Selimiye Mosque ( ''Témenos Selimigié''; ), historically known as Cathedral of Saint Sophia or Ayasofya Mosque (), is a former

Christian A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the wo ...

cathedral A cathedral is a church (building), church that contains the of a bishop, thus serving as the central church of a diocese, Annual conferences within Methodism, conference, or episcopate. Churches with the function of "cathedral" are usually s ...

converted into a

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 ...

, located in

North Nicosia North Nicosia or Northern Nicosia ( ; ) refers to the largest settlement and the ''de facto'' capital of Northern Cyprus. It is the northern part of the divided city of Nicosia, and is governed by the Nicosia Turkish Municipality. , North Nicos ...

. It has historically been the main mosque on the island of Cyprus. The Selimiye Mosque is housed in the largest and oldest surviving Gothic church in

Cyprus Cyprus (), officially the Republic of Cyprus, is an island country in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Situated in West Asia, its cultural identity and geopolitical orientation are overwhelmingly Southeast European. Cyprus is the List of isl ...

(interior dimensions: 66 X 21 m) possibly constructed on the site of an earlier

Byzantine The Byzantine Empire, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire, was the continuation of the Roman Empire centred on Constantinople during late antiquity and the Middle Ages. Having survived the events that caused the fall of the Western Roman E ...

church. In total, the mosque has a capacity to hold 2500 worshipers with available for worship. It is the largest surviving historical building in Nicosia, and according to sources, it "may have been the largest church built in the Eastern Mediterranean in the millennium between the rise of Islam and the late Ottoman period". It was the

coronation A coronation ceremony marks the formal investiture of a monarch with regal power using a crown. In addition to the crowning, this ceremony may include the presentation of other items of regalia, and other rituals such as the taking of special v ...

church of the

kings of Cyprus The Kingdom of Cyprus (; ) was a medieval kingdom of the Crusader states that existed between 1192 and 1489. Initially ruled as an independent Christian kingdom, it was established by the French House of Lusignan after the Third Crusade. It c ...

History

Earlier Byzantine church

The name of the cathedral derives from ''Hagia Sophia'', meaning "Holy Wisdom" in

Greek Greek may refer to: Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor of all kno ...

. According to Kevork K. Keshishian, the dedication of the cathedral to the Holy Wisdom is a remnant from the

cathedral, which occupied the same place. However, such a cathedral is absent from Byzantine sources and is not associated with any excavated ruins. In spite of this, there is evidence of the existence of such a cathedral; an 11th-century manuscript mentions the existence of an episcopal church dedicated to Holy Wisdom in the city.

Construction and Frankish period

It is not certain when the construction of the cathedral began, it may have gradually replaced its Greek predecessor or may have been built alongside it. The date cited for the laying of the foundation stone is 1209, and the Latin archbishop of Nicosia responsible for this is named in various sources as Thierry or Albert. There are claims of evidence indicating an earlier beginning date, and even the

Knights Templar The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon, mainly known as the Knights Templar, was a Military order (religious society), military order of the Catholic Church, Catholic faith, and one of the most important military ord ...

may have made some effort for the construction of a new cathedral during their rule in 1191–92. Under the early years of the reign of Archbishop Eustorge de Montaigu (reigned between 1217 and 1250), the construction is thought to have accelerated. By 1228, the church was "largely completed" under Eustorge. Although it is held in some sources that the arrival of

Louis IX of France Louis IX (25 April 1214 – 25 August 1270), also known as Saint Louis, was King of France from 1226 until his death in 1270. He is widely recognized as the most distinguished of the Direct Capetians. Following the death of his father, Louis VI ...

in Cyprus in 1248 for the

Seventh Crusade The Seventh Crusade (1248–1254) was the first of the two Crusades led by Louis IX of France. Also known as the Crusade of Louis IX to the Holy Land, it aimed to reclaim the Holy Land by attacking Egypt, the main seat of Muslim power in the Nea ...

gave a boost to the construction, there is no evidence to support this claim. By the end of the 13th century the side aisles and a large part of the middle aisle were completed. During the 13th and 14th centuries, the cathedral was damaged twice by earthquakes, in 1267 and 1303. The 1267 earthquake caused significant delay in the construction of the

nave The nave () is the central part of a church, stretching from the (normally western) main entrance or rear wall, to the transepts, or in a church without transepts, to the chancel. When a church contains side aisles, as in a basilica-type ...

