Mustafa Pasha Mosque. Sehzade Mosque in Istanbul - a temple with a sad history Mustafa Pasha Mosque Skopje
Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque (Northern Cyprus) - description, history, location. Exact address and website. Tourist reviews, photos and videos.
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In the past, the Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque was called St. Nicholas Cathedral. This is one of the most striking examples of medieval architecture in Northern Cyprus. It was built on the model of the Reims Cathedral in France and, like it, was used only for the most solemn occasions: coronation and wedding. Accordingly, the architectural appearance of the cathedral is maintained in the best royal traditions.
Construction of the Cathedral of St. Nicholas began in 1300. Along with the first foundation stone, a fig tree was planted next to the future building, which to this day adjoins the cathedral. For the construction of the temple, the personal funds of Bishop Guillaume de Aibelin, a relative of the Cypriot king, were allocated. Construction lasted about a quarter of a century until the building eventually acquired its modern appearance.
In the past, the Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque was called St. Nicholas Cathedral. This is one of the most striking examples of medieval architecture in Northern Cyprus.
Many historical events and interesting facts are associated with St. Nicholas Cathedral. It is known, for example, that in 1326, when Famagusta was engulfed in plague, a procession of the cross started from the cathedral, designed to stop the epidemic. Whether a miracle happened at that moment or the fate of the city was decided by chance, the infection really receded. Here, in the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, the wedding ceremony of the Cypriot king Jacques II Lusignan and the “daughter of the Venetian Republic” Caterina Cornaro took place. As a result of this union, the island came under the control of Venice.
The structure of the cathedral was significantly damaged during the attack of the Ottoman Empire. Traces of assault shells are still visible on the façade of the cathedral. However, the external structure of the cathedral was much more fortunate than its interior decoration. From the outside, the cathedral lost only a few towers, but the interiors were completely changed: the beautiful six-color stained glass window was replaced with transparent glass, the frescoes and images were covered with plaster, and the statues of saints were coldly destroyed. Also, the royal tombs containing the remains of the last Lusignans were removed from the temple. The Christian church finally acquired the image of a mosque when a minaret was completed at its northern end.
The Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque bears the name of the leader of the Ottoman Empire, the commander of the detachment under whose leadership Famagusta was taken. However, the historical name of St. Nicholas Cathedral is recognizable to this day.
The Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque is located in the very center of the Old Town of Famagusta. This is an amazingly beautiful area, surrounded by parklands and a promenade. In close proximity to the mosque there is another important historical monument of Northern Cyprus - the Sinan Pasha Mosque, the former Church of Peter and Paul. In the surrounding area you can find a dozen cafes and restaurants, one of which, by the way, is located right behind the cathedral in the building of a small Gothic chapel.
Mustafa Pasha Mosque (Macedonia) - description, history, location. Exact address and website. Tourist reviews, photos and videos.
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In the central part of Skopje, not far from the Old Market, stands the medieval Mustafa Pasha Mosque - the most striking Islamic monument in Macedonia. The sanctuary was built about five centuries ago, but is still in excellent condition, as if time had not touched it. And in the warm season, a luxurious rose garden blooms near the Mustafa Pasha Mosque.
Story
Back in the 15th century, the famous commander of the Ottoman army, Mustafa Pasha, owned several villages around Skopje. The highly respected vizier lived here with his two wives and four daughters. In addition to his outstanding leadership qualities, Mustafa Pasha was known as a very spiritual and pious person, and therefore it is not surprising that one day he decided to build a large mosque in the city.
The walls at the main entrance to the mosque are decorated with colored plates, which is why the people called the shrine the Colored Mosque. Undoubtedly, this is the most beautiful architectural monument of medieval Muslim architecture.
They erected a Muslim shrine on the foundation of an earlier Christian church. The text on the marble plaque above the entrance speaks about this to this day. Residential buildings were built around the mosque, inhabited mainly by imams - clergy who perform services in the mosque. The entire complex of buildings was built with the personal funds of Mustafa Pasha.
During the history of its existence, the Mustafa Pasha Mosque was seriously damaged only once. This was the case with the 1963 earthquake, which brought great destruction to the entire city. However, the mosque was restored, and currently it is fully operational.
