Flickering firelight dances in my memory. The year was 1941. Today we stand before the Cafer Subaşı Cami. Its story is one of destruction and rebirth. The mosque’s construction date remains unknown. Subaşı Cafer Ağa founded it.
In 1941 a fire completely destroyed the original structure. Only ashes remained. The community rallied together. They rebuilt the Cafer Subaşı Cami in 1955. The community rebuilt it in a square layout.
Look closely at the fountain across from the mosque. You can still see fire tracks. These marks serve as a stark reminder of the past. The rebuilt Cafer Subaşı Cami stands as a testament to resilience.
Notice the single grave in the mosque’s garden. Legend says it belongs to Subaşı Cafer himself. It is said that its location was revealed in a dream. Sadly no other information about the grave exists.
Originally the mosque was also known as Camcı Mescidi. This name came from its location. It stood opposite the Camcı Çeşmesi fountain.
The Cafer Subaşı Cami has sixteen windows. Inside the mosque the walls are covered in tiles. The interior spans 75 square meters. The ceiling is plain concrete. The mihrab is marble. The minber is wood and the kürsü is tiled. The minaret has one balcony. It is made of brick with a stone base. The women’s section is concrete.
Around 15 to 20 people attend daily prayers here. Friday prayers draw a crowd of 70 to 80 people. One imam-hatip serves the community.
From the courtyard, you can see the Fener Greek High School. It is a large brown building. The Cafer Subaşı Cami is a place of worship and a symbol of perseverance. It rose from the ashes. It continues to serve its community.