The Hagia Sophia, originally built in 537 AD as a Byzantine cathedral, has undergone significant transformations, serving as a mosque after the Ottoman conquest in 1453 and later as a museum under Atatürk’s secular reforms in 1934, symbolizing Turkey’s multicultural heritage and commitment to inclusivity.

Its reconversion into a mosque in 2020 by President Erdogan has sparked international criticism, with UNESCO and Orthodox Christian institutions expressing concerns about the site's historical integrity and its role as a symbol of coexistence.

Critics argue that the decision prioritizes Islamic heritage over Hagia Sophia’s multicultural legacy, with changes such as covering Christian mosaics and limiting tourist access, which some view as undermining religious tolerance and secular values.

Erdogan framed the reconversion as a triumph of Islamic identity and national pride, likening it to the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople, a narrative that resonated with his conservative base but alienated secular and international observers.

Analysts suggest the move was politically motivated, aimed at bolstering Erdogan’s Islamo-nationalist base amidst economic challenges and declining electoral support, while critics view it as a distraction from domestic issues such as inflation.

Tour guides can diplomatically address concerns by emphasizing Hagia Sophia’s layered history as a Byzantine cathedral, Ottoman mosque, and museum, highlighting its significance as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and symbol of cultural coexistence.

They can also reassure visitors that measures have been implemented to preserve the site’s integrity, including restoration efforts and educational resources that provide insights into its historical and architectural features.

Acknowledging the controversy as part of broader political and cultural dynamics in Turkey can help foster understanding among tourists, while maintaining a focus on the shared human appreciation for historical preservation.

The Hagia Sophia, originally built in 537 AD as a Byzantine cathedral, has undergone significant transformations, serving as a mosque after the Ottoman conquest in 1453 and later as a museum under Atatürk’s secular reforms in 1934, symbolizing Turkey’s multicultural heritage and commitment to inclusivity.

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In ATOR called an insignificant amount of €25 for the entrance to the mosque of Hagia Sophia
In ATOR warned tourists about the rise in price of tickets to the palace-museums of Istanbul
A rise in prices for tourist services in Istanbul is inevitable due to the weak position of the local currency - the lira.
This was stated in an interview with Gazeta.Ru Vice President of ATOR Arthur Muradyan, commenting on the decision of the authorities to make a visit to the Hagia Sophia mosque for foreigners paid.
From January 15, the entrance will cost €25.
“From the point of view of tourists, the amount of 25 euros, and for a family of two or four people it is 50-100 euros, can not be called some significant expenditure.
On the other hand, of course, some tourists will think about spending money on visiting this attraction.
Of course, it is a landmark for Istanbul, and I think that the Turkish authorities have approached carefully to determine the amount of fees for visiting this architectural monument, ” Muradian said.
In his opinion, following the Hagia Sophia mosque, the authorities can raise prices for entrance tickets to other museums.
“The rise in prices for tourist services is inevitable to some extent due to the not very good fate of the lira, which we have seen in the last few years.
And, of course, tourists should be ready to increase the cost of services related to the use of the tourism infrastructure of Istanbul, ” said ATOR Vice President.
On January 12, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey reported that the entrance to the Hagia Sophia mosque in Istanbul for foreign citizens from January 15, 2024 will cost €25.
The ministry explained that when setting the fee for visiting the mosque, they were guided by the recommendations of UNESCO.
Hagia Sophia, which is now called the Great Mosque of Hagia Sophia, was erected in the 6th century under the emperor Justinian and for more than a thousand years remained the largest Christian temple in the world.
In 1453, after the capture of Constantinople by the Ottoman Turks, Saint Sophia was converted into a mosque.
In 1934, the temple was given the status of a museum, it retained both Christian and Muslim decoration.
In July 2020, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a decree on the resumption of Muslim worship in Hagia Sophia.
Entrance to the mosque was free for all visitors, including tourists.
Earlier it became known about the destruction of a mosque in Gaza after Israeli shelling.
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How did the role of Hagia Sophia change following the Ottoman conquest?

Hagia Sophia became a central Islamic religious site for centuries

Sultan Mehmed II converted Hagia Sophia into a mosque,

What was the original historical and cultural significance of Hagia Sophia in the Byzantine Empire?

Served as the central church of Byzantine Christianity,

What was the significance of Hagia Sophia's conversion into a museum in 1934?

repositioned Hagia Sophia as a global cultural landmark.

