Politics
Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque welcomes 25 million visitors in 4 years
ISTANBUL
The Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, a major attraction for Istanbul residents and tourists, has attracted 25 million visitors in the four years since it reopened for worship.
Hagia Sophia, which served as a church for 916 years until the conquest of Istanbul, and as a mosque from 1453, functioned as a museum for 86 years after a 1934 decision.
The Turkish Association for the Protection of Historical Monuments and the Environment has filed a complaint demanding the annulment of the Council of Ministers' decision to transform Hagia Sophia from a mosque into a museum.
The case ended on July 10, 2020, when the 10th Chamber of the Council of State unanimously annulled the decision of the Council of Ministers dated November 24, 1934, paving the way for the reopening of Hagia Sophia for worship.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed the decree reopening Hagia Sophia for worship on the same day.
The president's decision to transfer Hagia Sophia to the Presidency of Religious Affairs and reopen it for worship was published in the Official Gazette.
The Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque was reopened for worship with a ceremony attended by Erdogan and the first Friday prayer in 86 years on July 24, 2020.
Deputy Mufti of Istanbul Ahmet Akturkoglu told Anadolu that the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque is one of the most important symbols of the conquest of Istanbul.
Akturkoglu noted that he served Muslims for centuries after the conquest.
“Since the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque was reopened for worship on July 24, 2020, it has received around 25 million visitors in four years. We continuously welcome many local and foreign visitors to the Hagia Sophia Mosque,” he said.
Akturkoglu also said that people from all over the country and from different countries, both Muslims and non-Muslims, visit the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque.
“It is one of the most important historical sites that attracts everyone's interest. Depending on the season, the Hagia Sophia Mosque receives an average of about 50,000 visitors per day. Every year, the number of our visitors reaches about 6 to 7 million.”
Akturkoglu added that in addition to daily prayers, various events are held at the mosque under the auspices of the Istanbul Mufti's Office.
“For example, we organize lectures at Hagia Sophia, lectures on Sahih al-Bukhari, orientation courses, knowledge courses on Saturdays and Sundays, special programs held on the evenings of religious celebrations, and graduation ceremonies for our students in Quran memorization, which we organize in collaboration with the Ministry of National Education's memorization project. We organize graduation ceremonies at Hagia Sophia twice a year,” he said.
50 staff members help visitors to the mosque
Akturkoglu said people come to convert to Islam and authorities hold an average of one or two conversion ceremonies a day at the mosque.
He said they provide guidance and ceremonial services at Hagia Sophia.
“We have 50 employees of the Presidency of Religious Affairs. Some of them help visitors observe mosque etiquette and guide the congregation during prayer times. In addition, we have mosque guides who provide religious guidance and explain the cultural and religious aspects of Islam and Hagia Sophia, especially to foreign tourists,” he said.
*Written by Gizem Nisa Cebi
The Anadolu Agency website contains only a part of the information offered to subscribers of the AA News Dissemination System (HAS), and in a summarized form. Please contact us for subscription options.
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