Selimiye Mosque, Nicosia

**Selimiye Mosque** (Greek: Τέμενος Σελιμιγιέ *Témenos Selimigié*; Turkish: *Selimiye Camii*), historically dem know am as **Cathedral of Saint Sophia** anaa **Ayasofya Mosque** (Turkish: *Ayasofya Camii*), be a former Christian cathedral dem convert into a mosque, wey locate insyd North Nicosia. Historically na e be de main mosque for de island of Cyprus. Dem house de Selimiye Mosque insyd de largest den oldest surviving Gothic church insyd Cyprus (interior dimensions: 66 X 21 m) dem possibly construct for de site of an earlier Byzantine church.

For total, de mosque get a capacity make e hold 2500 worshipers plus  available for worship. Ebe de largest surviving historical building insyd Nicosia, den according to sources, e "fi be de largest church dem build insyd de Eastern Mediterranean insyd de millennium between de rise of Islam den de late Ottoman period". Na ebe de coronation church of de kings of Cyprus.

## History

### Earlier Byzantine church
De name of de cathedral dey derive from *Hagia Sophia*, wey dey mean "Holy Wisdom" insyd Greek. According to Kevork K. Keshishian, de dedication of de cathedral to de Holy Wisdom be a remnant from de Byzantine cathedral, wich occupy de same place. However, such a cathedral be absent from Byzantine sources wey e no dey associate plus any excavated ruins. In spite of dis, der be evidence of de existence of such a cathedral; an 11th-century manuscript dey mention de existence of an episcopal church dem dedicate to Holy Wisdom insyd de city.

### Ottoman period

During de 50-day Ottoman siege of de city insyd 1570, na de cathedral provide refuge give great number of people. Wen de city fall for 9 September, Francesco Contarini, de bishop of Paphos, deliver de last Christian sermon insyd de building, in wich he ask for divine help wey he exhort de people. Na Ottoman soldiers storm de cathedral, wey dem break de door den kill de bishop along plus odas. Dem smash anaa throw out Christian items, such as furniture den ornaments insyd de cathedral wey dem destroy de choir as well as de nave. Then, dem wash de interior of de mosque make dem make am ready for de first Friday prayer wey dem go host for 15 September, wich na de commander Lala Mustafa Pasha attend wey he see de official conversion of de cathedral into a mosque. During de same year, na dem add de two minarets, as well as Islamic features such as de mihrab den de minbar.

Na de first imam of de mosque be Moravizade Ahmet Efendi, wey hail from de Morea province of de Ottoman Empire. All imams maintain de tradition of make dem climb de stairs to de minbar before Friday sermons while dem dey lean for a sword dem use during de conquest of Nicosia make e signify dat na Nicosia be captured by conquest.

Dey follow ein conversion, de mosque cam turn de property of de Sultan Selim Foundation, which na ebe responsible for maintaining am. Oda donors form a number of foundations make dem help plus de maintenance. Okçuzade Mehmed Paşa, a governor of Cyprus insyd de 16th century, donate a shop make e provide income give de Sultan Selim Foundation; oda donations dey include estates insyd de countrysyd den oda shops. De foundation employ trustees (*mütevelli*) make dem look after de funds den transfer 40,000 *akçe* annually to Medina insyd late 16th century. During de Ottoman period, na ebe de largest mosque insyd de whole island, wey na dem use am weekly by de Ottoman governor, administrators den elite for de Friday prayers. Insyd de late 18th century, a large procession wey consist of de leading officials for de front for horseback, na lower-ranking officials dey follow for foot, cam to de mosque every Friday.

De Friday prayers sanso attract a large number of Muslims from Nicosia den surrounding villages. Secof de crowds wey dey frequent de mosque, a market develop next to am wey de area cam turn a trade center. De area around de mosque cam turn a center of education as well, plus madrasahs such as de Great Madrasah wey dem build Little Madrasah nearby.

Insyd1874, upon rumours say Sultan Abdülaziz go visit Nicosia, a new gate, dem bell de "Aziziye Gate" after de sultan, na dem build am for de east end of de building. Na de gate be an enlargement of a pre-existing Lusignan window for de site, den pieces of marble den oda material from de surroundings wey na dem use insyd ein construction. De decorations of de gate include an inscription by calligrapher Es-Seyyid Ahmet Şukri Efendi, de calligraphy teacher of de local high school. De inscription dey consist of a praise of de sultan wey dey mention say na dem build de gate for Abdülaziz ein orders by Nazif Pasha. Ebe surrounded by two ornate figures wey dey depict cypress trees. Na dem use de gate afterwards as de women dema entrance, wey later e fall into disuse, wey dey remain permanently locked.

### British rule den 20th century
Insyd 1949, de mu'addhins stop dey climb to de minaret make dem read de adhan wey dem start dey use loudspeakers instead. For 13 August 1954, de Mufti of Cyprus officially rename de mosque "Selimiye Mosque", in honour of de Ottoman sultan Selim II, wey head de empire during de conquest of Cyprus.

## Architecture

De choir get a surrounding ambulatory, buh no apse chapels. Dis dey follow de plan of Notre Dame de Paris, wich na in turn influence a number of oda cathedrals, wey dey include Notre Dame de Mantes for Archbishop Thierry ein hometown. De transepts dey consist of chapels wey get de same height as dat of de aisles, wey na dem attach to de second bays to de west of de ambulatory. Dis dey follow de plan of de Poitiers Cathedral, wich be de episcopal church of de French town of Lusignan, de hometown of de House of Lusignan. Na de north den south entrances initially dey insyd de fourth bay of de nave, although de Ottoman-built Aziziye Gate dey for de eastern end of de cathedral. Na dem think de initial arrangement be modelled after Sens Cathedral.

## Burials insyd de church

(burials der na wen e still be a church)

* Hugh III of Cyprus
* Aimery of Jerusalem

## Gallery

Nicosia Selimiye Mosque 02.jpg|Selimiye Mosque, eastern view
Nicosia Selimiye Mosque 03.jpg
Selimiye Mosque Panorama.jpg


## References


### Bibliography
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## External links

* UPenn Website
* http://www.mcw.gov.cy/mcw/DA/DA.nsf/All/BC8DB498E39DA650C2257276003EA4CD?OpenDocument