Symbolized Turkey's secular reforms under Ataturk

When was Hagia Sophia built and under whose rule?

Its reconversion into a mosque in 2020 by President Erdogan has sparked international criticism, with UNESCO and Orthodox Christian institutions expressing concerns about the site's historical integrity and its role as a symbol of coexistence.

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Content: She returned Hagia Sophia to a mosque.
Turkey has challenged global trusteeship
Daily Morning
Istanbul, Turkey
Posted at 29.10.2022 10: 23
Hagia Sophia Mosque (Getty Images)
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday that the fact that Turkey has returned the Hagia Sophia museum from a museum to a mosque represents a major challenge to the global trusteeship.
Speaking at a ceremony announcing the vision of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) “Turkey ’ s Century ” in Ankara, Erdogan said his country was challenging global tutelage and thanked citizens for their support for the decision to return Hagia Sophia.
He noted that his party has always sought to eliminate any vestiges of guardianship and promote democracy in the country over the past 20 years.
Turkey has lived through a remarkable period in its history in general and the history of Istanbul, especially when Hagia Sophia was transformed from its status as a museum and restored to its former glory as the Grand Mosque of Hagia Sophia on July 24, 2020.
The historic building remained a church for 916 years until the conquest of Istanbul.
It was then used as a mosque between 1453 and 1934, nearly 500 years before becoming a museum for 86 years.
It is one of the most visited historical buildings in Turkey by domestic and international tourists, and Hagia Sophia was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985.
On July 10, 2020, a Turkish court overturned a 1934 ministerial decision that turned Hagia Sophia into a museum, paving the way for it to be used again as a mosque after an 86-year hiatus.

How did Muslims and Orthodox Christians react to the reconversion?

Who was angered by the reconversion of Hagia Sophia in July 2020?

Critics argue that the decision prioritizes Islamic heritage over Hagia Sophia’s multicultural legacy, with changes such as covering Christian mosaics and limiting tourist access, which some view as undermining religious tolerance and secular values.

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Content: After Hagia Sophia, Turkey converts a second ancient Byzantine church into a mosque

Hundreds of worshippers filled the narrow streets of Istanbul's Fatih district on Friday to hear the sounds of Friday prayers ringing out from the newly inaugurated Kariye Mosque.

Once known as the Chora Church, the site spent the last 79 years as a museum. But it is now the latest structure to be converted back into a mosque by the government of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, following the conversion of Hagia Sophia in 2020. While viewed as a triumph by many Turkish Muslims, the Greek Orthodox Church has decried it as an "ill-advised decision" that "makes a mockery of the Turkish government's commitment to religious tolerance and religious freedom."

Chora's conversion was announced shortly after Hagia Sophia's, but its opening for prayer was delayed by years of restoration work.

The showing for the first Friday prayers at Kariye was relatively quiet compared to Hagia Sophia, which drew hundreds of thousands who filled the streets with prayer rugs for blocks and blocks away from the building. By contrast, the crowd on Friday was relatively average for a mosque in one of Istanbul's more religiously conservative neighborhoods, where Friday worshippers frequently spill out onto the streets.

Both the Chora Church and Hagia Sophia are 4th-century Byzantine constructions. They spent nearly a millennium as Christian holy sites before being converted to mosques by the Ottomans after their conquest of Constantinople in the 15th century. Despite their conversions, they remained revered by Orthodox Christians. After the founding of a secular Turkish Republic in the early 20th century, the decision was made for both to be neither mosque nor church but simply museums.

"Both Hagia Sophia and Chora embodied Byzantine and Ottoman pasts, and they became symbols of co-existence and multi-faith living practices. Their conversion fundamentally implies a hierarchy, prioritizing the Islamic past over all other layers, Greek Orthodox, Armenian, Jewish, Syriac, et al," Dr. Özgür Kaymak, a lecturer and researcher on minority rights at Istanbul's MEF University, told Religion News Service in an email.

Rededicating the sites as mosques is more than just a status change. According to Islamic tradition, artwork of human figures are forbidden in places of prayer, while in Orthodox Churches, icons of Christ, saints and other biblical figures are a defining feature.

In Hagia Sophia, the mosaics of Jesus and Mary have been covered with curtains since the conversion. While Erdoğan promised Hagia Sophia would remain fully accessible and free to all visitors, Turkey reneged on that earlier this year, reimposing an entrance fee on tourists and relegating them to the upper level, while the main floor is exclusive to Muslim worshippers.

