Standing on Vali Fuat Bey Street, traditionally known as Büyükyol, Selahaddin Eyyubi Mosque is one of the most impressive historic religious buildings in central Şanlıurfa. The monument served for many years as the Saint Johannes Prodromos Addai Church and was regarded as a cathedral because of its exceptional size and regional importance.
The present structure is generally believed to have been constructed during the early nineteenth century above or near the remains of an earlier church dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. Local historical sources state that the earlier sanctuary was commissioned by Bishop Nona in AD 457, linking the site with the long Christian history of ancient Edessa.
After the church ceased functioning, the building remained neglected for many years and was used for a period as an electric power station. It was repaired and opened for Muslim worship on 28 May 1993, receiving the name Selahaddin Eyyubi Mosque.
The mosque preserves important architectural details from the former church, including its western entrance, the adapted narthex, a broad and brightly illuminated prayer hall, stone half-columns, large windows, and distinctive reliefs of intertwined dragons. These surviving elements make the monument one of Şanlıurfa’s most remarkable examples of layered sacred architecture.
The building was restored by the General Directorate of Foundations in 2010–2011. Following damage caused by the earthquakes of 6 February 2023, it underwent another major programme of structural restoration and environmental improvement. The mosque reopened for worship on 20 March 2026.
In this complete visitor guide, you will discover the site’s early Christian origins, cathedral period, connection with Saladin, conversion into a mosque, architectural highlights, dragon reliefs, restoration history, entrance information, prayer-time etiquette, photography advice, accessibility, nearby attractions, and private tour options in Şanlıurfa.
Explore a monumental nineteenth-century church traditionally known as Saint Johannes Prodromos Addai Church.
Follow a story connecting the early Christian city of Edessa with the building’s present role as an active mosque.
See tall windows, half-columns, carved ornament, alternating-colour stonework, and rare intertwined dragon reliefs.
Visit a major historic monument restored after the 2023 earthquakes and reopened for worship in March 2026.
Essential information for visiting this former cathedral and active mosque near Şanlıurfa’s Balıklıgöl heritage area.
Yeni Mahalle on Vali Fuat Bey Street, also known as Büyükyol, in the historic centre of Şanlıurfa.
Open on Google MapsSaint Johannes Prodromos Addai Church, a large regional church commonly described as a cathedral.
An active Muslim place of worship named Selahaddin Eyyubi Mosque.
Earlier church tradition: AD 457. Present building: early nineteenth century. Opened as a mosque: 28 May 1993.
Restored after the 2023 earthquakes and reopened for worship on 20 March 2026.
There is normally no entrance fee. Visitors should enter respectfully outside congregational prayer times.
Allow approximately 25–45 minutes for the courtyard, exterior, interior, carved details, and photography.
A spacious former church interior, western narthex, large windows, half-columns, stone portals, and dragon reliefs.
Discover how an early Christian sacred site, a nineteenth-century cathedral, an industrial building, and an active mosque became part of one continuous urban story.
Şanlıurfa was known in antiquity as Edessa, a major centre of trade, learning, Syriac language, and Christian culture. Churches, monasteries, schools, and pilgrimage traditions once formed an important part of the city’s religious landscape.
According to official regional sources, a church dedicated to Saint John the Baptist was constructed at this site in AD 457 by Bishop Nona. The surviving mosque is not simply that fifth-century building. The present monumental structure is generally dated to the early nineteenth century and is believed to have been erected above or in association with the remains of the earlier sanctuary.
The later church became known as the Saint Johannes Prodromos Addai Church. The Greek title “Prodromos” refers to John the Baptist as the forerunner, while “Addai” recalls the apostolic traditions associated with Edessa and the wider Syriac Christian world.
Because the building was among the largest churches in the region during its period of use, local sources describe it as a cathedral. Its broad interior, monumental masonry, generous windows, entrance arrangement, and courtyard structures reflect this elevated status.
A local historical tradition states that the earlier church was used as a mosque for a period during the time of Selahaddin Eyyubi, or Saladin. When the restored building was later opened as a mosque, this association inspired its present name. The precise details of the medieval phase should be understood as a regional historical tradition rather than a fully documented construction chronology for the existing nineteenth-century building.
After the Christian congregation no longer used the church, the structure remained abandoned and deteriorated over a long period. At one stage it served as an electric power station, an unusual phase that introduced industrial use into a former sacred building.
The monument was eventually repaired and adapted for Muslim worship. On 28 May 1993, it reopened as Selahaddin Eyyubi Mosque. The former narthex on the west side was incorporated into the mosque’s entrance and last-congregation area, while the spacious church interior became the main prayer hall.
