This is a list of former mosques in Greece. It lists former mosques (, , ) and places of worship for Muslims in Greece. It lists some, but by no means all, of the old historical mosques of Greece. The term former mosque in this list includes any Muslim mosque (building) or site used for Islamic prayer (Salah) in Greece, but is no longer.
Mosques have existed within the modern Greece borders since the era of the Emirate of Crete (824–961). But no mosques of the Emirate remain as they were torn down and remaining Muslims were either killed, enslaved or converted to Christianity after the Byzantine reconquest of Crete (961).Canard (1971), pp. 1084–1085Kazhdan (1991), p. 96 Therefore, currently the oldest mosque in Greece and the entire Balkan peninsula is believed to be the Çelebi Sultan Mehmed Mosque, the first in Didymoteicho (Western Thrace), built between 1389 and 1402.
Most of the listed former mosques date from the late 14th century to the early 20th century, when various parts of modern Greece were at some point a part of the Ottoman Empire. Beyond the new mosques built during the Ottoman period, several Christian churches throughout Greece were also converted to mosques over time upon conquest, like the church of Hagios Demetrios in Thessalonica. Those were gradually converted to churches following Greece's independence and annexation of other regions.
Many Ottoman mosques and other Muslim monuments, especially in southern Greece, were either destroyed during the Greek War of Independence in the 1820s and successive wars and conflicts. During periods of nationalist uprising and wars against the Ottoman and later the Turkish army, the newly independent Greek nation showed little respect for the monuments of a faith identified with the enemy. Several Ottoman mosques were confiscated and repurposed for use as churches, government offices, and other civilian purposes.
Many more mosques in Greece were closed or abandoned due to the 1923 Population exchange between Greece and Turkey; as a result, 355,000 to 400,000 Muslims left Greece, most of them forcibly made to leave their lands, livelihoods, and mosques.
Many former mosques and other religious buildings also survived in the provinces of Macedonia, Thrace, Crete, and the Dodecanese Island, which were integrated into the Greek State in the early 20th century. By then, there was already a law to protect religious buildings of all faiths.
The surviving former mosques or other religious structures are nowadays protected as monuments. Many of them are still used as government buildings and churches, while many others have been restored and used as museums, exhibition, concert centers and tourist attractions.
Mosque buildings
Attica and Central Greece List of former mosques in Attica that encompasses the entire metropolitan area of Athens, and the rest of Central Greece which encompasses Attica.
NameImageCityDate openedDate closedNotesRef. Emir Zade Mosque Chalcis 15th century 1821 After the Greek War of Independence in 1821 it was converted into a barracks and later declared a historical monument. Today it houses part of the medieval archaeological collection of Chalcis. Fethiye Mosque Museum Athens 15th century 1830 One of the most important monuments from the Ottoman Greece period still exists in Athens. The mosque was reportedly first opened in the 15th century on the ruins of a Byzantine Christian basilica. The current mosque was built in 1668–1670. The mosque was repurposed after 1834 Greek independence and fell into disrepair. It has been renovated and opened to the public for cultural exhibitions since 2017. Gazi Omer Bey Mosque Livadeia Late 15th century 1830 After the city was conquered in 1460, Omer Bey erected the mosque in the bazaar district. Since 2015, the mosque has belonged to the municipality of Livadeia, which intends to restore it project and create a cultural place. Parthenon mosque Athens Early 18th century 1843 After the destruction of the Parthenon, which was already used as a mosque, in 1687, a smaller, free-standing mosque was erected inside the ruined shell of the temple. It was itself demolished in 1843, over a decade after Greece had achieved independence. Tzistarakis Mosque—Annexe of Museum of Greek Folk Art Athens 1759 1830 Mosque built by Mustafa Agha Tzisdarakis, the Ottoman governor or commander of Athens Fortress in the heart of town market in Monastiraki Square. After Greece's independence in 1830, mosque was used for various purposes. The state restored it in 1918 and are using it as a museum.
Central Macedonia List of former mosques in Central Macedonia administrative region.
