Ancient CyprusAncient Cyprus

Cathedral

Cathedral of St Nicholas (St Sophia Mosque)

Famagusta · In the area occupied by Turkey since 1974

Cathedral of St Nicholas (St Sophia Mosque): a cathedral in Famagusta, in the area occupied by Turkey since 1974. 3 dated records of work on it, 1951 to 1968, with sources.

SalamisEnkomi

Famagusta District, about 35°07′ N, 33°56′ E

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The pin marks the village of Famagusta, not the building. Approximate location. Open in the map →

What was done when

4 records
  1. 1951

    The Department of Antiquities carried out repairs on behalf of the responsible authorities.

    Repair and conservation

    As printed

    “the Department carried out repairs to the former cathedrals, now mosques, in Nicosia and Famagusta”

    Colonial Office, Report on Cyprus for the Year 1951 (London: HMSO, 1952), p. 57

  2. 1954

    The glazing of the upper windows was completed for the Evcaf Department.

    Repair and conservation

    As printed

    “In the former Cathedral of Famagusta the glazing of the upper windows was completed for the Evcaf Department”

    Colonial Office, Colonial Reports: Cyprus 1954 (London: HMSO, 1955), p. 127

  3. 1968

    For the first time since 1963 the Department was able to carry out work on the medieval monuments of Famagusta, the cathedral of St Nicholas among them.

    Repair and conservation

    As printed

    “Pour la première fois depuis 1963, le Service a pu effectuer des travaux dans les monuments médiévaux de Famagouste (Cathédrale de Saint-Nicolas)”

    Vassos Karageorghis, «Chroniques de fouilles et découvertes archéologiques à Chypre en 1968», Bulletin de correspondance hellénique 93 (1969), pp. 431-569, p. 433

  4. Undated

    Systematic strengthening and repair undertaken by the Department.

    Repair and conservation

    As printed

    “the systematic strengthening and repair of St. Nicholas Cathedral in Famagusta was undertaken”

    A. PAPAGEORGHIOU, "Activities of the Department of Antiquities in the Field of the Conservation and Restoration of Ancient Monuments 1960-73", Cyprus Today vol. 11, no. 5-6 (September–December 1973), pp. 11–20, p. 15.

In the literature

10
  1. 1570

    Gothic Latin cathedral built in the Lusignan period; converted into a mosque by the Turks after the 1570 conquest.

    As printed

    “the gothic Cathedrals of St. Sophia in Nicosia and St. Nicholas in Famagusta, both of which were converted into Mosques by the Turks after their conquest of the Island in 1570”

    A. Pietroni, "An Interview with the Latin Representative", Cyprus Today vol. 2, no. 1 (January–February 1964), pp. 15–20, p. 17.

  2. 1571

    Converted to a mosque during the Turkish occupation; books kept in churches were destroyed.

    As printed

    “The books kept in the churches and in other places were destroyed, and only few books were saved in remote churches and monasteries.”

    Costas D . Stephanou, "Libraries in Cyprus", Cyprus Today vol. 14, no. 2 (March–April 1976), pp. 14–15, p. 14.

  3. 1974

    Coronation place of the Lusignan Kings; picture shows it badly damaged and turned into a mosque after 1974.

    As printed

    “The cathedral of St. Nicholas in Famagusta was the appointed place for the coronation of the Lusignan Kings as Kings of Jerusalem.”

    Anon., "Famagusta: 36 centuries of civilisation: 1600 BC - 1974 AD", Cyprus Today vol. 27, no. 1 (January–March 1989), pp. 30–32, p. 32.

  4. Undated

    14th century cathedral illustrated.

    As printed

    “59. The Cathedral of Saint Nicholas in Famagusta, 14th century.”

    Anon., "Stamps with Themes Taken from the Occupied Area of Cyprus", Cyprus Today vol. 22, no. 2-3 (May–December 1984), pp. 19–26, p. 24.

  5. Undated

    Central portal trumeau with canopies for statues; statue of St Nicholas (headless bishop) found outside the cathedral in 1930, now in Famagusta, attributed to a Parisian sculptor c.1300.