Further conservation work was undertaken by the General Directorate of Foundations in 2010–2011. The restoration helped protect the building’s stone fabric and maintain its continued religious use.
The earthquakes centred in Kahramanmaraş on 6 February 2023 caused damage to the mosque, leading to its closure. A major restoration programme began later in 2023, including structural investigations, ground and building analysis, repair, and environmental improvements.
The work was completed ahead of schedule, and the mosque reopened with the Ramadan Bayram prayer on 20 March 2026. Today, Selahaddin Eyyubi Mosque again serves the local community while preserving visible evidence of Şanlıurfa’s Christian, Islamic, civic, and industrial history.
Look closely at the west entrance, former narthex, large prayer hall, tall windows, carved half-columns, courtyard portal, dragon reliefs, and carefully restored stone surfaces.
The main entrance is positioned on the west side, following the orientation of the former church. This approach helps visitors understand how the earlier Christian circulation pattern was adapted for mosque use.
The entrance section of the church, known as the narthex, was reused as part of the mosque’s last-congregation area. It is one of the clearest examples of architectural adaptation within the building.
The interior is unusually broad and monumental for a historic mosque in the old city. Its dimensions reflect the building’s former importance as one of the region’s largest churches.
Numerous windows illuminate the interior and soften the visual weight of the thick stone walls. Daylight is one of the defining qualities of the prayer space.
Half-columns surviving around the windows and façades belong to the former church’s architectural decoration. Their rhythm gives the exterior a refined and monumental appearance.
Among the building’s most unusual details are carved dragons shown facing and intertwining with one another. These figures demonstrate the rich symbolic and decorative vocabulary preserved in Şanlıurfa’s historic stone architecture.
The courtyard contains later adaptations connected with the mosque, including spaces used for ablution and religious education. It also offers strong views of the building’s exterior mass.
The latest conservation programme repaired earthquake damage while protecting the monument’s historic masonry. Look for the contrast between surviving older surfaces and carefully renewed sections.
Official regional accounts connect the site with a church constructed in AD 457 by Bishop Nona and dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. This tradition places the location within the flourishing Christian culture of late-antique Edessa.
Edessa developed into an influential centre of Syriac Christianity, theology, literature, translation, and pilgrimage.
Regional historical publications attribute the fifth-century church to a bishop named Nona.
The earlier sanctuary was associated with John the Baptist, known in Christian tradition as the forerunner of Jesus.
The present building is substantially later, so visitors should distinguish the ancient sacred-site tradition from the surviving nineteenth-century architecture.
The existing monument is generally dated to the early nineteenth century. It was built above or in association with the earlier church and became known as Saint Johannes Prodromos Addai Church.
The title refers to Saint John the Baptist, described in Greek Christian usage as the Prodromos, or forerunner.
Addai is closely connected with the apostolic traditions of Edessa and the Christian memory of the city.
Its exceptional size led local historical sources to describe it as a cathedral and one of the largest churches in the region.
The building’s long stone mass, large openings, and courtyard architecture made it a major landmark on Büyükyol.
Selahaddin Eyyubi, known in the West as Saladin, was one of the most celebrated rulers of the medieval Islamic world. Official regional accounts preserve a tradition that the earlier church at this location was used as a mosque for a period during his era.
The name recalls a period when the earlier sanctuary is said to have served Muslim worship during Selahaddin Eyyubi’s time.
When the building reopened as a mosque in 1993, the historic association was preserved through the name Selahaddin Eyyubi Mosque.
The naming reflects local historical memory as well as the building’s layered religious identity.
The surviving nineteenth-century church should not be described as a building personally constructed by Saladin.
The building combines the monumental volume of a former cathedral with later adaptations required for Islamic worship. Its carefully cut stone, tall walls, numerous windows, courtyard, carved portals, and ornamental reliefs create one of the most distinctive interiors and exteriors in historic Şanlıurfa.
The monument is built largely from finely dressed stone, continuing Şanlıurfa’s long tradition of limestone craftsmanship.
The former church hall provides an unusually large and open prayer space for the present mosque congregation.
Large windows illuminate the interior and reveal the texture of the stone architecture throughout the day.
The western entrance section was retained and adapted as part of the mosque’s last-congregation area.
Wall-attached columns surrounding windows and openings preserve the architectural rhythm of the former church.
Intertwined dragons, vegetal motifs, mouldings, and portal decoration reward visitors who examine the stonework closely.
