Ancient CyprusAncient Cyprus

Mosque · Ancient Monument

Ayia Sophia Mosque (Latin Cathedral)

Nicosia · In the area occupied by Turkey since 1974

Ayia Sophia Mosque (Latin Cathedral): a mosque in Nicosia, in the area occupied by Turkey since 1974. Protected by Order in Council in 1937. 10 dated records of work on it, 1948 to 1974, with sources.

Nicosia District, about 35°10′ N, 33°21′ E

  • Other recorded site
  • Contours every 100 m
The pin marks the village of Nicosia, not the building. Approximate location. Open in the map →

Protection

Antiquities Law
  1. 31 December 1936

    Proposed for declaration, No. 1193

    “Ayia Sophia Mosque (Latin Cathedral)”

    The Cyprus Gazette No. 1193 of 31 December 1936 (Notice No. 1193), p. 239, PDF p. 739 Online

  2. 19 May 1937

    Order under the Antiquities Law, No. 104, Second Schedule, Nicosia item 10

    “Ayia Sophia Mosque (Latin Cathedral)”

    Supplement No. 3 to The Cyprus Gazette No. 2587 of 21 May 1937, No. 104, The Antiquities Law, 1935: Order in Council No. 1744 made under section 6 (1) (made 19 May 1937), Second Schedule, Nicosia item 10, p. 140 Online

What was done when

12 records
  1. 1948

    The Evkaf Department undertook numerous improvements, including the re-paving of the courtyard to the west; Viscount Mersey's committee for the Preservation of the Ancient and Medieval Monuments of Cyprus gave the Department £100 for repairs and improvements there.

    Repair and conservation

    As printed

    “the Evkaf Department undertook numerous improvements including the re-paving of the courtyard to the west”

    Colonial Office, Annual Report on Cyprus for the Year 1948 (London: HMSO, 1949), p. 43

  2. 1949

    The Department of Antiquities carried out work at St. Sophia, largely with Evcaf funds.

    Repair and conservation

    As printed

    “including St. Sophia ( largely with Evcaf funds )”

    Colonial Office, Report on Cyprus for the Year 1949 (London: HMSO, 1950), p. 46

  3. 1950

    The Department of Antiquities carried out works for the Evcaf Department.

    Repair and conservation

    As printed

    “St. Sophia Mosque, Nicosia ( Evcaf Department)”

    Colonial Office, Report on Cyprus for the Year 1950 (London: HMSO, 1951), p. 53

  4. 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

  5. 1969

    For the first time since 1963 the Department was able to carry out emergency work in the Gothic cathedral, in collaboration with Unesco.

    Repair and conservation

    As printed

    “pour la première fois depuis 1963, le Service a pu entreprendre des travaux d'urgence dans la cathédrale gothique de Nicosie, en collaboration avec l'Unesco”

    Vassos Karageorghis, «Chronique des fouilles et découvertes archéologiques à Chypre en 1969», Bulletin de correspondance hellénique 94 (1970), pp. 191-300, p. 193

  6. 1970

    With Unesco's help the Department of Antiquities continued conservation work in the former Latin cathedral.

    Repair and conservation

    As printed

    “Avec l'aide de l'UNESGO, le Service des Antiquités a continué les travaux de conservation dans l'ancienne cathédrale latine de Sainte-Sophie à Nicosie”

    Vassos Karageorghis, «Chronique des fouilles et découvertes archéologiques à Chypre en 1970», Bulletin de correspondance hellénique 95 (1971), pp. 335-432, p. 337

  7. 1971

    Consolidation of the foundations of the cathedral was carried out with the collaboration of Unesco.

    Repair and conservation

    As printed

    “Les travaux de consolidation des fondations de la cathédrale gothique de Sainte-Sophie à Nicosie se font avec la collaboration de l'Unesco.”

    Vassos Karageorghis, «Chronique des fouilles et découvertes archéologiques à Chypre en 1971», Bulletin de correspondance hellénique 96 (1972), pp. 1005-1088, p. 1007

  8. 1972

    The Unesco mission for the conservation of the cathedral completed one of the most important parts of its task.

