This is the Eski Cami or Old Mosque. It started life as a church, the date is set - for architectural reasons - in the nineth or tenth century. Under Ramazanoğlu Ahmet Bey it was converted into a mosque.

The generally very reliable ‘Guide Bleu’ states: ‘When the church was turned into a mosque at the end of the 14th century, it was an Armenian house of prayer, dedicated to Saint Peter (Mar Petros). Its architecture, the stone work of the walls and the quality of the vaults are truly remarkable.’

On the picture: The nave of the church, oriented in east-west direction, with the apse in the east.
When a church (in Anatolia) is turned into a mosque, the orientation of the inner space has to be altered since the mihrab (prayer niche, indicating the direction of Mekka, that Muslims should face when praying) must be located in the south wall (on this picture: to the right).

Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen.
Source: Personal visits to Tarsus (twice, in 1999).