Architecture
The Mustafa Pasha Mosque is actually the standard of early Constantinople architecture. The structure of the building is a regular rectangle topped with a huge dome (more than 16 m in diameter). The dome of the mosque is decorated with original arabesques, the oldest of which are of artistic value.
The daughter of Mustafa Pasha is buried next to the mosque. Her tomb can be visited along with the mosque itself.
The mosque building is built of polished stone and brick. At the entrance there is a small porch with white marble columns. In the northern part of the mosque there is a minaret 47 m high. Everywhere on the walls of the ancient building you can see the remains of the original oriental ornament and other decorations. The walls at the main entrance to the mosque are decorated with colored plates, which is why the people called the shrine the Colored Mosque. Undoubtedly, this is the most beautiful architectural monument of medieval Muslim architecture.
Mustafa Pasha Mosque in Skopje (Maked.)
The mosque in Skopje can be freely visited by both Muslims and supporters of other faiths. At the same time, it is important to follow the established norms of behavior in a holy place, so as not to offend the feelings of the mosque parishioners by an absurd accident.
Practical information
The Mustafa Pasha Mosque is located in the central part of Skopje on the right bank of the Vardar River. From Macedonia Square you can reach the mosque on foot in 15 minutes, following the street. Orsay Nikolova and further, behind the bridge, along the street. Samoilova. Near the mosque there are other striking attractions of Skopje - the Old Market, the Museum of Macedonia, the Church of the Holy Savior and others.
The former Latin Cathedral of St. Nicholas is the most beautiful building in Northern Cyprus and is located in the walled city of Famagusta. A temple with a special destiny - a Christian cathedral that was forced to change its god and become a mosque. This makes this shrine even more unique, the combination of Gothic and minaret is impressive, surprising - where else can you see this...
Let's start with the fact that this temple has changed many names:
originally - St. Nicholas Cathedral
then Ayasophia Magusa or Hagia Sophia "St. Sophia"
and lastly - Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque
The construction of St. Nicholas Cathedral began in 1298. Behind the temple there is a famous fig tree; legend says that it was planted at the same time the construction of the shrine began. The Cathedral of St. Nicholas was built in 1328. The building is also special in that it was built in the radiant Gothic style, which is a rarity outside of France (although the temple was built by the French, rulers from the Lusignan family, to whom the island of Cyprus belonged from 1192 to 1489). The construction of the cathedral followed a similar project to the Reims Cathedral in Paris. Thus, the Cathedral of St. Nicholas has another name: “Cyprus Reims”.
After Jerusalem fell in 1291, King Lusignan, after his coronation, came to this cathedral to be crowned King of Jerusalem. It was here that the last ruler of Lusignan, Caterina Cornaro, succumbed to pressure from the Venetians and abdicated the throne.
St. Nicholas Cathedral was converted into the Muslim mosque of Ayasophia Magusa after the Ottoman army captured Famagusta in 1571. Then a minaret was also added to the cathedral, which, surprisingly, fit very organically into the Gothic style. Lala Mustafa Pasha received its new name in 1954 in honor of the Turkish general, who, under the walls of this temple, flayed the still living captain-general Marco Antonio Bragadin, who led the defense of the city of Famagusta.
The unique status helped the building survive during the Turkish conflict, when many Christian churches were destroyed. They used to say about Famagusta that you can pray here several times a day, all in a new church - just imagine, Famagusta once had 365 churches! Only part of the buildings has survived to this day. The cathedral was damaged during the bombing of 1571, when Turkish troops kept Famagusta under siege, which at that time belonged to the Venetians, and the building was also affected by the earthquake of 1735. Despite such a difficult fate, the Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque is still a functioning mosque.
Inside the mosque, according to Muslim practice, all images of the human form have been removed and the frescoes on the walls have been covered with plaster, and who knows what valuables remain hidden underneath. Turkish military commander Lala Mustafa Pasha destroyed the statues of saints and replaced the stained glass with transparent glass. But this was not enough for him; the Turks removed the tombstones and removed human remains, including the last two Lusignan kings.
