HOLY SITE OF CORNATION CEREMONIES:
St. Sophia Cathedral, nowadays called Selimiye Mosque, is one of the unique works of Gothic Architecture, has had two minarets added to it entrie magnificience, continues to create a contrast to the dullness of the contemporary times. This holy site, once used for coronation ceremonies of Lusignan Kings, has become one of the island’s chief mosques for Muslim gatherings and religious wrship. Lefkoşa, the capital city of Northern Cyprus, is home to many works remaining from various periods. Lefkoşa has been the capital of
Cyprus since the end of the Byzantine rule(X. Century), and according to historical researches, has developed most in the Lusignan period.
One of the most important monuments of Lefkoşa is the Selimiye Mosque- for- merly a cathedral. The Latin Cathedral was consructed in the centre of Lefkoşa in the xxıı century, after the Lusignans had captured the island in 1192 A.D., as a symbol of theirr rule. It was built resembling the Notre Dame de Paris. Its blueprint was brought from Paris to
Cyprus by Archbishop Thierry and his famous stonecutters in 1209. The construction of St. Sophia Cathedral, the most important example of Gorhic architecture and a remnant of the French Middle Ages in
Cyprus, was finished in 1326. St. Sophia Cathedral was consecrated and opened to religous service by the Roman Catholic Archbishop Eustorge de Monraigu. As it was the most important
church of
Cyprus at the time, Lusignan Cornation Ceremonies were conducted at St. Sophia Cathedral. It was plundered by the Genoese in 1373, by the Mamluks in 1426, and was severely damaged by a number of earthquakes in 1491. As it was being restored by the Venetians the grave of an old Lusignan king (Hugh II) was uncovered. The corpse was well preserved with a crown on its head, and items made of gold and documents with it. This monument- one of the most stunning historical buildings of Lefkoşa- astonishes with its ravishing beauty from the outside and amazes with its snow white ceiling inside. The cathedral has a monumental entertance and the carved windows above the entertance are example of unequalled Gothic art. The inside of the cathedral comprises of three aishles, six side sections, and little chapels. The chapel to the north was dedicated to St. Nicholas and the ones to the south to the Virgin Mary and St. Thomas Aquinas. The part of the mosque reserved for woman used to be the treasury.
TOMBS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY:Like many other Roman Catholic churches, St. Sophia Cathedral has countless tombs of Kings and their family members on its grounds. The marble grave stones of these still constitue part of the floor tiles. The inscriptions and drawing on them have been well preserved since they are covered with rush mats, and people are not allowed to enter with their shoes on. The cathedral, which was severlely damaged by Genoese looters in 1371 and by earthquakes in 1491 and 1547, was repaired and converted into a mosque in 1570 by the Ottomans during the rule of Selim II., and two 49- metres-high minarets were built over the two damaged belfries on either side of enterance. Thus, St. Sophia Cathedral was now “ Aya Sofya Mosque”, and in 1954 it was named “Selimiye Mosque”.
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on Saturday, August 4th, 2007 at 5:07 am and is filed under News From Northern Cyprus.
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