Aziziye Tekke

Aziziye Tekke or Aziz Efendi Tekke is a historic tekke building and its associated cemetery located in the city of Nicosia, Cyprus. It is situated in the southeast of the Nicosia Municipality Market district. It is believed that Aziz Efendi, whose tomb is inside the shrine, was a regiment mufti during the conquest of Nicosia in 1570-1571. He died in the area of the Hagia Sophia Cathedral on the day the Ottomans entered Nicosia. First a grave was built at the place of his death, and later, by order of Sultan Selim II, a shrine was erected over the grave. In later years a small mosque and rooms were built around the shrine, turning the area into a tekke.

The tekke is located on the Green Line that separates North and South Cyprus, therefore access to the tekke can only be made from the Municipality Market.

From a rectangular hall one enters a semi‑open courtyard. A small fountain is located in the courtyard of the tekke. On the east side of the courtyard there is a door leading to a mosque with an original wooden floor. The mosque’s wooden ceiling is supported by two arches, and the plaster mihrab is modest. To the east of the mosque stands a square shrine covered with a dome.

Shrine Area

In the 1930s the shrine area of the tekke was made by Sheikh Haji Akif Efendi, who was affiliated with the Qadiriyya Order. The dhikr ceremonies organized by the sheikh continued until the 1940s. The mosque and shrine were used for worship and vows until 1963.

Current Situation

News reports from 2015 and 2017 stated that the shrine was closed, that its interior was filled with dust and soil when viewed through the window, and that tourists returned without being able to visit the tekke.