Liberation Mosque
Liberation Mosque | |
---|---|
Kurtuluş Camii | |
Religion | |
Affiliation | Islam, originally Christianity |
Location | |
Location | Şahinbey, Gaziantep Province, Turkey |
Architecture | |
Architect(s) | Sarkis Balyan |
Type | mosque |
Date established | 1986 (as mosque) |
Groundbreaking | 1892 |
Completed | 1893 |
Liberation Mosque (
In 1915, almost all of the Gaziantep Armenians were deported to the Syrian desert during the genocide.[5] The church was sealed on 22 August 1915; and its sacramentals and furnishings were put in a large stable, then they were bought and sold at an auction.[1] For over three years the cathedral was used by government for military purposes.[1] Next, it was turned into a prison in the early 1920s; and served as such until the 1970s.[1][6]
The building was converted into a mosque in 1986.[2] The top half of the bell tower was demolished, the remainder converted into a single-balcony minaret. The bell, which was cast in the 19th century in South America, was taken to Gaziantep Museum.[citation needed]
After renovation, the mosque reopened on 17 June 2017.[1]
During the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes, its dome and minarets collapsed.[7]
See also
- Armenian cultural heritage in Turkey
- Conversion of non-Islamic places of worship into mosques
- Armenian architecture
References
- ^ a b c d e f Korucu, Serdar (24 June 2017). "Antep'te 'Kilise Olarak Yapılan Cami': Kurtuluş Camii" ['The Mosque Built as a Church' in Antep: Kurtuluş Mosque]. Biamag (in Turkish). Istanbul. Bianet. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
- ^ a b c Fisk, Robert (2016-10-15). "A beautiful mosque and the dark period of the Armenian genocide". The Independent. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
- ^ Thomas A. Sinclair: Eastern Turkey. An Architectural and Archaeological Survey. volume 4. The Pindar Press, London 1990, p. 111
- ^ Osman Koker, "Armenians in Turkey 100 Years Ago", Istanbul 2005, p267.
- ISBN 978-1400841844.
- ISBN 978-1441130556.
- ^ Boncuk, Mehmet. "Tarihi cami depremde hasar gördü". Sabah. Retrieved 8 February 2023.