As with all mosques, the floor of the temple was covered with carpet and it is possible that some tombstones still remain. In the northwest corner, only the tomb of Bishop Famagusta remains, who was ordained in 1360 and died in 1365 from hypothermia. The apse, now without an alter, is headed by a crown, depicting not only the crown of Christ as the King of Heaven, but also the crown of Lusignan in Jerusalem.
Architects and historians unanimously call this mosque true perfection.
Sehzade, located in the historical center of Istanbul, is in no way inferior in its beauty and grandeur.
To this day, it enjoys great interest not only among visiting tourists, but also among local residents.
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Story
Shehzade Mosque (Şehzade Camii) is symbol of grief. Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent entrusted its construction to the architect and builder Sinan in memory of his son, heir Mehmed. The word Şehzade in Turkish means prince or prince. Shehzade Mehmet, the son of Suleiman, died very young, at the age of 21.
There are rumors that one of the concubines is to blame for this, who infected the young heir to the throne with smallpox. The Sultan's first wife sent a concubine to Mehmed, who was very jealous of the young Roksolana, Mehmed's mother.
Sultan Suleiman's grief knew no bounds. For three days he was inconsolable, and on the fourth he decided to perpetuate the memory of his youngest son by constructing a building. Suleiman missed Mehmed so much that he ordered the construction of not only a mosque, but also an entire complex with a madrasah, courtyards, rooms, and a kitchen. He wanted to live next to his son's mausoleum. Everything was built in just four years (1544-1548).
If you are wondering where Sultan Suleiman and his wife Hurrem Sultan (known from the series “The Magnificent Century”) lived, then be sure to visit, which amazes with its decoration and luxury. It is located opposite the Blue Mosque of Sultanahmet, behind the cathedral, next to a beautiful park.
According to Sinan's idea, it had to be ideal, so he built it strictly symmetrical. If you look from above, you can see that it is made in the shape of a square. Another amazing feature is its the courtyard is exactly equal to the perimeter of the building itself.
The central, largest dome is supported by four arches. Around the central dome, the architect placed four more smaller semi-domes. There are only two minarets here, but they are like real works of art: the bottoms are decorated with traditional Ottoman-style patterns.
The raised foundation holds a little secret. There is a swimming pool underneath, which keeps the building cool in summer and always warm in winter.
The interior decoration of the temple is made in a rather strict and restrained style. No frills. The main colors here are light. On a white background there are discreet ornaments in the Ottoman style.
On the territory there is also the Shehzade Mausoleum - one of the most beautiful architectural buildings in Istanbul. The mausoleum was also built according to all the laws of Ottoman architecture. The inside of the mausoleum is decorated with Iznik tiles. There is a beautiful fountain in the courtyard, which was built later during the reign of Sultan Murad IV.
Everything you can see is shown in these amateur photographs of tourists. 
The Mustafa Pasha Mosque is built on a hill overlooking the Old Bazaar in Skopje. It is the largest Muslim temple and one of the best preserved monuments of Islamic architecture in Macedonia. The shape of the mosque has not changed significantly since 1492, the time of construction of this building. The mosque was named after its founder - the vizier of Sultan Selim I - Mustafa Pasha. At the end of the 15th century, he owned four villages in the vicinity of Skopje and could not deny himself the pleasure of building a large mosque here for centuries. It was erected on the site of the old Christian Church of St. Savior. The creator of the mosque is mentioned in an ornate inscription made on a marble plaque, which can be seen above the main portal.
The mosque is a one-story building with a minaret 42 meters high. There are 5 windows in each of the walls of the mosque. The mosque is a typical example of classical Ottoman architecture. This is evidenced by clear and correct proportions, a large dome, a slender minaret, and a porch with marble columns located on the north side. In the turbe (mausoleum) adjacent to the building there is a sarcophagus where Mustafa Pasha himself, who died in 1519, and one of his daughters, Umi, rest. The mosque is surrounded by a rose garden.
In 1912, the Mustafa Pasha Mosque ceased to be used for its intended purpose, and during the First World War it was turned into a military warehouse. In 1963, the building was seriously damaged during an earthquake. The mosque began to be restored only in 2006 with the financial support of the Turkish government. Its reconstruction was completed in August 2011.
