Islam in Bulgaria

Bulgaria forms the frontier of Christian Europe. Beyond its borders stretches the immense sea of Islam. Archeological studies have shown that Islam existed in Bulgaria three centuries before its conquest by the Ottomans. Half way through the year 962 AH (1356 Christian dating), an Islam invasion, led by Genghis Khan's Tartars of the Golden Horde, a Turkish-Mongolian people from Central Asia, entered the Balkans. A portion of this era's history will be found in our section on Assenova Krepost.

During the rule of the Ottoman Sultan Murad 1st, the whole of Bulgaria and other regions gave their allegiance to the Ottoman Khalifate. For almost five centuries (482 years), Islamic rule of Bulgaria continued, until the year 1878 when the army of Russian Tsar Akexnder II defeated the weakened and unprovisioned Ottoman army. See the section on Shipka and Batak for more information.

Under the Ottoman occupation, they destroyed most of the Bulgarian churches and built mosques on their spots. An example of that is the Djumaya mosque on the square named after it. Some 52 mosques were built in Plovdiv, yet the city remained an active center of resistance against the rule of the invader. Today many of these mosques have been changed into museums, restaurants or dancehalls after their form was changed by the removal of minarets or domes, like for example the mosque of Starazaghora, one of the early mosques of Plovdiv.

According to a very famous Turkish traveler Evlia Chelebi, who crossed Bulgaria several times in 16 century, there were more than 50 mosques in Plovdiv (then Filibe) in the 16 century. One could imagine what the significance of the town was in that time.

Djumaya Mosque in Plovdiv

Also known as Ulu Mosque, built in 1423, Djumya is one of the oldest. It was built on the place of the Bulgarian church “St Petka”. "Djumaya” means “Friday”; the day when services were held according to Moslem tradition. According to a very famous Turkish traveler Evlia Chelebi, who crossed Bulgaria several times in the 16th century, there were more than 50 mosques in Filibe at that time. One could imagine what was the significance of the town then. The multi-unit plan of this mosque is considered to be a proto-type for the Ulu Cami style introduced during the Ottoman Beylicat Period. It was built by Shihabedin pasha, son of the patron of Plovdiv and beilerbei of Roumelia. The building has been restored twice; in 1785 and again in 1818 after being damaged in an earthquake. The mosque is decorated with murals by Nakshi Mustafa Zelebi dating from the last century. It was built as an imperial mosque by Murad II in about year 1423. It is said to be one of the three examples of the oldest type of the Ottoman worship buildings still preserved on the entire Balkan peninsula.

The photo of the Djumaya minaret was contributed by Photographer Srebrin Vatralov.

The Djumaya Mosque is an extremely solid building with thick stone walls and is covered by solid-coated domes. The architecture of the interior seems monumental; there are four square pillars which support nine huge interior vaults. The walls and the vaults are vividly painted with coloured ornaments and quotations from the Koran.

This mosque is a widely-noted Plovdiv landmark nearly at the center of the city. Its 23 meter high minaret decorated with zigzag lines rises from the Northeastern corner of the mosque, while diagonally, in the Southeastern corner, there is an ancient sun-dial.

As shown in the photo above, the interior is marked by a mahfil (pedestal for the singer), a sultan's box and a mimber (pedestal for the imam).

Imaret Mosque in Plovdiv

One other mosque, the Imaret Mosque, remains standing in Plovdiv. This is one of the earliest monuments of the Moslem architecture. This imposing structure with impressive dimensions and walls made of stone blocks coated with bricks was built in 1445. The main entrance is an impressively-heavy double wooden door. The mosque consists of two square halls in the form of the letter "T". Here also, a minaret rises above the sophisticated roof and the two lead-coated domes. Frescoes in the mosque are badly faded by the ravages of time.

Imaret mosque is built on the right bank of the Maritsa river. This mosque is unique because of its “Chifte Bania” – “chifte” meaning “couple' because there ware departments for men and women inside.

Imaret Mosque sits in a large garden at the northern end of Plovdiv's main street, not far from the end of the walking bridge over the Maritsa river.

In the garden yard of this mosque you will see a number of grave markers where notable citizens of "Philibe" (as Plovdiv was called during the time of Turkish domination) are buried.

Sadly, these valuable historic markers are badly deteriorated by vandalism, time and neglect.