    Repair and conservation

    As printed

    “La mission de l'Unesco pour la conservation de la Cathédrale gothique de Sainte-Sophie à Nicosie a achevé l'une des parties les plus importantes de sa tâche.”

    Vassos Karageorghis, «Chronique des fouilles et découvertes archéologiques à Chypre en 1972», Bulletin de correspondance hellénique 97 (1973), pp. 601-689, p. 603

  9. 1973

    The work of the Unesco mission in the cathedral was nearing its end.

    Repair and conservation

    As printed

    “Les travaux de la mission de l'Unesco dans la cathédrale gothique de Sainte-Sophie touchent à leur fin”

    Vassos Karageorghis, «Chronique des fouilles et découvertes archéologiques à Chypre», Bulletin de correspondance hellénique 98 (1974), pp. 821-896, p. 823

  10. 1974

    Medieval cathedral; consolidation work discontinued from July 1974 and foundations project abandoned.

    Repair and conservation

    As printed

    “The work for the consolidation of the Medieval Cathedral of St. Sophia (Selimiye Mosque) would have been completed”

    Anon., "The Cultural heritage of Cyprus", Cyprus Today vol. 13, no. 4 (July–August 1975), pp. 19–21, p. 20.

  11. Undated

    Propping up and repair begun in recent years, with technical help from UNESCO in initial stages.

    Repair and conservation

    As printed

    “the propping up and repair of St. Sophia Cathedral in Nicosia”

    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.

  12. Undated

    UNESCO aid given for consolidation of St. Sophia Cathedral in Nicosia.

    Repair and conservation

    As printed

    “The aid offered us some years ago for the consolidation of St. Sophia Cathedral in Nicosia”

    Anon., "The 19th UNESCO General Conference", Cyprus Today vol. 14, no. 5-6 (September–December 1976), pp. 12–16, p. 14.

In the literature

13
  1. 1570

    Gothic Latin cathedral built in the Golden Age of Cyprus; 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; nearly all works of art were destroyed in that period.

    As printed

    “The Cathedrals of St. Sophia at Nicosia and St. Nicholas at Famagusta were converted to mosques.”

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

  3. Undated

    Church cited as an excellent Gothic-influenced religious building of the Crusader period.

    As printed

    “St. Sophia at Nicosia, St. Nicolas at Famagusta, St. Catherine's at Nicosia (Haidar Pasha Mosque) and Bella-Pais Abbey”

    Pefkios Georghiades, "A Brief Introduction to Cyprus Architecture", Cyprus Today vol. 3, no. 3 (May–June 1965), pp. 20–21, p. 20.

  4. Undated

    Former cathedral, now a mosque, among Nicosia's architectural treasures.

    As printed

    “the Cathedral of St. Sophia (now Selimiye mosque) are among the capital's architectural treasures.”

    S. Patsalides, "In Search of the Unusual Tourist Treasures of Cyprus", Cyprus Today vol. 7, no. 2-3 (April–September 1969), pp. 12–17, p. 14.

  5. Undated

    Gothic cathedral built in Nicosia by the Franks during their occupation; Frankish builders also fortified the town and built walls, churches and palaces.

    As printed

    “the Gothic cathedral which was built in Nicosia by the Franks during the years of their occupation”

    Menelaos Christodoulou, "Nicosia: Name and Tradition", Cyprus Today vol. 15, no. 3-4 (May–August 1977), pp. 2–7, p. 6.

  6. Undated

    Gothic cathedral in Nicosia, text compares it with Notre-Dame de Paris; architect possibly Eudes de Montreuil.

    As printed

    “entre Ste Sophie de Nicosie et N.-Dame de Paris”

    Mme Lilian Princet, "Chypre: Un des plus anciens berceaux de la civilisation", Cyprus Today vol. 2, no. 3-4 (May–August 1964), pp. 82–92, p. 87.

7 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

    Gothic church dating to 13th-14th cent. A.D., former Latin cathedral where Lusignan kings were crowned.

    As printed

    “Church of Saint Sophia (Nicosia).”

    Anon., "President Makarios Proposals to Amend the Cyprus Constitution", Cyprus Today vol. 1, no. 6 (November–December 1963), pp. 19–21, p. 20.