. Archbishop Giovanni del Conte, oversaw the completion of the

and the

narthex The narthex is an architectural element typical of Early Christian art and architecture, early Christian and Byzantine architecture, Byzantine basilicas and Church architecture, churches consisting of the entrance or Vestibule (architecture), ve ...

until 1319 and that of the middle aisle, the buttresses of the

chevet In architecture, an apse (: apses; from Latin , 'arch, vault'; from Ancient Greek , , 'arch'; sometimes written apsis; : apsides) is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome, also known as an '' exedra''. In Byzan ...

, the

façade A façade or facade (; ) is generally the front part or exterior of a building. It is a loanword from the French language, French (), which means "frontage" or "face". In architecture, the façade of a building is often the most important asp ...

and a chapel/baptistery from 1319 to 1326. He also initiated the adornment of the cathedral with

fresco Fresco ( or frescoes) is a technique of mural painting executed upon freshly laid ("wet") lime plaster. Water is used as the vehicle for the dry-powder pigment to merge with the plaster, and with the setting of the plaster, the painting become ...

es, sculptures, marble screens and wall paintings. In 1326, the cathedral was finally consecrated and officially inaugurated with a great celebration. During the Lusignan rule, the cathedral served as the coronation church of the Kings of Cyprus. After the Genoese conquest of

Famagusta Famagusta, also known by several other names, is a city located on the eastern coast of Cyprus. It is located east of the capital, Nicosia, and possesses the deepest harbour of the island. During the Middle Ages (especially under the maritime ...

, it also became the coronation church of the Lusignan Kings of Jerusalem, and finally, the Lusignan Kings of Armenia. It also housed the

Trials of the Knights Templar The downfall of the Knights Templar was initiated by King Philip IV of France. Philip, who was heavily in debt due to his lavish policies and military endeavours, saw the Templars as a way of alleviating his financial hardship and at the same t ...

in 1310. Even though the cathedral was inaugurated, the building was still incomplete and in 1347

Pope Clement IV Pope Clement IV (; 23 November 1190 – 29 November 1268), born Gui Foucois (; or ') and also known as Guy le Gros ( French for "Guy the Fat"; ), was bishop of Le Puy (1257–1260), archbishop of Narbonne (1259–1261), cardinal of Sabina ( ...

issued a

papal bull A papal bull is a type of public decree, letters patent, or charter issued by the pope of the Catholic Church. It is named after the leaden Seal (emblem), seal (''bulla (seal), bulla'') traditionally appended to authenticate it. History Papal ...

for the cathedral to be completed and renovated since it had been affected by an earthquake. The bull gave a 100-day period of indulgence for those who participated in the completion of the cathedral, however, this effort did not achieve its aim. The

portico A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls. This idea was widely used in ancient Greece and has influenced many cu ...

and the northwest tower were constructed at this time and the three gates of the western wall were embellished with structures. Kings, prophets, apostles and bishops were depicted at the reliefs in three arches. In 1359, the

Papal legate 300px, A woodcut showing Henry II of England greeting the Pope's legate. A papal legate or apostolic legate (from the ancient Roman title '' legatus'') is a personal representative of the Pope to foreign nations, to some other part of the Catho ...

in Cyprus, Peter Thomas, assembled all Greek Orthodox bishops of Cyprus in the cathedral, locked them in and began preaching in order to convert them. The sound of shouting coming from the cathedral gathered a large crowd outside the cathedral, which soon began a riot to free the priests and burned the doors of the cathedral. The king ordered the rescue of the preacher, who would later be reprimanded, from the mob, and the freeing of the bishops. In 1373, the cathedral suffered damage during the Genoese raids on Cyprus.

Venetian period

The 1491 Cyprus earthquake severely damaged the cathedral. A visiting pilgrim described that a large part of the

choir A choir ( ), also known as a chorale or chorus (from Latin ''chorus'', meaning 'a dance in a circle') is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform or in other words ...

fell, the chapel of sacraments behind the choir was destroyed and a tomb that purportedly belonged to

Hugh III of Cyprus Hugh III (; – 24 March 1284), also called Hugh of Antioch-Lusignan and the Great, was the king of Cyprus (as Hugh III) from 1267 and king of Jerusalem (as Hugh I) from 1268. Born into the family of the princes of Antioch, he effectively rul ...

was damaged, revealing his intact body in royal clothing and golden relics. The golden treasure was taken by the Venetians. The

Venetian Senate The Senate (), formally the ''Consiglio dei Pregadi'' or ''Rogati'' (, ), was the main deliberative and legislative body of the Republic of Venice. Establishment The Venetian Senate was founded in 1229, or less likely shortly before that date. ...

ordered the repair of the damage and set up a special commission, which taxed an annual contribution of 250 ducats from the archbishop. The repair was very extensive and thorough; in 1507, Pierre Mésenge wrote that despite the fact that the building was "totally demolished" 20 or 22 years ago, it then looked very beautiful. When the Venetians built their walls of Nicosia, St. Sophia's Cathedral became the center of the city. This reflected the position of medieval European cathedrals, around which the city was shaped.

