The former Mosque of Pasha Qasim (Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary), Pecs

The Mosque of Pasha Qasim (Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary), Pecs ^

[Cronos]

Downtown Candlemas Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, formerly known as the Mosque of Pasha Qasim, is a significant historical and architectural landmark in Pecs. Originally constructed between 1543 and 1546 by Pasha Qasim the Victorious during the Ottoman occupation, this building remains one of the largest surviving Ottoman structures in Hungary. Situated prominently on Széchenyi Square, it stands as a testament to the city's layered history, where East meets West in a remarkable architectural fusion.

Evliya Celebi, the famed Turkish traveler, praised the mosque's scenic location in the 1660s, reflecting its importance in the city's skyline. Following the reconquest of Pecs by Habsburg-Hungarian forces in 1702, the mosque transformed into a Roman Catholic church. Over the centuries, numerous modifications were made, including the demolition of its minaret in 1766 by Jesuits and the enlargement of certain architectural elements. However, the mosque's distinctive octagonal base and domed structure, inspired by traditional Ottoman design, have been preserved, maintaining its historical essence.

Despite its conversion, remnants of its Islamic past remain. Inside the church, visitors can still observe intricate Ottoman decorations and Qur'anic inscriptions on sections of the original plaster. The mihrab, which once guided Muslim worshippers toward Mecca, was removed but later restored. Two vessels used in the bathhouse of Pasha Gazi Kassim now serve as holy water basins, illustrating the site's evolving religious significance.

The structure's defining features include two rows of arched windows, arranged in a 3-3 and 4-4 pattern on three of its facades, which cast a warm, greenish-yellow glow inside. This illumination enhances the sense of continuity between its past and present functions. Today, the church offers an immersive experience through modern interactive exhibits that guide visitors through its complex history and architectural transformations.

The Downtown Candlemas Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary is not only a symbol of Pecs but also Hungary's most important example of Turkish-Islamic architecture. It stands as a rare and evocative witness to the centuries-old cultural and religious exchanges that have shaped the city, inviting visitors to explore its rich and layered past.

The mosque was converted into a church in 1702

A number of changes were made to the building between the 18th and the 20th centuries as part of the mosque's conversion to a Roman Catholic church. Its minaret was taken down after having been enlarged, leaving only the bulk (the octagon drum, covered by a dome, patterned after traditional Orthodox cathedrals) of the original structure remaining. Arc windows were set in two rows on the façades of the southeastern, southwestern, and northeastern sides of the building, in 3–3 and 4-4 patterns. Inside, some Ottoman decoration and inscriptions from the Qur'an are clearly visible in the remaining plaster parts. The Turkish pulpit and the women's balcony were destroyed, and the mihrab was removed (but later replaced). The two Turkish bathing basins before the sacristies (today, holy water) were taken from the former bath of the pasha next to the church.

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TOPICS: History; Travel
KEYWORDS: hungary; peccers; pecks

[Cronos]

Visited this - it's beautiful, and triumph of Christendom working together

[montag813]

A scary reminder of how close Europe came to Islamic domination. Unfortunately they are now conquering it without a single battle being fought.

[Bigg Red]

Agree to both statements.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Monday.....

The target of the current "Infiltrda"--Islamic invaders that come in ones and twos and who do not target men, or soldiers, or armies, but institutions and European Women. The desk sitting EU Meta - Government decided not to protect these Women in the name of their debased cypto-communist globalism and because they are afraid to be called racists. (Words hurt!) These grifting Bureaucrats think that they will be able to use and control the immigrants, but the unseen planners and leaders within Islam are practiced at taking down and reducing countries back to their 9th century roots.