Walk around the courtyard and exterior before entering. Different angles reveal the relationship between the former cathedral walls, later mosque additions, decorated doorways, and the surrounding historic street.
The carved dragon figures are among the most memorable details at Selahaddin Eyyubi Mosque. They appear near architectural openings and preserve a visual tradition shared across medieval and early-modern stonework in the region.
The creatures are shown facing one another, with their long bodies meeting or intertwining within the decorative design.
Descriptions record open mouths, joined lips and tongues, almond-shaped eyes, and horn-like ears.
Comparable serpent or dragon-like motifs can also be seen in other historic monuments of Şanlıurfa.
Photograph the carvings without touching, rubbing, tracing, or leaning equipment against the historic stone.
After the church ceased functioning and remained abandoned, the building was used for a time as an electric power station. This unusual reuse reflects the practical transformation of historic monuments during periods when their original communities and functions had changed.
Official accounts describe the former church as remaining in a deteriorated condition for many years.
The large interior volume made the building suitable for temporary use as part of the city’s electricity infrastructure.
Industrial use and long neglect affected the historic fabric before later repair and conservation.
This phase adds a civic and technological chapter to a monument better known for its religious history.
Following repair and adaptation, the former church reopened as a mosque on 28 May 1993. The project preserved important parts of the earlier architecture while creating the necessary arrangement for Islamic congregational prayer.
The interior was organised around the qibla, the direction faced during Islamic prayer toward Mecca.
The former western narthex became part of the mosque’s entrance and last-congregation arrangement.
Supporting spaces were arranged for ablution, circulation, education, and the daily needs of worshippers.
The building is not operated solely as a heritage attraction; it remains an active mosque serving the local community.
The monument has undergone several major conservation campaigns. These interventions have helped preserve its historic church architecture, mosque adaptations, carved decoration, and continuing religious function.
The latest project included investigations of the ground and building, structural evaluation, repair of earthquake damage, conservation of historic materials, and improvements to the surrounding area.
The monument matters because it preserves the memory of several communities, architectural traditions, and urban functions within a single building.
The site is associated with a church tradition dating back to the fifth-century Christian city of Edessa.
The nineteenth-century church was among the largest Christian monuments in the region.
Large windows, half-columns, carved reliefs, portals, and the former narthex remain visible.
The mosque’s name and present use connect the building with Muslim worship and the regional memory of Selahaddin Eyyubi.
Its period as an electric power station reveals how sacred buildings can acquire unexpected functions over time.
The 2023–2026 restoration demonstrates the continuing effort to protect Şanlıurfa’s vulnerable historic monuments.
Selahaddin Eyyubi Mosque is an active place of worship rather than a conventional ticketed museum.
Entry is normally free for respectful visitors outside prayer times.
A Museum Pass is not required because the monument functions as a mosque.
Any donations are voluntary and should follow the arrangements indicated by mosque representatives.
Professional guiding and private transportation are separate services and are not connected with admission to the mosque.
Because Selahaddin Eyyubi Mosque is an active religious building, visitor access follows the rhythm of daily worship rather than fixed museum opening hours.
Prayer times change throughout the year. Access may also be temporarily limited during cleaning, maintenance, religious events, or crowded services. If worship is taking place, wait quietly and return later.
The mosque stands in Yeni Mahalle on Vali Fuat Bey Street, traditionally called Büyükyol. It lies close to the Balıklıgöl heritage area and can easily be included in a walking route through historic Şanlıurfa.
Walk through the old-city streets toward Vali Fuat Bey Street. The mosque is close enough to combine comfortably with the sacred pools.
Ask for “Selahaddin Eyyubi Camii” on Büyükyol. Local drivers generally recognise the historic monument.
City buses and minibuses serve central Şanlıurfa. Continue on foot from the nearest stop in the Balıklıgöl or old-city area.
A private guide can combine the mosque with Balıklıgöl, Fırfırlı Mosque, bazaars, Kızılkoyun Necropolis, and the museum complex.
Parking can be difficult on the historic streets. Walking, taxi transport, or a privately arranged vehicle with a nearby drop-off point is usually more convenient than attempting to park directly beside the monument.
The mosque fits naturally into a half-day or full-day route through the historic and spiritual centre of Şanlıurfa.
Wait until congregational worship has finished before entering for sightseeing or photography.
Cover shoulders and knees. Women should carry a scarf for covering the hair inside the prayer space.
Take off footwear before stepping onto the carpeted prayer area and place shoes where indicated.
Speak quietly and silence mobile phones inside the mosque.
Never walk directly in front of someone who is praying.
Do not photograph worshippers, staff, or local residents without clear permission.
