Are there mosques in Cyprus?

If there are Christian churches in Northern Cyprus, there are also mosques in the southern part of the island. Here is a brief overview of Muslim holy places.

• Hala Sultan Tekke
• Bayraktar Mosque
• Kebir Mosque Limassol
• Djami Kebir Mosque
• Omeriye Mosque
• Touzla Mosque
• Zuhuri Mosque
• Arnaut Mosque
• Mosque of Paphos

Hala Sultan Tekke

Although located in the south, this mosque is considered the holiest place for Muslims on the entire island, including the TRNC. The mosque is located on the western shore of Larnaca's Salt Lake and was built in several stages, beginning in 1760 and ending in 1817.

It is an important Islamic monument, one of the most revered places in the Muslim world, still used for religious purposes. The mosque was built over the tomb of Umm Haram, who is believed to have been the sister of the prophet Muhammad's foster mother, who came to Cyprus from Medina. Umm Haram arrived on the island in 647 or 649 during Arab raids led by the Arab governor of Syria, Muawiyah, in an attempt to expand the empire in the Mediterranean. However, Umm Haram died shortly after her arrival and was buried at the spot where she fell from her mule and broke her neck.

Bayraktar Mosque

Located near the OCHI market, this Ottoman mosque was built on the western end of the Constanza Bastion in honor of the standard-bearer who was the first to climb the walls of Nicosia during the siege of the city by Ottoman forces in 1570.

The name derives from the Turkish word "bayrak," meaning "flag" or "military trophy," and the standard-bearer's tomb was built on this site later, in 1764. The mosque itself dates from 1820, was restored, and reopened for worship in late 2003. It operates only during important religious holidays.

Kebir Mosque Limassol

The Kebir Mosque, located in the old Turkish quarter, was built in the 16th century and is still active today, being one of the most important places of worship for Muslims in Limassol. Recent excavations in the eastern part of the mosque revealed the architectural remains of the 10th-century Cathedral of Agia Ekaterini.

Djami Kebir Mosque in Larnaca

Perhaps the first Ottoman mosque in Cyprus. Before its conversion in the 13th-14th centuries, it was a Catholic church dedicated to Saint Catherine. The oldest mention of its existence is found in a document by Bekir Pasha, the creator of Larnaca's aqueduct, dated 1747. The document states that the public fountain at the mosque should receive water from his aqueduct, and this public fountain still exists at the mosque today.

Omeriye Mosque

The only functioning mosque in the southern part of Nicosia. Before the Ottoman conquest, this site was a Catholic Augustinian church of Saint Mary, built in the 14th century. Visitors can also see the remains of a late Venetian building on the east side of the mosque. Only the main portal with the door remains from the church.

In 1571, the monastery was converted into a mosque by the Ottoman conqueror of the island, Lala Mustafa Pasha, who believed that the original church was built on the site where Caliph Omar rested during his visit to Lefkosia. Much of the original building was destroyed by Turkish artillery in 1570, and tombstones with inscriptions from the Lusignan period were used to lay a new floor in the mosque.

Touzla Mosque

Located in the old part of the city, behind the ruins of ancient Kition, the Touzla Mosque is one of the oldest mosques in Larnaca. The minaret is built on the foundation of a former bell tower. Opposite the mosque is a well-preserved public fountain from the Venetian period.

Initially, the mosque was a Byzantine Orthodox church, as evidenced by the wall paintings in the building. In the 12th or 13th century, it became a Catholic Church of the Holy Cross, and after the Ottoman occupation in 1571, it was converted into a mosque.

Zuhuri Mosque

The Zuhuri Mosque is located between the Kebir (Buyuk) Mosque and the Church of Agios Lazaros. It was built in the mid-19th century and is an important Muslim religious center. Its minaret collapsed in the 20th century.

Arnaut Mosque

The mosque is open and used continuously. It has round arches and a minaret with a balcony. Both the mosque and the entire area are named after the Turkish word "Arnaout," meaning "Albanian." A significant number of Turkish Albanians brought by the Ottomans in the 19th century lived in the area.

Mosque of Paphos

A beautiful mosque in the center of Paphos. Friday prayers and all other prayers during the day are held here, meaning the mosque is active. It is located near the bus station. There are also attractions nearby that can be visited.

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