Ottoman period

During the 50-day Ottoman siege of the city in 1570, the cathedral provided refuge for a great number of people. When the city fell on 9 September, Francesco Contarini, the bishop of Paphos, delivered the last Christian sermon in the building, in which he asked for divine help and exhorted the people. The cathedral was stormed by Ottoman soldiers, who broke the door and killed the bishop along with others. They smashed or threw out Christian items, such as furniture and ornaments in the cathedral and destroyed the choir as well as the nave. Then, they washed the interior of the mosque to make it ready for the first

Friday prayer Friday prayer, or congregational prayer (), is the meeting together of Muslims for communal prayer and service at midday every Friday. In Islam, the day itself is called ''Yawm al-Jum'ah'' (shortened to ''Jum'ah''), which translated from Arabic me ...

that it would host on 15 September, which was attended by the commander Lala Mustafa Pasha and saw the official conversion of the cathedral into a mosque. During the same year, the two

minaret A minaret is a type of tower typically built into or adjacent to mosques. Minarets are generally used to project the Muslim call to prayer (''adhan'') from a muezzin, but they also served as landmarks and symbols of Islam's presence. They can h ...

s were added, as well as Islamic features such as the

mihrab ''Mihrab'' (, ', pl. ') is a niche in the wall of a mosque that indicates the ''qibla'', the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca towards which Muslims should face when praying. The wall in which a ''mihrab'' appears is thus the "''qibla'' wall". ...

and the

minbar A minbar (; sometimes romanized as ''mimber'') is a pulpit in a mosque where the imam (leader of prayers) stands to deliver sermons (, ''khutbah''). It is also used in other similar contexts, such as in a Hussainiya where the speaker sits and le ...

. The first

imam Imam (; , '; : , ') is an Islamic leadership position. For Sunni Islam, Sunni Muslims, Imam is most commonly used as the title of a prayer leader of a mosque. In this context, imams may lead Salah, Islamic prayers, serve as community leaders, ...

of the mosque was Moravizade Ahmet Efendi, who hailed from the

Morea Morea ( or ) was the name of the Peloponnese peninsula in southern Greece during the Middle Ages and the early modern period. The name was used by the Principality of Achaea, the Byzantine province known as the Despotate of the Morea, by the O ...

province of the Ottoman Empire. All imams maintained the tradition of climbing the stairs to the minbar before Friday sermons while leaning on a sword used during the conquest of Nicosia to signify that Nicosia was captured by conquest. Following its conversion, the mosque became the property of the Sultan Selim Foundation, which was responsible for maintaining it. Other donors formed a number of foundations to help with the maintenance. Okçuzade Mehmed Paşa, a governor of Cyprus in the 16th century, donated a shop to provide income for the Sultan Selim Foundation; other donations include estates in the countryside and other shops. The foundation employed trustees (''mütevelli'') to look after the funds and transferred 40,000 ''

akçe The ''akçe'' or ''akça'' (anglicized as ''akche'', ''akcheh'' or ''aqcha''; ; , , in Europe known as '' asper'') was a silver coin mainly known for being the chief monetary unit of the Ottoman Empire. It was also used in other states includi ...

'' annually to

Medina Medina, officially al-Madinah al-Munawwarah (, ), also known as Taybah () and known in pre-Islamic times as Yathrib (), is the capital of Medina Province (Saudi Arabia), Medina Province in the Hejaz region of western Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, ...

in the late 16th century. During the Ottoman period, it was the largest mosque in the whole island, and was used weekly by the Ottoman governor, administrators and elite for the Friday prayers. In the late 18th century, a large procession that consisted of the leading officials in the front on horseback, followed by lower-ranking officials on foot, came to the mosque every Friday. The Friday prayers also attracted a large number of Muslims from Nicosia and surrounding villages. Due to the crowds frequenting the mosque, a market developed next to it and the area became a trade center. The area around the mosque became a center of education as well, with

madrasah Madrasa (, also , ; Arabic: مدرسة , ), sometimes romanized as madrasah or madrassa, is the Arabic word for any type of educational institution, secular or religious (of any religion), whether for elementary education or higher learning ...

s such as the Great Madrasah and Little Madrasah being built nearby. In 1874, upon rumours that Sultan

