TİKA Continues To Preserve Historical Heritage In Macedonia

Preserving historical heritage by projects designed to restore mosques of ancestral legacy Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) continues the restoration works in Macedonia for Sultan Murad Mosque and Aladza Mosque in Skopje, and Hussein Shah Mosque in Saray.

Undertaking many projects in Macedonia, TIKA continues, in the context of preserving ancestral legacy, the restoration works in Macedonia for Sultan Murad Mosque and Aladza Mosque in Skopje, and Hussein Shah Mosque in Saray.
TIKA has assumed the mission of preserving, actively using and passing to future generations the common historical and cultural heritage, in addition to implementing various technical assistance and cooperation projects; and to that end, it has initiated restoration projects for mosques in the countries of action. In this context, TIKA-assisted restoration works are underway for Sultan Murad Mosque and Aladza Mosque in Skopje, and Hussein Shah Mosque in Saray, Macedonia. The project involves design works of relief, restitution, restoration, drawing, mechanical, electrical, structural strengthening, and landscaping.

Hussein Shah Mosque and Shrine
The mosque, situated in Saray village about 10 kilometers out of Skopje on the old highway to Tetovo, was built by Hussein Shah in 961 Anno Hegirae (A.D. 1554) according to the epigraph in Arabic letters above the gate. However, the word “deceased” used for the benefactor in the said epigraph contradicts with 974 Anno Hegirae (A.D. 1566-67) on the epitaph. Inferring from the two dates, several researches conclude that the former date might be the start of the construction and the temple’s might have been completed after 974 Anno Hegirae.

Aladza Ishak Bay Mosque in Skopje
Only the mosque survived as the core structure of Aladza Ishak Bay Mosque complex consisting further of madrasah, inn and double baths. The benefactor was Ishak Bay, the son or adopted son of Pasha Yighid, with the mosque built in 842 Anno Hegirae (A.D. 1438-39), and the endowment deed made in 848 Anno Hegirae (A.D. 1444-45).

Sultan Murad Mosque
Sultan Murad II Mosque was built in 1436. In its original form, it is a mosque with a dome, and represents one of the magnificent works of its time. Through the ages, it had survived three fires, two large-scale earthquakes and for major wars; now it serves Muslims in the region. Dazzling the viewers by its long minaret and clock tower in the yard, it holds the tomb of Beyhan Sultan in the back, and the tomb of Ali Pasha Daghestani in the left.