Over 100 volunteers have dedicated themselves to reviving and restoring a 150‑year‑old mosque in Constanța County of Romania. Located in the village of Albești, this historic mosque stood abandoned for decades, ever since the collapse of its roof in the 1980s.
The mosque would have gradually surrendered to the decay caused by time had it not been for the attention paid to it by a grassroots heritage group called Ambulanța Monumentelor.
Now, joined by architecture students, builders, craftspeople, and restoration experts, the group is leading the rescue and restoration work.
🇷🇴 Romania is a country that respects its history 📜, while also being a model of multiethnic 🌍 and interfaith coexistence 🤝.
🏘️ In Constanța County, an area with a strong Ottoman influence 🕌, a 150-year-old mosque is being restored 🛠️ by over 100 volunteers 🙌: architecture… pic.twitter.com/v3XjdzxrT7— Dan Stoenescu دان ستوينسكو 🇷🇴🇪🇺 (@DanStoenescu) September 5, 2025
Their first major task was stabilizing and rebuilding the roof. Volunteers patched rotten beams with new wood, replaced old tiles, and dealt with surprises along the way, including a sapling that had sprouted through a hole in the roof.
Selcin Ali, the mosque’s imam, emphasized its remarkable resilience; centuries-old walls remain solid, a rare and invaluable testament to the enduring architectural heritage of the region.
Local residents are optimistic about the mosque’s future, envisioning it as a small museum or cultural landmark that commemorates Albești’s layered history, from German settlement to Ottoman influence.
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On social media app X, Romania’s ambassador to Pakistan echoed and amplified this message. He celebrated Romania’s respect for history and its interfaith and multiethnic legacy.
Highlighting the mosque’s restoration, he praised the collaboration among architecture students, builders, artisans, and restorers, underscoring how Christians and Muslims are volunteering side by side to safeguard their shared cultural and religious heritage.
This initiative does more than save a crumbling monument, it reaffirms a spirit of communal harmony. In a region with deep Ottoman roots, the mosque’s restoration reflects a present-day story of unity, pride, and cross‑community solidarity.
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