Aq-Yar Juma Jami Mosque in Sevastopol, Islamic religious site in central Sevastopol, Ukraine.
The Aq-Yar Juma Jami Mosque stands at 31 Kulakova Street in Sevastopol's Lenin district, built 1909–1914 to a design by city architect Alexander Weizen. Its minaret, rebuilt in 2000 by Turkish stonemasons, rises 40 meters from the ground and 26 meters above the roof. The prayer hall occupies the historic 1914 building, whose portal once bore a dedication to Emperor Alexander III.
The mosque was founded on 28 June 1909 on Azov Street, now Kulakova Street 31, after Muslim petitions in 1901 and 1905. The inscription over the portal names 1909–1912 in memory of Emperor Alexander III, but shortages tied to the State Duma elections and the Balkan War delayed completion until 20 April 1914. It held civilian and military status, with an imam for the civil population and an akhun for the Black Sea Fleet.
This mosque represents the presence of Crimean Tatar Muslim communities in Sevastopol who maintained their religious practices and social life in the city. Visitors can observe how the space serves as a gathering place for prayer and community activities today.
The mosque stands at 31 Kulakova Street in the Lenin district, on the site of the former Azov Street. It is an active place of worship, so visitors should remove their shoes and dress modestly before entering the prayer hall.
The inscription above the portal states the mosque was built in 1909–1912 in memory of Emperor Alexander III, though work actually finished in 1914. In 1948 two tanks and a cable pulled down the minaret, and all Arabic and Russian inscriptions were erased. The present 40-metre minaret was raised in 2000 by Turkish stonemasons.
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