Building Name: | Orta Cami Mosque |
Location: | Bakhchysarai |
Religious Affiliation: | Islam |
Rite: | Sunni |
Territory: | AR Crimea (de jure) Republic of Crimea (de facto) |
Functional Status: | Active |
Architecture Type: | Mosque |
Year Completed: | 1674 |
Specifications: | yes |
Minaret Quantity: | 1 |
Materials: | Limestone |
Orta Cami Mosque (Crimean Tatar: Orta Cami, Ukrainian: Мечеть Орта-Джамі, Russian: Мечеть Орта-Джами, Turkish: Orta Camii) is one of the oldest mosques in Crimea. It is situated on the modern day Lenina Street in the old town of Bakhchysarai.[1]
It used to be the main Friday prayer mosque in the capital of Crimean Khanate. The earliest known mention of it was in 1674,[2] as a ma'ale mosque (main mosque of the corresponding district). The mosque was in bad condition and its minaret along with some other small surrounding buildings were completely destroyed until the end of 2012 when its reconstruction started. It is financed by Hajji Enver Umerov - Omer Kirimli family.[3] The reconstruction also involved rebuilding of the minaret from the scratch as well as some minor buildings previously located next to the mosque. Currently, as many years ago, it is once again one of the most important places in Bakhchysarai.[4]