  3. Undated

    Gothic temple of Saint Sophia in Nicosia, dated 1319.

    As printed

    “56. The Gothic Temple of Saint Sophia in Nicosia. 1319”

    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.

  4. 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.

  5. Undated

    Mosque-converted cathedral; tower replaced by galleried minarets, as described in Thomson's photograph caption.

    As printed

    “St. Sophia, Nicosia. The mosque-converted cathedral where 'the tower which once crowned the edifice has given place to galleried minarets'”

    Anon., "Other Cultural Activities", Cyprus Today vol. 22, no. 2-3 (May–December 1984), pp. 53–58, p. 55.

  6. Undated

    Named among places now inaccessible behind the Green Line in the occupied area.

    As printed

    “places such as the Cathedrals of St Sophia and St Nicholas, Serai Square, Kyrenia Gate”

    Anon., "Nicosia of Yesteryear", Cyprus Today vol. 40, no. 3-4 (September–December 2002), pp. 36–37, p. 37.

  7. Undated

    Oldest Gothic architecture monument in Cyprus; first stone laid in 1209 on initiative of first archbishop Thierry; portal and resemblance to Notre-Dame discussed.

    As printed

    “La premiere pierre en fut posee en 1209 sur I'initiative du premier archeveque Thierry”

    ROGER MILLIEX, "Panorama de l'Art Gothique a Chypre", Cyprus Today vol. 6, no. 1 (January–March 1968), pp. 22–23, p. 22.

Pictures

18

In our archive · 8

British School at Athens4 photographs1888–1913
  • British School at Athens, Archive, BSA SPHS Image Collection, BSA SPHS/1/0040.0310, «Cyprus, Nicosia: Interior of Ayia Sofia», Latest 1897, ../1897 Online
  • British School at Athens, Archive, Byzantine Research Fund, BRF/2/7/4/2, «Hagia Sophia Cathedral», before 1913?, ../1913? Online
  • British School at Athens, Archive, BSA SPHS Image Collection, BSA SPHS/1/0434.1808, «Cyprus, Nicosia: The Cathedral of Ayia Sophia Mosque (Selimiye Mosque)», 1888 Online
  • British School at Athens, Archive, Byzantine Research Fund, BRF/2/7/4/1, «Hagia Sophia Cathedral», 1888 Online
Costas and Rita Severis Foundation1 painting1931
  • painting, 1931
Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation1 film1970
  • Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (ΡΙΚ), film and video archive, Digital Herodotus item 6175: «ΑΓΙΑ ΣΟΦΙΑ - ΛΕΥΚΩΣΙΑ - ΕΡΓΑΣΙΕΣ ΣΥΝΤΗΡΗΣΗΣ ΝΑΟΥ - 1970», 14 February 1970, 00:08:58, 1970-02-14 Online
Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Abteilung Athen1 photograph1890
  • Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Athens, Fotothek (D-DAI-ATH-Cypern), negative Cypern-0067, «Kirche Ag. Sophia, von NO - Kirche Ag. Sophia - Nikosia - Architektur», 02/1890, Arachne record 125372, 1890-02 Online
Pitt Rivers Museum3 photographs1922
  • Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford, photograph 2004.135.1.388, «View of a street in Nicosia. A minoret, part of the old cathedral (later a mosque), is in view to the left of the scene.», photograph by Leonard Halford Dudley Buxton, 1922 Online
  • Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford, photograph 2004.135.1.441, «Entrance-way to Cathedral of St. Sophia, Nicosia.», photograph by Leonard Halford Dudley Buxton, 1922 Online
  • Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford, photograph 2004.135.1.453, «View of Selimiye Mosque (St. Sophia Cathedral) in Nicosia.», photograph by Leonard Halford Dudley Buxton, 1922 Online

