Fırfırlı Mosque, located on Vali Fuat Street in Şanlıurfa, was originally a Christian place of worship known as the Twelve Apostles Church or the Church of the Holy Apostles. There is no inscription or written source indicating the exact construction date, but based on its architectural characteristics and historical context, it is considered to have been built during the post-Byzantine period, likely in the early or high Middle Ages.

In 1092, the “Varak Cross,” a relic of great sanctity in the Christian world, was brought from the Varak Monastery in Van to this church, demonstrating the building’s importance as a center for the Christian community in Urfa.

During the Ottoman era, due to the stone decorations resembling a weather vane, the structure became popularly known as the “Fırfırlı Church.” In the mid-20th century, its function changed: after serving for a period as a prison, it was converted into a mosque in 1956, as indicated on the mihrab inscription.

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Architectural Features

The building has a three-nave basilica plan, entirely constructed from finely cut stone. The central nave is wider than the side naves and covered with a dome on pendentives. The side naves are covered with four cross vaults each. The central nave’s tall drum features a total of twenty-four windows, providing abundant natural light. Basalt stone was used in the dome and vaults, while columns and arches feature cut stone with muqarnas capitals.

The main entrance on the west façade is pointed-arched externally and crowned with a semi-dome internally. The door, made of pink marble, is elegantly designed. Above the entrance, there is a small balcony with three surfaces and three windows, inscribed in Arabic with the phrase “Enter with confidence.”

A bell tower sits atop the entrance façade, highlighting the building’s former church identity. Adjacent priest cells (pastaforion) project outward on either side of the apse. Half-columns and stone ornaments on the exterior serve both decorative and structural purposes, particularly on the west façade and corner towers, where stonework is elaborate and meticulous.

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Interior Layout

During the conversion to a mosque, the apse was walled off, and the window was transformed into the mihrab. A stone pulpit (minbar) was placed in front of the half-column in the middle of the south wall. While the main architectural form was largely preserved, some structural adjustments were made to accommodate Islamic worship.

^{The Entrance of the Mosque Says 'Enter Safely' (Culture Portal)}

Cultural and Religious Significance

Fırfırlı Mosque represents a multi-layered cultural heritage, having served different religious purposes over time. During its Christian phase, it was the repository of the sacred Varak Cross, giving it a prominent religious identity. After conversion to a mosque, it became an integral part of the local community and continues to function as a place of worship today.

Conservation and Current Use

The building continues to serve as a mosque and is recognized as an important historical and cultural heritage site in the center of Şanlıurfa. Its architectural features, historical transformations, and aesthetic details make it noteworthy for both researchers and visitors.