Abdülaziz Abdulaziz (; ; 8 February 18304 June 1876) was the sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 25 June 1861 to 30 May 1876, when he was 1876 Ottoman coup d'état, overthrown in a government coup. He was a son of Sultan Mahmud II and succeeded his brother ...

would visit Nicosia, a new gate, called the "Aziziye Gate" after the sultan, was built at the east end of the building. The gate was an enlargement of a pre-existing Lusignan window on the site, and pieces of marble and other material from the surroundings were used in its construction. The decorations of the gate include an inscription by calligrapher Es-Seyyid Ahmet Şukri Efendi, the calligraphy teacher of the local high school. The inscription consists of a praise of the sultan and mentions that the gate was built on Abdülaziz's orders by Nazif Pasha. It is surrounded by two ornate figures depicting

cypress Cypress is a common name for various coniferous trees or shrubs from the ''Cupressus'' genus of the '' Cupressaceae'' family, typically found in temperate climates and subtropical regions of Asia, Europe, and North America. The word ''cypress'' ...

trees. The gate was afterwards used as the women's entrance, and later fell into disuse, remaining permanently locked.

British rule and 20th century

In 1949, the mu'addhins stopped climbing to the minaret to read the

adhan The (, ) is the Islamic call to prayer, usually recited by a muezzin, traditionally from the minaret of a mosque, shortly before each of the five obligatory daily prayers. The adhan is also the first phrase said in the ear of a newborn baby, ...

and started using loudspeakers instead. On 13 August 1954, the

Mufti A mufti (; , ) is an Islamic jurist qualified to issue a nonbinding opinion ('' fatwa'') on a point of Islamic law (''sharia''). The act of issuing fatwas is called ''iftāʾ''. Muftis and their ''fatāwa'' have played an important role thro ...

of Cyprus officially renamed the mosque "Selimiye Mosque", in honour of the Ottoman sultan Selim II, who headed the empire during the conquest of Cyprus.

Restoration

The restoration of Selimiye Mosque involved targeted interventions addressing structural, material, and conservation needs, following international restoration principles. Diagnostic Surveys Georadar (GPR), ERT (3D Electrical Resistivity Tomography), seismic tomography inside and outside the mosque; excavation test pits and core drillings. Essential for assessing subsoil conditions, foundation stability, and hidden structural weaknesses. Non-invasive, ensuring minimal disruption. Followed guidelines for documentation before intervention. Structural Analysis & Modeling 3D digital modeling of building’s behavior under probable DD2 level earthquake scenarios. Allowed precise identification of weak points and informed revision of structural strengthening designs. Ensured that any intervention would be both necessary and appropriate to actual structural behavior. Structural Reinforcement Installation of stainless steel tension rods and anchors in critical wall sections. Reinforcement of roof trusses and masonry vaults, especially central nave and apse dome. Applied minimum intervention principle, focusing only on structurally deficient areas. Modern materials (stainless steel) chosen for compatibility and reversibility. Masonry Cleaning & Conservation Removal of biological growth, dirt, and previous incompatible repairs. Cleaning of stone surfaces and sculptural elements. Cleaning of stone surfaces and sculptural elements. Cleaning performed with gentle, reversible techniques to preserve patina and avoid material loss. Minimum intervention respected; no over-cleaning or aesthetic alteration. Stone Replacement & Repair Replacement of severely deteriorated stones, particularly at façades, minarets, and decorative elements. Repointing joints with compatible lime-based mortar. New stones carefully selected for compatibility in texture and color but kept distinguishable underclose inspection. Joint mortars matched in composition and permeability to prevent future decay. Injection Grouting Injection of lime-based grout into wall voids to stabilize detached masonry and fill internal cavities. Technique chosen for its compatibility with original lime mortars and reversibility if future removal is needed. Careful pressure control ensured no damage to adjacent materials. Roof Restoration & Strengthening Dismantling and replacement of lead roofing sheets. Reinforcement of domes and timber structures over the apse and nave. New lead roofing ensured material compatibility. Strengthening executed with minimal intrusion, retaining original roof profile and materials wherever possible. Minaret Restoration Dismantling southern minaret’s upper sections; lead and timber cone restoration; structural stabilization; stone replacement. Maintained minimum intervention by focusing only on structurally unstable elements. New components designed to match original materials while remaining distinguishable and reversible where possible. Joint Cleaning & Repointing Careful cleaning of deteriorated joint fillings and repointing with new lime-based mortar. Mortar chosen for chemical and mechanical compatibility with historic masonry. Original joint widths and profiles preserved. Crack Repair & Grouting Detection of cracks post-cleaning and filling with lime-based grouts. Monitoring of newly formed cracks after removal of plaster coatings. Addressed both structural and superficial cracks. Repairs were distinguishable and applied only where necessary. Plaster Removal & Re-plastering Removal of deteriorated and incompatible plaster coatings. Application of breathable lime plasters where needed. Ensured reversibility and compatibility. New plaster applied only to areas requiring protection or structural integration. Scientific Advisory Meetings Regular consultations with academic and conservation experts to monitor project progress, review findings, and approve adjustments. Ensured interventions remained in line with international conservation standards (e.g., The Venice Charter). Continuous review supported adaptive management based on in-situ findings.

