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Türkiye’s Directorate General of Foundations (VGM) and the Grand Mufti’s Office of the Republic of Bulgaria have signed a cooperation protocol to restore two historic mosques located in Bulgaria.
The agreement was formalized during a ceremony at the VGM headquarters in Ankara and marks a significant step in preserving centuries-old Ottoman architecture in the Balkans.
The signing ceremony, coordinated by the Directorate of Foreign Relations within VGM, was attended by VGM Director General Sinan Aksu and Bulgaria’s Grand Mufti Mustafa Haci.
According to a statement released by VGM, the restoration work will cover the Hz. Ebubekir Mosque, or Old Mosque, in the city of Yambol and the Sari Huseyin Pasha Mosque in the town of Provadia, near Varna on the Black Sea coast.
Sinan Aksu emphasized that the partnership extends beyond structural restoration.
He pointed out that the initiative reflects a deeper aim to revive the long-standing cultural legacy and collective memory shared between the two countries.
“Sari Huseyin Pasha Mosque and Hz. Ebubekir Mosque restorations will begin shortly, and our primary goal is to preserve them faithfully to their original state,” Aksu stated, adding that the project would benefit both nations.
The Sari Huseyin Mosque, built in 1703, lies close to the center of Provadia. It holds the legal status of a “Local Immovable Cultural Property,” a designation that provides official protection under Bulgarian heritage law.
Its identity as a vakif cultural asset—meaning it was endowed as part of a charitable foundation under Islamic law—is documented in an archival record dated Nov. 18, 755 in the Islamic calendar.
The Hz. Ebubekir Mosque, located roughly 100 kilometers (62.1 miles) from Edirne, is believed to have been constructed in the early period of Ottoman rule in the Balkans.
Although cracks have appeared in the building’s walls in recent years, it remains open for worship and continues to serve the local Muslim community.
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