Bayrakli Mosque (), also known as Yokush Mosque (), is a historical Ottoman-era

mosque A mosque ( ), also called a masjid ( ), is a place of worship for Muslims. The term usually refers to a covered building, but can be any place where Salah, Islamic prayers are performed; such as an outdoor courtyard. Originally, mosques were si ...

in Samokov,

Bulgaria Bulgaria, officially the Republic of Bulgaria, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern portion of the Balkans directly south of the Danube river and west of the Black Sea. Bulgaria is bordered by Greece and Turkey t ...

, constructed in 1845. Although well-preserved and retaining most of its original structure, the mosque is not currently open for worship.

History

The mosque was built by Koca Hüsrev Mehmed Pasha, who, according to the legend, ordered to erect both a

cross A cross is a religious symbol consisting of two Intersection (set theory), intersecting Line (geometry), lines, usually perpendicular to each other. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally. A cross of oblique lines, in the shape of t ...

and a

crescent A crescent shape (, ) is a symbol or emblem used to represent the lunar phase (as it appears in the northern hemisphere) in the first quarter (the "sickle moon"), or by extension a symbol representing the Moon itself. In Hindu iconography, Hind ...

on the dome of the mosque. In 1966, the mosque was extensively restored. The restoration project was carried out by Bulgarian architect Nikola Mushanov.

Architecture

The prayer hall of the mosque is rectangular (almost square) with the size of times . The women's prayer area is located on the balcony. The dome is built on four wooden columns. Frescoes with floral motives were painted over in the 19th century and uncovered during the restoration in 1966. There is one tall minaret next to the building. Unusually, the interior of the mosque is lavishly decorated with floral motifs by local, non-Muslim folk artists such as Ivan Ikonopisets, Hristo Yovevich, and Kosta Valyov.

Decoration

File:Interior of Bayrakli Mosque, Samokov 01.JPG, Interior of Bayrakli Mosque, Samokov, the prayer hall File:Interior of Bayrakli Mosque, Samokov 02.JPG, Interior of Bayrakli Mosque, Samokov, Dome decoration

References

{{Mosques in Bulgaria Samokov Ottoman mosques in Bulgaria Religious buildings and structures completed in 1845 Buildings and structures in Sofia Province Former mosques in Bulgaria Mosque buildings with domes in Bulgaria Mosque buildings with minarets in Bulgaria