Sources

  1. 1.The Cyprus Gazette No. 1193 of 31 December 1936 (Notice No. 1193), p. 239, PDF p. 739 Online
  2. 2.Supplement No. 3 to The Cyprus Gazette No. 2587 of 21 May 1937, No. 104, The Antiquities Law, 1935: Order in Council No. 1744 made under section 6 (1) (made 19 May 1937), Second Schedule, Nicosia item 10, p. 140 Online
  3. 3.The National Archives, Kew, CO 1069/694, CO 1069-694-23, «Nicosia. General View. Mosque of St. Sophia - formerly the Cathedral in which the Kings of Cyprus were crowned.», 1900-1910, The National Archives on Flickr Commons Online
  4. 4.The National Archives, Kew, CO 1069/701, CO 1069-701-07, «St. Sophia Nicosia.», 1930-1939, The National Archives on Flickr Commons Online
  5. 5.The National Archives, Kew, CO 1069/703, CO 1069-703-24, «Illuminations on Ayia Sofia Mosque, Nicosia», June 1953, The National Archives on Flickr Commons Online
  6. 6.Photograph: 1945. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, G. Eric and Edith Matson Photograph Collection, matpc.21878. «Tower of St Sophia Mosque, Nicosia» Online
  7. 7.Photograph: 1945. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, G. Eric and Edith Matson Photograph Collection, matpc.21879. «Entrance to St Sophia Mosque, Nicosia» Online
  8. 8.Print: 1878. Travelers in the Middle East Archive (TIMEA), Rice University, via Wikimedia Commons, TIMEA 21434. "Mosque of St Sophia at Nicosia". CC BY-SA 2.5. «Mosque of St Sophia at Nicosia» Online
  9. 9.Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford, photograph 2004.135.1.388, «View of a street in Nicosia. A minoret, part of the old cathedral (later a mosque), is in view to the left of the scene.», photograph by Leonard Halford Dudley Buxton, 1922 Online
  10. 10.Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford, photograph 2004.135.1.441, «Entrance-way to Cathedral of St. Sophia, Nicosia.», photograph by Leonard Halford Dudley Buxton, 1922 Online
  11. 11.Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford, photograph 2004.135.1.453, «View of Selimiye Mosque (St. Sophia Cathedral) in Nicosia.», photograph by Leonard Halford Dudley Buxton, 1922 Online
  12. 12.British School at Athens, Archive, BSA SPHS Image Collection, BSA SPHS/1/0040.0310, «Cyprus, Nicosia: Interior of Ayia Sofia», Latest 1897 Online
  13. 13.British School at Athens, Archive, BSA SPHS Image Collection, BSA SPHS/1/0434.1808, «Cyprus, Nicosia: The Cathedral of Ayia Sophia Mosque (Selimiye Mosque)», 1888 Online
  14. 14.British School at Athens, Archive, Byzantine Research Fund, BRF/2/7/4/1, «Hagia Sophia Cathedral», 1888 Online
  15. 15.British School at Athens, Archive, Byzantine Research Fund, BRF/2/7/4/2, «Hagia Sophia Cathedral», before 1913? Online
  16. 16.Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Athens, Fotothek (D-DAI-ATH-Cypern), negative Cypern-0067, «Kirche Ag. Sophia, von NO - Kirche Ag. Sophia - Nikosia - Architektur», 02/1890, Arachne record 125372 Online
  17. 17.Centre of Visual Arts and Research (CVAR), Costas and Rita Severis Foundation, Nicosia, online catalogue: pht_00693, “St. Sophia, Nicosia”, ca. 1918, ; pht_00697, “View of Nicosia from St. Sofia Mosque”, ca. 1918, https://cvar.severis.org/en/collections/item/view-of-nicosia-from-st-sofia-mosque/27953/; pht_00698, “Interior view of the Cathedral of St. Sophia”, ca. 1918, https://cvar.severis.org/en/collections/item/interior-view-of-the-cathedral-of-st-sophia/27954/; and 21 more records Online
