Kurtuluş Mosque (Gaziantep)
The Kurtuluş Mosque was built in 1892 as the Virgin Mary (Saint Mary) Church. This building, which was used as a church and prison in the past, was later converted into a mosque. This historical treasure has not lost any of its former glory. It is one of the biggest mosques of Gaziantep. The interior of the rectangular, cross-planned mosque is divided into three parts by columns perpendicular to the mihrab. The arms of the cross are covered with pediments on the outside and cross vaults on the inside. The middle of the main space has a round drum and a very high dome. On the walls made of cut stone, there are pointed arched windows in the first two rows and round windows in the upper row. The building is covered with a hipped roof. The mihrab protrudes outward in the form of a rectangular niche. Three rows of windows are placed on the mihrab wall. There is a round window in the middle of the pediment. The building reflects the gothic style in its main lines. The bell of the church was built in Brazil by an Armenian named Hirant Köşkeryan living in London. This one-ton bell is preserved in Gaziantep Museum. The minaret, which was added later, has a round body and a single balcony on a square base. The mosque has 5 gates. Two doors open to the north, two doors to the south, and the main door to the west. The bell tower of the building, which was used as a mosque, was arranged as a minaret.
