Erdoğan marks sixth anniversary of Hagia Sophia's reopening as a mosque

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has commemorated the sixth anniversary of the reopening of the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque for worship. In a post on social media, Erdoğan said: "Six years ago today, Hagia Sophia regained its original identity after 86 years of longing. God willing, this blessed place of worship will continue to echo with the call to prayer forever."

A Monumental History

Originally built as a church, Hagia Sophia served as a place of Christian worship for 916 years until the Ottoman conquest of Istanbul in 1453, when Sultan Mehmed II converted it into a mosque. It remained a mosque until 1934, when a Cabinet decree turned it into a museum.

The 2020 Decision

On July 10, 2020, Türkiye's Council of State annulled the 1934 decree, paving the way for the monument to reopen as a mosque. The decision marked a significant moment in the country's history, restoring the site's status as a place of worship.