Hawzah News Agency - (Anatolia - Turkey) - The first Turkish mosque in Anatolia, which was built in what is today known as the Ani Ruins in Kars province after Seljuk Sultan Alparslan won the Battle of Manzikert in 1071, is being restored. The mosque, built by Ebu'l Manuçehr Bey in 1072 and named after him, will be restored under the coordination of directorates of the Ministry of Industry and Technology and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Industry and Technology, the Serhat Development Agency, operating under the umbrella of the General Directorate of Development Agencies, has launched efforts to transfer the mosque to future generations and boost its national and international recognition.

In line with this goal, the General Directorate of Development Agencies and the General Directorate of Cultural Assets and Museums began work to fully reerect the mosque, which underwent restoration in previous years as well.

Following the conclusion of the directorates' work, a protocol on project design and restoration was signed between General Director of Development Agencies Barış Yeniçeri and General Director of Cultural Assets and Museums Gökhan Yazgı. The signing ceremony was attended by Kars Gov. Türker Öksüz; Ahmet Arslan, the former minister of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications and a Justice and Development Party (AK Party) parliament member from Kars; and Yunus Kılıç, an AK Party parliament member from Kars.

Under the protocol, 26 development agencies operating on a regional basis around Turkey will provide financial support for the restoration project. The Ebu'l Manuçehr Mosque is scheduled to be opened for worship on Aug. 26, 2021, the 950th anniversary of the Victory of Manzikert.