    As printed

    “Il est donc vraisemblable que l'on soit en présence de ce qui subsiste de statues de saints évêques”

    MICHEL BALARD; BENJAMIN Z. KEDAR; JONATHAN RILEY-SMITH (2017). DEI GESTA PER FRANCOS. p. 377. Online

  6. Undated

    Depicted on 30 mils stamp.

    As printed

    “30 mils The Mediaeval Cathedral of St. Nicholas at Famagusta.”

    Anon., "Cyprus New Stamps", Cyprus Today vol. 4, no. 5-6 (August–December 1966), pp. 6–7, p. 6.

4 more
  1. Undated

    Gothic cathedral turned into a mosque by adding minarets, per the text.

    As printed

    “Gothic cathedrals turned into mosques by adding minarets, e.g. Mosques of St. Sophia in Nicosia and St. Nicholas in Famagusta.”

    Ahmet Djavit An, "Origins of the Turkish Cypriots", Cyprus Today vol. 46, no. 2 (April–June 2008), pp. 13–21, p. 17.

  2. Undated

    Listed among monuments in immediate danger of being destroyed.

    As printed

    “(e) the cathedrals of St. Nicholas, Famagusta, and St. Sophia, Nicosia, and”

    Anon., "[untitled]", Cyprus Today vol. 2, no. 2 (March–April 1964), supplement, p. 5.

  3. Undated

    Lusignan coronation cathedral; damaged and turned into a mosque; site of Caterina Cornaro's abdication in 1489.

    As printed

    “The picture shows St Nicholas badly damaged, turned into a mosque”

    Anon., "Famagusta: Regal Capital", Cyprus Today vol. 48, no. 3 (July–September 2010), pp. 5–21, p. 9.

  4. Undated

    Now used by the Turks as a mosque; early 14th century Gothic, resembling the cathedral of Rheims; Lusignans crowned kings of Jerusalem within it.

    As printed

    “The Cathedral of St. Nicholas, now used by the Turks as a mosque, is a magnificent example of early 14th century gothic”

    F.S.M., "Famagusta", Cyprus Today vol. 3, no. 5-6 (September–December 1965), pp. 6–7, p. 7.

Pictures

48

In our archive · 31

British School at Athens14 photographs1888–1913
  • photograph, ../1904
  • photograph, ../1904
  • photograph, ../1904
  • photograph, ../1913?
  • photograph, 1888
  • photograph, 1888
  • photograph, 1888
  • British School at Athens, Archive, BSA SPHS Image Collection, BSA SPHS/1/0423.1788, «Cyprus, Limassol: Agios Nikolaos Monastery, a Ruin near Cape Gata», 1888 Online
  • British School at Athens, Archive, BSA SPHS Image Collection, BSA SPHS/1/0429.1802, «Cyprus, Famagusta: Saint George and the Cathedral Mosque (Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque)», 1888 Online
  • British School at Athens, Archive, BSA SPHS Image Collection, BSA SPHS/1/0430.1803, «Cyprus, Famagusta: Cathedral of St. Nicolas (Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque) from the Rampart», 1888 Online
  • British School at Athens, Archive, BSA SPHS Image Collection, BSA SPHS/1/0431.1804, «Cyprus, Famagusta: Near View of the Cathedral of St. Nicolas (Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque)», 1888 Online
  • British School at Athens, Archive, BSA SPHS Image Collection, BSA SPHS/1/0432.1805, «Cyprus, Famagusta: Chantry Door of the Cathedral of St. Nicolas (Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque)», 1888 Online
  • photograph, 1910
  • photograph, 1910
Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Abteilung Athen1 photograph1890
  • photograph, 1890-02
Penn Museum (University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology)2 films1969
  • Penn Museum (University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology), film collection, F16-0402, «1969 #59 Cyprus», Watson Kintner, 1969, 17 min, shot list on the Internet Archive, (no timecodes in the shot list), 1969-06-23/1969-06-24 Online
  • Penn Museum (University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology), film collection, F16-0403, «1969 #60 Cyprus», Watson Kintner, 1969, 17 min, shot list on the Internet Archive, (no timecodes in the shot list), 1969-06-24/1969-06-25 Online

