Yag (Oil) Mosque The Yag Mosque, commonly called the Oil Mosque, is situated in the historic center of Adana, Turkey. Originally erected as the St. Jacob Church in 1250, this Eastern Orthodox Church was commissioned by the Byzantine Empress to accommodate Byzantine Christian pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land. Due to tensions with the Armenians living in the city, the church was constructed beyond the city walls. In 1380 AD, the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia fell to Şihabeddin Ahmed, who transformed the church into a mosque. Today, the Yag Mosque holds the distinction of being the oldest mosque in Adana and is part of a külliye complex that also features a madrasah. According to Evliya Çelebi, a renowned Ottoman-era traveler, the mosque’s position outside the city walls was a result of longstanding conflicts between the Armenians and Eastern Orthodox Christians. Despite its complex history, the mosque today stands as a significant symbol of the city’s rich cultural diversity. In 1359, the Mamluk Sultanate took control of Adana, leading to the migration of Turkish families who converted a church into a mosque in 1380. This transformation was commissioned by Ramazanoğlu Ahmed Bey. Later, in 1501, renovations were carried out under the guidance of Gıyâseddîn Halil Bey. The minaret was added in 1525 by Piri Mehmet Paşa, and the school building (madrasah) was constructed in 1558. Originally called the "Old Mosque," it was renamed the "Oil Mosque" in the 19th century following the establishment of an oil market in front of its grand courtyard entrance. The mosque’s prayer hall is rectangular with five aisles supported by four rows of columns. The mihrab, which points toward Mecca for Islamic prayers, has been preserved from the building’s days as an Eastern Christian church. The mosque’s entrance gate, decorated with detailed calligraphy, is constructed using yellow and black stones. Within the mosque’s courtyard lies the medress, comprising classrooms, living quarters (cells), and a kitchen. The classrooms are covered with domes, while the cells feature cradle arches above the arcades. A highlight of the medress are the wooden archways outside each cell’s door, representing exquisite examples of wooden craftsmanship.