The Horhor Madrasa Mosque is a historic structure whose exact date of construction and patron are unknown. Based on its architectural features, it is dated to the 18th century, though some sources place it in the last quarter of that century. However, Evliya Çelebi’s mention of the Horhor Madrasa during his 1655 visit to Van suggests that the educational institution here dates back even further. It has not been definitively determined whether the madrasa was originally a standalone structure or how it was connected to the mosque built later.
The rectangular-plan mosque was built of cut and rubble stone and is covered with a flat earthen roof supported by wooden beams. The mihrab section features stone carvings and an inscription panel with six cartouches. No legible construction inscription remains today. Records indicate that ownership belongs to the Abbas Ağa Camii Şerifi Foundation.
The mosque and madrasa gained significance in the late 19th and early 20th centuries due to the educational activities of Bediüzzaman Said Nursi. It is noted that Said Nursi taught students at the Horhor Madrasa between 1897–1907 and 1912–1914. In particular, in 1912, while the Medresetü’z-Zehrâ project was expected to be implemented, the Horhor Madrasa was assigned to him, and he continued to teach there. The building was severely damaged during World War I, specifically during the conflict and occupation that began in 1915. Said Nursi reported that when he returned to Van in 1923, he found his former madrasa burned and in ruins.
The building, which remained in ruins for a long time, was the subject of archaeological excavations in 2011, during which the original walls, mihrab, floor tiles, and other architectural elements were uncovered. In addition, the foundations of a two-part structure adjacent to the east of the mosque and various wall remains to the north were identified. However, it has not been definitively established whether these additional structures belonged to the madrasa. Consequently, it remains unclear whether the educational activities of the Horhor Madrasa were conducted within the mosque’s sanctuary, in the adjacent structures, or in both.
Based on the excavation findings, comprehensive restoration and reconstruction work was carried out in 2012–2013; the collapsed walls and flat earthen roof were rebuilt, and the mosque was reopened for worship on July 12, 2013. Reportedly closed again in 2019 due to technical issues and water leaks that emerged later, the structure was reopened for worship following drainage, roof repair, and landscaping work carried out in 2024–2025.