Observers have also criticized the Turkish Directorate of Religion's caretaking of the site, noting damage that did not exist when it was under the purview of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Though Chora is significantly smaller than Hagia Sophia, it is home to some of the best-preserved examples of late-Byzantine art, including mosaics, icons and frescoes, and is considered a UNESCO World Heritage site.

"For us it's a very important place because it remembers our culture and our traditions here," Father Evangelos Markantonis, an Orthodox priest who was leading a group of theology students to Chora on Friday, told Religion News Service.

"Though we cannot venerate as Orthodox Christians, we have to try to find things we can be united on. Only with dialogue and good deeds can we continue our lives," Markantonis, who is also a professor at the University of Athens, said when asked about the controversy.

Erdoğan had long refused calls from his right to convert churches like Hagia Sophia and Chora, telling supporters in 2018 to fill the nearby Sultan Ahmet Mosque (also known in English as the Blue Mosque) before they talked about needing to pray in Hagia Sophia.

Nonetheless, he made an about-turn in 2020.

"My dear nation, the conquest of Istanbul and the conversion of the Hagia Sophia into a Mosque are among the most glorious chapters in Turkish history," Erdoğan said at the time in a speech inaugurating the Hagia Sophia as a mosque.

"This is the most honorable day that Islam has been looking forward to, Greek Constantinople has become Turkish Istanbul," he added, quoting the Turkish poet Nazim Hikmet.

"The resurrection of Hagia Sophia heralds the liberation of the al-Aqsa Mosque. The resurrection of Hagia Sophia is the footsteps of the will of Muslims across the world to come out of the interregnum," Erdoğan said in his concluding remarks.

Chora's opening as the Kariye Mosque comes just weeks after Erdoğan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) suffered its largest electoral defeat in two decades during Turkey's nationwide municipal elections.

"The recent conversion of Chora into a mosque may be due to Erdoğan's many problems, including his geopolitical power politics, his appeal to religio-nationalism to revive his electoral popularity after the March elections or his tactic to divert attention from Turkey's economic downturn," Kaymak said.

Many analysts have attributed the loss to AKP bleeding votes to the more Islamist-leaning New Welfare Party, which has pressured Erdogan over his response to the Israel-Hamas war and humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.

Muslim worshippers at the mosque on Friday said they viewed its rededication as an Islamic site to be a national win for Turkey.

"This mosque is one of the symbols of the Conquest. We are proud and happy. There are very beautiful frescoes inside. They were also nicely renovated before they were closed. May it be good for our country and our nation," a bystander, Ahmet Öteyüzoğlu, told Turkish media.

"Thank God for these days. Not everyone has the opportunity in their lifetime," another bystander named Mehmet Çelik told the Turkish news service Anadolu Agency, in reference to having been able to pray at both the rededicated Hagia Sophia and Kariye Mosques.

However, Greece, the U.S. State Department and Orthodox Christian institutions worldwide have all criticized the decision to revert the structure into a mosque.

"I want to publicly express my intense dissatisfaction, interpreting the feelings of all Greek women and men, for the completely unnecessary conversion of a historic Byzantine temple, the Monastery of Chora, into a mosque. It is, I believe, an action that offends the rich history of Istanbul itself as a crossroads of cultures," Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said shortly before leaving for Turkey for a planned meeting with Erdogan.

"We encourage the Turkish government to preserve and ensure access to sites and buildings that have hosted different religious communities in a way that respects their diverse histories," a State Department spokesperson said in response to questions from Greek media.

"The Turkish government's appropriation of both as the property of one faith group not only constitutes yet another sign of that government's contempt for Turkey's rich Orthodox Christian heritage but further imperils the religious freedom of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the remaining Christians of that land," the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate said in a statement.

© Religion News Service

How did Muslims and Orthodox Christians react to the reconversion?

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

Who was angered by the reconversion of Hagia Sophia in July 2020?

Erdogan framed the reconversion as a triumph of Islamic identity and national pride, likening it to the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople, a narrative that resonated with his conservative base but alienated secular and international observers.