Architecture

The

has a surrounding

ambulatory The ambulatory ( 'walking place') is the covered passage around a cloister or the processional way around the east end of a cathedral or large church and behind the high altar. The first ambulatory was in France in the 11th century but by the 13t ...

, but no

apse chapel An apse chapel, apsidal chapel, or chevet is a chapel in traditional Christian church architecture, which radiates tangentially from one of the bays or divisions of the apse. It is reached generally by a semicircular passageway, or ambulatory, ext ...

s. This follows the plan of

Notre Dame de Paris Notre-Dame de Paris ( ; meaning "Cathedral of Our Lady of Paris"), often referred to simply as Notre-Dame, is a Medieval architecture, medieval Catholic cathedral on the Île de la Cité (an island in the River Seine), in the 4th arrondissemen ...

, which had in turn influenced a number of other cathedrals, including Notre Dame de Mantes at Archbishop Thierry's hometown. The

transept A transept (with two semitransepts) is a transverse part of any building, which lies across the main body of the building. In cruciform ("cross-shaped") cruciform plan, churches, in particular within the Romanesque architecture, Romanesque a ...

s consist of chapels that have the same height as that of the aisles, and are attached to the second bays to the west of the ambulatory. This follows the plan of the

Poitiers Cathedral Poitiers Cathedral () is a Roman Catholic Church architecture, church in Poitiers, France. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Poitiers. History Its construction began in 1162 by Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine on the ruins of a R ...

, which is the episcopal church of the French town of

Lusignan The House of Lusignan ( ; ) was a royal house of French origin, which at various times ruled several principalities in Europe and the Levant, including the kingdoms of Jerusalem, Cyprus, and Armenia, from the 12th through the 15th centuries du ...

, the hometown of the

House of Lusignan The House of Lusignan ( ; ) was a royal house of France, French origin, which at various times ruled several principalities in Europe and the Levant, including the kingdoms of Kingdom of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Kingdom of Cyprus, Cyprus, and Kingd ...

. The north and south entrances had initially been in the fourth bay of the nave, although the Ottoman-built Aziziye Gate is at the eastern end of the cathedral. The initial arrangement is thought to have been modelled after

Sens Cathedral Sens Cathedral () is a Catholic cathedral in Sens in Burgundy, eastern France. The cathedral, dedicated to Saint Stephen, is the seat of the Archbishop of Sens. Sens was the first cathedral to be built in the Gothic architectural style (the B ...

Burials in the church

(burials there when it was still a church) *

Aimery of Jerusalem Aimery of Lusignan (, , ''Amorí''; before 11551 April 1205), erroneously referred to as Amalric () in earlier scholarship, reigned as the first king of Cyprus from 1196 to his death in 1205. He also reigned as the king of Jerusalem as the hu ...

Gallery

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

References

;Footnotes 25. Nazlı Soykan, ''Selimiye Camii Restorasyon Çalışmaları Raporu'', 2024. (Unpublished project report prepared for Vakıflar Genel Müdürlüğü and KKTC Anıtlar Yüksek Kurulu.) 26. Vakıflar Genel Müdürlüğü, ''Guidelines for Managing Earthquake Risks in Historical Buildings'', Ankara, 2019. (Official technical guideline document.) 27. TRNC High Council of Antiquities, ''Restoration Approval and Conservation Protocols for Selimiye Mosque'', Lefkoşa, 2023. (Official restoration permit records and council meeting outcomes.) 28. ICOMOS, ''The Venice Charter for the Conservation and Restoration of Monuments and Sites'', 1964. (International standard reference for restoration principles.) ;Bibliography * * * * * * * * * * *

External links

UPenn Website

{{North Nicosia landmarks Churches completed in the 1220s Gothic architecture in Cyprus Buildings and structures in North Nicosia Mosques in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Mosques converted from churches in Cyprus 1570 establishments in the Ottoman Empire Former cathedrals in Cyprus Burial sites of the House of Lusignan Mosques completed in the 1570s