Sources

  1. 1.The National Archives, Kew, CO 1069/694, CO 1069-694-35, «Famagusta. Mosque of St. Sophia. From the Ramparts», 1900-1910, The National Archives on Flickr Commons Online
  2. 2.The National Archives, Kew, CO 1069/694, CO 1069-694-17, «Famagusta. Mosque of St. Sophia (South Side)», 1900-1910, The National Archives on Flickr Commons Online
  3. 3.The National Archives, Kew, CO 1069/694, CO 1069-694-5, «Famagusta. Mosque of St. Sophia (west front) formerly Church of St. Nicholas», 1900-1910, The National Archives on Flickr Commons Online
  4. 4.The National Archives, Kew, CO 1069/694, CO 1069-694-1, «Famagusta. Mosque - St. Sophia, formerly Church of St. Nicholas», 1900-1910, The National Archives on Flickr Commons Online
  5. 5.The National Archives, Kew, CO 1069/705, CO 1069-705-35, «St George (in the foreground) and St Nicholas (in the background), Famagusta», 1950-1959, The National Archives on Flickr Commons Online
  6. 6.The National Archives, Kew, CO 1069/694, CO 1069-694-39, «Famagusta. Church of St. Nicholas - formerly St.Sophia - Said to have been built by Richard Coeur de Lion», 1900-1910, The National Archives on Flickr Commons Online
  7. 7.The National Archives, Kew, CO 1069/694, CO 1069-694-11, «Famagusta. Mosque St. Sophia», 1900-1910, The National Archives on Flickr Commons Online
  8. 8.The National Archives, Kew, CO 1069/701, CO 1069-701-09, «Old Famagusta. The Cathedral which is being masked by Buildings. It was here the titular Kings of Jerusalem were crowned.», December 1936, The National Archives on Flickr Commons Online
  9. 9.The National Archives, Kew, CO 1069/705, CO 1069-705-05, «The Cathedral of St. Nicholas, Famagusta - Cyprus», 1950-1959, The National Archives on Flickr Commons Online
  10. 10.Photograph: 1945. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, G. Eric and Edith Matson Photograph Collection, matpc.21872. «Famagusta old town with St Peter and St Paul, St Nicholas and St George of the Greeks» Online
  11. 11.Photograph: 1945. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, G. Eric and Edith Matson Photograph Collection, matpc.21873. «St Nicholas (Cathedral) Mosque, Famagusta: the back» Online
  12. 12.Photograph: 1945. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, G. Eric and Edith Matson Photograph Collection, matpc.21874. «St Nicholas Mosque, Famagusta» Online
  13. 13.Photograph: 1900. Travelers in the Middle East Archive (TIMEA), Rice University, via Wikimedia Commons, TIMEA 10030. "Cathedral of St Sophia, Famagusta". CC BY-SA 2.5. «Cathedral of St Sophia, Famagusta», ,_Famagusta_(1900)_-_TIMEA.jpg Online
  14. 14.Wellcome Collection, London, 18996i, «Famagusta from a distance, with the cathedral», 1878 Online
  15. 15.Wellcome Collection, London, 19002i, «Famagusta: the west doors of St Nicholas», 1878 Online
  16. 16.Wellcome Collection, London, 19004i, «Famagusta: the west front of St Nicholas», 1878 Online
  17. 17.Penn Museum (University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology), film collection, F16-0403, «1969 #60 Cyprus», Watson Kintner, 1969, 17 min, shot list on the Internet Archive, (no timecodes in the shot list) Online
  18. 18.Penn Museum (University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology), film collection, F16-0402, «1969 #59 Cyprus», Watson Kintner, 1969, 17 min, shot list on the Internet Archive, (no timecodes in the shot list) Online
  19. 19.British School at Athens, Archive, BSA SPHS Image Collection, BSA SPHS/1/0423.1788, «Cyprus, Limassol: Agios Nikolaos Monastery, a Ruin near Cape Gata», 1888 Online