Use natural light and silent camera settings whenever possible.
Do not touch reliefs, rub carvings, lean equipment on walls, or scratch the restored stonework.
The mosque lies in a central urban area, but historic pavements, entrance thresholds, street traffic, courtyard levels, and the practical arrangements of an active prayer space may affect accessibility.
The mosque can be reached through paved streets, although some nearby old-city surfaces may be uneven or crowded.
Historic doorways and small changes in floor level may present difficulties for wheelchair users or visitors with walking aids.
The main prayer hall is spacious, but movement can be restricted during worship and religious gatherings.
Visitors with mobility concerns should ask a guide or mosque representative about the easiest available entrance.
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It is a historic religious building in central Şanlıurfa that formerly served as Saint Johannes Prodromos Addai Church and now functions as an active mosque.
It is located in Yeni Mahalle on Vali Fuat Bey Street, also known as Büyükyol, close to the Balıklıgöl heritage area.
The former church is commonly identified as Saint Johannes Prodromos Addai Church.
Yes. The present building was constructed as a church and later adapted for use as a mosque.
Regional historical sources state that Bishop Nona constructed a church dedicated to Saint John the Baptist at this location in AD 457.
No. The surviving monumental building is generally dated to the early nineteenth century and is believed to have been constructed above or near the remains of the earlier church.
It was among the largest and most important churches in the region during its period of Christian use.
Prodromos is a Greek Christian title meaning “forerunner,” commonly used for Saint John the Baptist.
Addai is connected with the apostolic traditions of Edessa and the early Christian memory of the city.
Local historical tradition states that the earlier church was used as a mosque for a period during Selahaddin Eyyubi’s era.
No. The present structure is a nineteenth-century former church. Its mosque name reflects a historical association with the earlier site.
Yes. After a long period of abandonment, it served for a time as an electric power station.
The repaired building opened for Muslim worship as Selahaddin Eyyubi Mosque on 28 May 1993.
The mosque was damaged during the 6 February 2023 earthquakes and closed while structural restoration was undertaken.
Yes. The post-earthquake restoration was completed, and the mosque reopened for worship on 20 March 2026.
Look for the western entrance, former narthex, spacious prayer hall, large windows, half-columns, courtyard portals, and intertwined dragon reliefs.
They are decorative carvings showing paired creatures facing and intertwining with one another near architectural openings.
Entry is normally free because the building functions as an active mosque rather than a ticketed museum.
There may not be fixed tourist opening hours. Visit during daylight and outside daily prayer times, especially avoiding the main Friday prayer.
Approximately 25–45 minutes is usually enough to explore the courtyard, exterior, interior, and principal stone details.
Wear clothing that covers shoulders and knees. Women should carry a scarf for covering the hair inside the prayer area.
Yes. Shoes should be removed before stepping onto the carpeted prayer floor.
Respectful photography is generally possible outside worship times. Do not photograph people without permission or use disruptive flash.
Yes. The mosque lies close to the Balıklıgöl heritage area and can be included in the same old-city walking route.
Yes. It is especially rewarding for travellers interested in Christian heritage, Islamic culture, architecture, conservation, and the layered history of Şanlıurfa.
The monument offers striking compositions of pale stone, arched openings, courtyard façades, decorative portals, large windows, half-columns, dragon reliefs, and softly illuminated interior space.
Photograph the main approach to show the entrance, historic wall mass, and the relationship between the mosque and Büyükyol.
Use a wider angle to capture the long façade, arcaded areas, supporting buildings, and restored stone surfaces.
Frame the doorway closely to emphasise the contrast between light and dark stone, carved vegetal motifs, and the arched composition.
Use a moderate zoom to capture the intertwined forms without touching or leaning against the carved stone.
From the entrance, photograph the broad prayer hall and the daylight entering through the large windows.
Warm angled light reveals the depth, texture, and colour variations of the restored masonry.
Never move religious furnishings, cross in front of worshippers, block entrances, climb on historic masonry, or touch carvings for a photograph.
Selahaddin Eyyubi Mosque can be included in a private historical route combining Balıklıgöl, Fırfırlı Mosque, Şanlıurfa’s bazaars, Kızılkoyun Necropolis, the archaeology museums, Göbeklitepe, Karahantepe, Harran, and other regional highlights.
Custom-designed routes with private transportation, flexible timing, and optional professional guiding.
Explore Balıklıgöl, old bazaars, caravanserais, stone streets, Selahaddin Eyyubi Mosque, Fırfırlı Mosque, and selected monuments with a private local guide.
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