Did you know that the Sadabat Cami is also called Kağıthane Cami? It is also known as Aziziye Cami. Let’s dive into the story of this beautiful mosque.
The Sadabat Cami stands on the banks of the Kağıthane stream. This mosque has a rich history. The first mosque on this site was built in 1722. Nevşehirli Damat İbrahim Pasha constructed it along with the Çağlayan Palace during the Tulip Era. Sultan Ahmed III himself opened it.
However, the Patrona Halil revolt led to the mosque’s destruction. Sultan Selim III later repaired it. Then Mahmud II restored it again. Finally, in 1862, Sultan Abdülaziz rebuilt it. That is why it is also known as Aziziye Mosque today.
Sarkis Balyan was the architect of the reconstructed Sadabat Cami. He likely designed and built it with his brother Agop Balyan. Sarkis was part of the Balyan family. This family left its mark on Ottoman architecture. He received the title “Sermimar-ı Devlet” during Abdulhamit II’s reign.
The Balyan family did not just copy Western architecture. They blended Western elements with Ottoman styles. The Sadabat Cami shows this fusion. It features a symmetrical layout. It includes a main hall a royal lodge and a minaret. The main hall has a dome. Other sections are covered with a hipped roof.
Interestingly the mosque’s two main sections look quite different. It almost seems like two separate buildings joined together. The minaret is made of small cut stones. Its balcony resembles the minaret of the Mecidiye Mosque. Two people can climb the minaret stairs at the same time. But they won’t see each other.
In the 1939 earthquake the Sadabat Cami suffered damage. It fell into disrepair. Many of its items were looted. The marble ornamental pool disappeared. In 1997 the Saadabat project began. It restored the building. The mosque reopened for worship.
Next to the Sadabat Cami once stood the Çağlayan Palace. It was torn down. A reserve officer school was built in its place. Today only a fountain and some boundary stones remain from the palace. Behind the mosque stands a stone pillar. It commemorates Sultan Mahmud II’s shooting success.
Sultan Abdülaziz who commissioned the mosque’s current form was the son of Mahmud II. His mother was Pertevniyal Valide Sultan. The Sadabat Cami stands as a testament to Ottoman architectural resilience. It also reflects artistic fusion. Its story is etched in its stones. It echos in the flowing waters of the Kağıthane stream.