  20. 20.British School at Athens, Archive, BSA SPHS Image Collection, BSA SPHS/1/0429.1802, «Cyprus, Famagusta: Saint George and the Cathedral Mosque (Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque)», 1888 Online
  21. 21.British School at Athens, Archive, BSA SPHS Image Collection, BSA SPHS/1/0430.1803, «Cyprus, Famagusta: Cathedral of St. Nicolas (Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque) from the Rampart», 1888 Online
  22. 22.British School at Athens, Archive, BSA SPHS Image Collection, BSA SPHS/1/0431.1804, «Cyprus, Famagusta: Near View of the Cathedral of St. Nicolas (Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque)», 1888 Online
  23. 23.British School at Athens, Archive, BSA SPHS Image Collection, BSA SPHS/1/0432.1805, «Cyprus, Famagusta: Chantry Door of the Cathedral of St. Nicolas (Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque)», 1888 Online
  24. 24.Centre of Visual Arts and Research (CVAR), Costas and Rita Severis Foundation, Nicosia, online catalogue: pht_00458, “The Cathedral of Saint Nicholas Famagusta - Cyprus”, 20th century, ; pht_00753, “Cathedral of St. Nicholas”, ca. 1918, https://cvar.severis.org/en/collections/item/cathedral-of-st-nicholas/28009/; pht_00757, “Latin Cathedral of St. Nicholas, Famagusta”, ca. 1918, https://cvar.severis.org/en/collections/item/latin-cathedral-of-st-nicholas-famagusta/28013/; and 32 more records Online
  25. 25.Centre of Visual Arts and Research (CVAR), Costas and Rita Severis Foundation, Nicosia, online catalogue: PNT-00723, “Famagusta Cathedral”, ca. 1930 Online
  26. 26.MICHEL BALARD; BENJAMIN Z. KEDAR; JONATHAN RILEY-SMITH (2017). DEI GESTA PER FRANCOS. p. 377. Online
  27. 27.Claude Delaval Cobham, Excerpta Cypria: Materials for a History of Cyprus (1908), p. 434 (scan 454)
  28. 28.Vassos Karageorghis, «Chroniques de fouilles et découvertes archéologiques à Chypre en 1968», Bulletin de correspondance hellénique 93 (1969), pp. 431-569, p. 433
  29. 29.A. Pietroni, "An Interview with the Latin Representative", Cyprus Today vol. 2, no. 1 (January–February 1964), pp. 15–20, p. 17.
  30. 30.Anon., "[untitled]", Cyprus Today vol. 2, no. 2 (March–April 1964), supplement, p. 5.
  31. 31.A. PAPAGEORGHIOU, "Activities of the Department of Antiquities in the Field of the Conservation and Restoration of Ancient Monuments 1960-73", Cyprus Today vol. 11, no. 5-6 (September–December 1973), pp. 11–20, p. 15.
  32. 32.Anon., "Famagusta: 36 centuries of civilisation: 1600 BC - 1974 AD", Cyprus Today vol. 27, no. 1 (January–March 1989), pp. 30–32, p. 32.
  33. 33.Colonial Office, Report on Cyprus for the Year 1951 (London: HMSO, 1952), p. 57
  34. 34.F.S.M., "Famagusta", Cyprus Today vol. 3, no. 5-6 (September–December 1965), pp. 6–7, p. 7.
  35. 35.Colonial Office, Colonial Reports: Cyprus 1954 (London: HMSO, 1955), p. 127
  36. 36.Anon., "Cyprus New Stamps", Cyprus Today vol. 4, no. 5-6 (August–December 1966), pp. 6–7, p. 6.
  37. 37.Costas D . Stephanou, "Libraries in Cyprus", Cyprus Today vol. 14, no. 2 (March–April 1976), pp. 14–15, p. 14.
  38. 38.Anon., "Stamps with Themes Taken from the Occupied Area of Cyprus", Cyprus Today vol. 22, no. 2-3 (May–December 1984), pp. 19–26, p. 24.
  39. 39.Ahmet Djavit An, "Origins of the Turkish Cypriots", Cyprus Today vol. 46, no. 2 (April–June 2008), pp. 13–21, p. 17.
  40. 40.Anon., "Famagusta: Regal Capital", Cyprus Today vol. 48, no. 3 (July–September 2010), pp. 5–21, p. 9.

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