5 important historical information about the Ketchaoua Mosque in Algeria

Arabiaweather.com- Ismail Kacimi- Ketchaoua Mosque It is one of the most famous historical mosques in Algeria, and it may even be the most famous mosque due to many reasons, as it is the mosque that summarizes part of them from the history of Algeria.

The mosque was built during the Ottoman era in the year 1612 AD. It is said that it was built on the ruins of a Roman temple dating back to the ancient city of Ikosium. It was known as the Hassan Pasha Mosque since it was rebuilt in 1795 by Hassan Pasha.

The mosque is a parallel model of what Algeria experienced during the French occupation, as it became a Christian cathedral since the entry of French colonialism into Algeria in 1832 until its exit from it and the country’s independence in 1962.

- Before converting the mosque into a church by General de Rovigo, all the Qurans in it were taken out and burned in the adjacent square, which today bears the name Martyrs' Square. A number of worshipers who staged a protest against the conversion decision were also killed.

- After the Ketchaoua Mosque was the first Ottoman mosque to be converted into a Christian place of worship in Algeria under the name of St. Philip's Cathedral, it was re-owned with the approval of church representatives on the first of November 1962, which is the first anniversary of the outbreak of the liberation revolution after independence.

- The first Friday prayer was held in the Ketchaoua Mosque on November 2, 1962, one day after its recovery. This prayer took place over the basement, which was still housing the graves of the bishops at the time.