Kurtulus Mosque (former Surp Asdvadzadzin Armenian Cathedral)

Kurtulus Mosque, standing on the Tepebasi rise in the Sahinbey district of Gaziantep, is a monumental stone edifice that dominates the city skyline and is popularly called "the Hagia Sophia of Antep," one of the most spectacular examples of church-to-mosque conversion in Turkey.

History

It was built in 1892-1893 by the local Armenian Apostolic community as the Surp Asdvadzadzin (Holy Mother of God, or St. Mary's) Cathedral; its design is attributed to Sarkis Balyan, the celebrated Ottoman-Armenian court architect of Sultan Abdul Hamid II, while the stonework is credited to the master mason Sarkis Tasciyan. Although the two are often confused, this building is distinct from the 1898 Kendirli Catholic Church; Kurtulus was the cathedral of the Apostolic community. Closed to worship in the early Republican years, it served first as a stable and then for some fifty years as a prison, before a comprehensive 1980-1986 restoration converted it into the mosque it is today.

Architecture

With a footprint of roughly 1,100 square metres, a height reaching 31 metres, pointed-arch windows, a central dome set on a cylindrical drum and five monumental entrances, it is among the most ambitious representations of the neo-Gothic style in Anatolia.

Earthquake and Restoration

In the 6 February 2023 Kahramanmaras earthquakes both minarets toppled onto the dome, the dome collapsed and the body walls were severely damaged. A faithful restoration (wall grout injection, steel ties and a rebuilt dome) has since been completed, and the building reopened for worship on 8 May 2025; as of 2025 it is open to visitors.

Visiting and Access

For visitors, the structure condenses Gaziantep's many-layered cultural fabric into a single facade, which makes it an almost obligatory stop on agency city tours; the warm gold of its ashlar stone, the fusion of Gothic verticality with Islamic function and its hilltop position offer photographers a powerful composition. Guided tours usually fold the mosque into the same walking route as the Bey Quarter, Gaziantep Castle and the Coppersmiths' Bazaar, with an average visit lasting 20-30 minutes. The best photo angles are the main western entrance, the dome-and-minaret silhouette shot from the side and the interior colonnades; morning light brings out the texture of the stone.

Its central location makes access easy, on foot, by municipal bus or by taxi from the city centre. Tour buses drop off on nearby main arteries, as the narrow streets prevent coaches from reaching the door directly. The best season to visit is spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October); summer can be tiring because of the Southeastern heat. As an active place of worship, it is best visited outside prayer times and in modest dress.