Blue Mosque, #6, Yerevan, Armenia, 2022
It’s right downtown!
If in Yerevan, the capital city, you might as well visit the Blue Mosque as it is but a fifteen-minute walk from Republic Square… and it is an interesting curiosity–the only active mosque left in Armenia.
Originally built in the 1760s, then renovated multiple times over the years, it now stands as a reminder of that period of Persian rule in these parts. During the Soviet era, it was turned into a center for intellectual gatherings of the mostly socialist kind and the courtyard even sported a tea house.
Today, it serves as a religious and cultural center for the very few Muslims (800-1,000?) who still live in the city. It also houses an extensive library of Persian written works. The embassy of Iran currently holds a 99-year lease (until 2114) on the property for use as a cultural center.
Curiously, both the Persians (Iran) and the Yerevan Azerbaijanis consider the place a symbol of their heritage–so there is some back and forth (read: controversy) between the two countries on this point.
By most reasonable international mosque/architecture standards, I doubt that Yerevan’s Blue Mosque would make the world’s MVP list. But still, it has significant historical significance in Armenia, so it is definitely worth a visit.
The Photographs
As often happens, I wasn’t able to choose the time of day or weather conditions for our visit, so I did what I could with boring blue skies and the harsh lighting –which wasn’t much. You can focus on details, shoot in the shade, minimize the sky as you compose, but options are limited.
So, I’ll file the following snaps in my travel/documentary folder (this blog post) and simply enjoy the memories of the place.
The blue-themed tile work gives the mosque its name…
Blue Mosque, #1, Yerevan, Armenia, 2022
Directions to the men’s and women’s entrances…
Blue Mosque, #2 (Separate Entrances, Men and Women), Yerevan, Armenia, 2022
But, women, don’t forget your scarf…
Blue Mosque, #9 (Enter With Hijab), Yerevan, Armenia, 2022
Blue, blue, blue, and more blue…
Blue Mosque, #3, Yerevan, Armenia, 2022
Blue Mosque, #5, Yerevan, Armenia, 2022
Around the rectangular courtyard are at least 20 small rooms suitable for classrooms, offices, dormitories, prayer, storage…
Blue Mosque, #7, Yerevan, Armenia, 2022
Blue again…
Blue Mosque, #8, Yerevan, Armenia, 2022
In this view, you can see some of the buildings in the background that now surround the Blue Mosque…
Blue Mosque, #11, Yerevan, Armenia, 2022
The Mosque stands, in the middle of this busy-bustling city, in obvious contrast with the rather… uh… uninspired Armenian-Soviet architecture in the background…
Blue Mosque, #13, Yerevan, Armenia, 2022
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