- Enormousfish - http://www.enormousfish.co.uk -

Monastery church of Gastria/Sancaktar Mescidi

sancaktar7 [1]

This is a rather nice little church in suburban streets quiet enough for children to play safely. The people in the car park are friendly and like people coming in to take photos of the outside of the camii. The western side is a steep, ivy-covered wall that forms the limit of the gardens of the houses there. I have been there three times and seen nobody inside. However, it has always been open. It is helpfully placed near Sancaktar Tekke Sokak.

sancaktar [2]

There is a legend that it was established in the fourth century but what we see now seems like a much later building. Alexander van Millingen said it was a 14th century chapel. I’ll bow to him. Freely reported in 1977 that it was a precarious ruin populated by death-defying squatters. Now it’s a pleasant little mosque. (41.002875,28.934523)

sancaktar23 [3]

The mescid from the southern side [4]

The mescid from the southern side

As of July 2019, the mescid is as solid as ever but no longer visible from the carpark to the east.

[5]

The mescid is still a quiet refuge from the streets

 

Share This Post [6]