  18. 18.Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (ΡΙΚ), film and video archive, Digital Herodotus item 6175: «ΑΓΙΑ ΣΟΦΙΑ - ΛΕΥΚΩΣΙΑ - ΕΡΓΑΣΙΕΣ ΣΥΝΤΗΡΗΣΗΣ ΝΑΟΥ - 1970», 14 February 1970, 00:08:58 Online
  19. 19.Claude Delaval Cobham, Excerpta Cypria: Materials for a History of Cyprus (1908), p. 58 (scan 70)
  20. 20.William Hepworth Dixon, British Cyprus (1879), p. 218 (scan 239)
  21. 21.Colonial Office, Annual Report on Cyprus for the Year 1948 (London: HMSO, 1949), p. 43
  22. 22.Anon., "President Makarios Proposals to Amend the Cyprus Constitution", Cyprus Today vol. 1, no. 6 (November–December 1963), pp. 19–21, p. 20.
  23. 23.Colonial Office, Report on Cyprus for the Year 1949 (London: HMSO, 1950), p. 46
  24. 24.A. Pietroni, "An Interview with the Latin Representative", Cyprus Today vol. 2, no. 1 (January–February 1964), pp. 15–20, p. 17.
  25. 25.Anon., "[untitled]", Cyprus Today vol. 2, no. 2 (March–April 1964), supplement, p. 5.
  26. 26.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.
  27. 27.Anon., "The 19th UNESCO General Conference", Cyprus Today vol. 14, no. 5-6 (September–December 1976), pp. 12–16, p. 14.
  28. 28.Vassos Karageorghis, «Chronique des fouilles et découvertes archéologiques à Chypre en 1971», Bulletin de correspondance hellénique 96 (1972), pp. 1005-1088, p. 1007
  29. 29.Vassos Karageorghis, «Chronique des fouilles et découvertes archéologiques à Chypre en 1972», Bulletin de correspondance hellénique 97 (1973), pp. 601-689, p. 603
  30. 30.Vassos Karageorghis, «Chronique des fouilles et découvertes archéologiques à Chypre en 1970», Bulletin de correspondance hellénique 95 (1971), pp. 335-432, p. 337
  31. 31.Colonial Office, Report on Cyprus for the Year 1950 (London: HMSO, 1951), p. 53
  32. 32.Mme Lilian Princet, "Chypre: Un des plus anciens berceaux de la civilisation", Cyprus Today vol. 2, no. 3-4 (May–August 1964), pp. 82–92, p. 87.
  33. 33.Vassos Karageorghis, «Chronique des fouilles et découvertes archéologiques à Chypre», Bulletin de correspondance hellénique 98 (1974), pp. 821-896, p. 823
  34. 34.Pefkios Georghiades, "A Brief Introduction to Cyprus Architecture", Cyprus Today vol. 3, no. 3 (May–June 1965), pp. 20–21, p. 20.
  35. 35.Anon., "Other Cultural Activities", Cyprus Today vol. 22, no. 2-3 (May–December 1984), pp. 53–58, p. 55.
  36. 36.Colonial Office, Report on Cyprus for the Year 1951 (London: HMSO, 1952), p. 57
  37. 37.Vassos Karageorghis, «Chronique des fouilles et découvertes archéologiques à Chypre en 1969», Bulletin de correspondance hellénique 94 (1970), pp. 191-300, p. 193
  38. 38.ROGER MILLIEX, "Panorama de l'Art Gothique a Chypre", Cyprus Today vol. 6, no. 1 (January–March 1968), pp. 22–23, p. 22.
  39. 39.S. Patsalides, "In Search of the Unusual Tourist Treasures of Cyprus", Cyprus Today vol. 7, no. 2-3 (April–September 1969), pp. 12–17, p. 14.
  40. 40.Anon., "The Cultural heritage of Cyprus", Cyprus Today vol. 13, no. 4 (July–August 1975), pp. 19–21, p. 20.
  41. 41.Costas D . Stephanou, "Libraries in Cyprus", Cyprus Today vol. 14, no. 2 (March–April 1976), pp. 14–15, p. 14.
  42. 42.Menelaos Christodoulou, "Nicosia: Name and Tradition", Cyprus Today vol. 15, no. 3-4 (May–August 1977), pp. 2–7, p. 6.
  43. 43.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.
  44. 44.Anon., "Nicosia of Yesteryear", Cyprus Today vol. 40, no. 3-4 (September–December 2002), pp. 36–37, p. 37.
  45. 45.Ahmet Djavit An, "Origins of the Turkish Cypriots", Cyprus Today vol. 46, no. 2 (April–June 2008), pp. 13–21, p. 17.

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