NameImageCityDate openedDate closedNotesRef. — Ahmed Bey Mosque Giannitsa In partial ruins Alaca Imaret Mosque Thessaloniki 1484 or 1487 Today the building is being used for temporary exhibitions, artistic and cultural events. Page 196, Memory and Architecture, Eleni Bastéa,(Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 2004). Hamza Bey Mosque Thessaloniki 15th century Since 1923, the minaret was removed and the building no longer functioned as a mosque. It was taken over by the Greek Ministry of Culture in 2006. Hünkar Mosque Edessa 16th century post-1912 During the interwar period, the mosque was used as a warehouse, barracks, stables, and finally a cinema. Today hosts the "Alexander the Great" cultural center. Restoration work on the interior is ongoing. Iskender Bey Mosque Giannitsa 1481–1512 1912 Commissioned by Iskender Bey Evrenosoğlu, grandson of Gazi Evrenos. Today it stands in a very poor condition, with its fountain, dome and minaret collapsed. Lembet Mosque—Ferideh Hanım Mosque Thessaloniki 1903 1912 It was the very last mosque to be opened in Thessaloniki in 1903, less than a decade before the Ottomans lost the city to the Kingdom of Greece in 1912 during the Balkan Wars. It was then used by the Greek army for almost a century. Restoration works began in 2011. Mahmud Çelebi Mosque Veria Not open for worship. The minaret collapsed in 1940, and only the base remains today. Pavleion Cultural Center—Medrese Mosque Veria After 1430 1920s After the Ottoman conquest of the city in 1430, the Ottomans converted the church of Saint Paul into the Mosque of Musa Çelebi. That building was torn down, and its material was used for the current structure, erected on the same site. It is Veria's best-preserved former mosque. Acquired by the Greek Orthodox Church in 1936, the building is used as a cultural center for the local church. Mehmet Bey Mosque Serres 1492–1493 Built by Mehmed Bey, son of the grand vizier Gedik Ahmed Pasha in 1492–1493. The mosque and mausoleum of İsmail Bey was left abandoned and ceased to function as a mosque sometime in the late 19th century due to flooding from the nearby river. Neglected and unused today. Orta Mosque Veria Late 15th century After 1923 Orta Mosque, or "middle mosque" was built in the centre of the town. The mosque was declared a preserved monument in 1938, but has variously been used as a house, a musical instruments workshop and a stonemason's workshop.. Now it lies abandoned in ruins, with plant life growing all over it. St. Paraskeva church—Yakup Bey Mosque Giannitsa 15th century 1910s It was built around the 15th century, probably by one of the descendants of Gazi Evrenos, founder of Giannitsa (then Yenice-i Vardar). It was converted into a church in the late 1940s. Yeni Mosque Edessa Mid 17th century 1920s The mosque was mentioned by Ottoman traveller Evliya Çelebi, and it is Edessa's sole surviving mosque. The mosque was made into a museum in 1942, and it is open to visitors today. Zincirli Mosque Serres Late 16th century Mid 1920s The architecture and layout of the building are typical of the late 16th century, following the school of Mimar Sinan. The mosque underwent restoration works in 2000, but it is not open for worship. Koca Mustafa Pasha Mosque Serres Originally featuring minarets, a madrasa, and domes covered with lead, the mosque underwent several modifications over time. Only the central dome remains intact.
Crete List of former mosques in Crete, the largest and most populous of the Greek islands.
NameImageCityDate openedDate closedNotesRef. — Agha Mosque Chania 1645 After 1923 Founded by Haseki Ali Agha the year Chania fell to the Ottomans. After the exodus of the Muslim community in 1923, it was used as a knitting factory. Ankebut Ahmed Pasha Mosque—Saint John church Ierapetra 17th century Post-1912 (?) Ankebut Ahmed Pasha was an Ottoman commander of the Cretan campaign. The mosque was converted into a church for Saint John. It is one of the two surviving mosques of Ierapetra. Ierapetra Mosque—Hamidiye Mosque Ierapetra 1891 It was probably erected around 1891–1892, perhaps on the site of a previous mosque or a church. Kara Musa Pasha Mosque Rethymno 1660s-1680s 1920s Converted from an old Venetian monastery, it has been restored and will probably open as a museum of Ottoman Cretan architecture. Koules Mosque Heraklion Late 1600s After Crete fell to the Ottomans, several modifications were made to Heraklion's Venetian-built Koules Fortress, including the addition of a mosque. The previous lighthouse was replaced by the minaret, which is the only standing remnant of it today. Küçük Hasan Pasha Mosque Chania 1645 Best preserved former mosque in Chania city. Built by Ottomans honoring Kucuk Hasan Pasha. Presumed to be built on a preexisting Christian temple. The mosque has a large semispherical dome supported by stone arches. The north and west sides house a gallery that is crowned by six small domes. The gallery used to be open, as used in the mosques but was enclosed with arched openings in the late 19th century. Neradje Mosque—Narenciye Camii Rethymno 1890 1924 Following the Greco-Turkish population exchange and the departure of Muslims from Crete, Neradje was used as a music school. Valide Sultan Mosque Rethymno 1650s 1925 Built shortly after the conquest of Rethymno by the Ottomans, it was named in honour of the then valide-sultan (the sultan's mother). Not accessible to the public. Veli Pasha Mosque—Paleontological Museum of Rethymno Rethymno 1651 ? after 1912 Built very shortly after the fall of Rethymno to the Ottomans, it was heavily damaged during World War II and subsequently restored. Today it houses the Paleontological Museum of Rethymno. Yeni Mosque—Saint Titus Cathedral Heraklion 1869 1925 The original building was a converted church which was destroyed. The current building was erected as a mosque in 1869, and converted into a church in 1925.
Eastern Macedonia and Thrace List of former mosques in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace administrative region.