of Šas. E get a cella, dem cover by roof, as well as an altar dem distinguish by crossed vaults. Na de altar get de only window of de church. Der be elements of both Dominican den franciscan type of construction insyd de cathedral.

Na de house of de bishop exist close to de church, wich na dem document since 1251, however, after de 1478-1479 Siege of Shkodra na dem longer allow make de bishop reside insyd de castle. De Ottomans transform de church into a mosque insyd 1685. After dat year from de former church ein objects na dem keep de old organon, as a war trophy, within de mosque. When de cathedral cam turn a mosque insyd 1685, e bear de name of Mehmet the Conqueror Mosque (Albanian: *Xhamia e Mehmet Fatihut*). Na dem build a minaret for de southern syd of de former cathedral den, within a niche of de altar, na dem build a mihrab.

Nearby de church, til 1951, na a *khan* (inn) exist, dem call am **The Inn of Noka** (Albanian: *Hani i Nokës*), wich na e seem dem build for de foundations of de bishop ein house.

Insyd 1939 na Italian priest den albanologist Giuseppe Valentini suggest ways make dem perform restoration work for de church. A planned attempt make dem convert de mosque into ein origin, a church plus partial U.S. sponsorship na de Muslim community of Shkodër no like, wey de ambassador of de United States, Ms. Marcy Ries, promise make she re-assess de funding of de project.

Na de ruins of dis church-mosque feature a Dikka, a Mihrab, den de remains of a large Minaret. De Fatih Sultan Mehmet mosque be one of de few buildings from de Middle Ages insyd Shkodër wey ebe de mosque per wey partially survive insyd Shkodra during de dictatorship of Enver Hoxha, wey destroy all 36 mosques insyd Shkodër.

## References


## Sources
* Malaj, Edmond (2021), *Hulumtime mbi historinë e krishtërimit në Shkodër e rrethina gjatë mesjetës*, Botime Françeskane, ISBN 978-9928-331-17-5

*Meksi, Aleksandër (1983), *Arkitektura Mesjetare në Shqipëri*, 8 Nëntori

*Valentini, Zef (1939), *Monumenta qi po hupin. Ma e bukra kishë në kala*, Leka VIII nr. 6
*Kiel, Machiel (1990), Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture (ed.), "Ottoman architecture in Albania (1385-1912)", *Islamic Art Series* (in German), vol. Band 5, Istanbul, p. 230, ISBN 92-9063-330-1
## External links