Abstract:

The Kaya Çelebi Mosque is situated south of the Old City of Van, close to the southern walls of Van Castle. The mosque’s construction had been started by Kaya Çelebizade Koçi Bey in the year 1660 and then completed by Cem Dedeoğlu Mehmet Bey. It is narrated that during the 1915–18 battle with Russians and Armenians, the epitaph atop the mosque’s gate was destroyed. The Ottoman-era structure, which was constructed in the XVIIth century, includes a square-pedestal minaret adjacent to the northwest wall, a central dome, and five other domes covering the narthex. The minaret that is adjacent to the building in the northwest corner is cylindrical form and has a single balcony. The structure was continuously used from the date of construction until 1915; however, due to severe damage, it was not used again until 1990. Due to the detrimental effects of nature and the destruction of treasure hunters, there have been significant static issues with the walls, narthex, minaret, meeting place, and interior space. The Directorate General of Foundations began the necessary renovations in 1971, and they continue to this day throughout four separate time periods. Two significant earthquakes that occurred in Van in 2011 seriously destroyed the structure. During the necessary renovations, the dome, several walls, the narthex, and the minaret were all rebuilt. The Bitlis Regional Directory of Foundations completed the most recent renovations to the Kaya Çelebi Mosque between the years 2012 and 2015, and the service was introduced in 2016. The altar, entrance gate, minaret, and windows of the Kaya Çelebi Mosque are among the inner and outside architectural components that use floral and geometrical patterns. The mosque’s walls are built by masonry infilling construction technique. For walls, pitch-faced stone network is used outside and Khorasan mortar plastered-repoint technique over pitch-faced stone is used inside of the construction.

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