Title:

Content: Roundup of news from December 30, 2021
Erdogan the Conqueror
The Turkish president compared the transformation of Hagia Sophia into a mosque with the fall of Constantinople.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan seeks to try on the kaftan of Sultan Mehmed II, whose troops captured Constantinople in 1453.
In this regard, he, summing up the year, compared the transformation of the Hagia Sophia into a mosque with the fall of Tsargrad, reports the UOJ with reference to the publication “Vima Ortodoksiya ”.
According to the head of Turkey, the transformation of Hagia Sophia into a mosque is “as important ” for the Turks as the fall of the capital of the Byzantine Empire.
However, at the same time, many pay attention to the fact that the Turkish lira in the outgoing year fell strongly against the dollar, and this seriously hit the Turkish economy.
Responding to the criticism, Erdogan said he would “lead his people to what they deserve ” and stressed that he would“ apply the laws of Islam. ”
Thus, the Turkish authorities seek to distract their citizens from economic problems by proclaiming the Islamization of Turkey to the detriment of its secular status.
The economy of Turkey is not in the best condition, but Erdogan was again able to win the Hagia Sophia.
This is what officials in Ankara are thinking.
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What kind of domestic reaction did Erdogan's reconversion of Hagia Sophia receive?

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

The decision aimed to rally anti-Kemalist voters.

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

Analysts suggest the move was politically motivated, aimed at bolstering Erdogan’s Islamo-nationalist base amidst economic challenges and declining electoral support, while critics view it as a distraction from domestic issues such as inflation.

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

Tour guides can diplomatically address concerns by emphasizing Hagia Sophia’s layered history as a Byzantine cathedral, Ottoman mosque, and museum, highlighting its significance as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and symbol of cultural coexistence.

What was the significance of Hagia Sophia's conversion into a museum in 1934?

repositioned Hagia Sophia as a global cultural landmark.

They can also reassure visitors that measures have been implemented to preserve the site’s integrity, including restoration efforts and educational resources that provide insights into its historical and architectural features.

Title:

Content: Turkey’s iconic Hagia Sophia mosque to charge $28 entry fee for tourists

Published: Updated:
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Turkey’s Hagia Sophia mosque began charging tourists nearly $28 on Monday for entrance to the landmark site.

The UNESCO World Heritage site, renowned for its blue-tiled interior, will no longer allow free admission to foreigners, the Turkish tourism ministry announced.

For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.

The former museum-turned mosque has a new entrance in front of the Topkapi Palace Museum open for tourists.

Tunnel entrance at Turkey's Hagia Sophia. (File photo)

The Hagia Sophia was a museum space from 1934 until 2020 when Turkey decided to change it to a mosque. Various historical reports say the mosque with byzantine architecture was an Orthodox cathedral decades ago.

“With the new application that will start on January 15 at the Hagia Sophia Mosque, tourists will be able to visit the mosque without disturbing the prayer environment,” the ministry said in a statement.

The entrance to the mosque will be “provided in a controlled manner through the tunnel and entrance ramp where visitors will be transported to the gallery floor and exited via the ramp in the northeast direction,” the statement said.

“Tourists who come to the gallery section will be able to see the sanctuary floor of the mosque and the Ottoman Period annexes, pass through the heaven-hell gate, and examine the Byzantine Period mosaics in this section,” it added.

Security cameras, fire detection and emergency announcement systems were reportedly installed in the mosque along the tour route. Cleaning and conservation work on the marble coverings and wooden railings on the gallery floor of the mosque was also carried out by restorers and conservators.

Visitors will also have access to a headset guide with QR codes where information on the sight is available in 23 languages.

People visit the Hagia Sophia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in Istanbul, Turkey, July 10, 2020. (Reuters)

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Acknowledging the controversy as part of broader political and cultural dynamics in Turkey can help foster understanding among tourists, while maintaining a focus on the shared human appreciation for historical preservation.

Title:

Content: Public Antiquities Organizes a Specialized Lecture in Sign Language on Archaeological Sites in Jordan
16 May 2023
Today, in the presence of the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Makram Al-Qaisi, the Department of Antiquities organized, on Tuesday, a specialized lecture in sign language under the title “Archaeological Sites in Jordan ”, as part of the“ I Can ” initiative, which aims to introduce the deaf to the most important archaeological sites in Jordan.
Al-Qaisi said that the care of persons with disabilities is an important social responsibility that falls on the shoulders of the whole society, pointing out that His Majesty King Abdullah II wanted to care for these groups and pay attention to them, through his continuous guidance and humanitarian vision in empowering them and integrating them into society.
The Minister pointed out that the Ministry and the Department worked on preparing many plans and programs that focus on enabling persons with disabilities to visit tourist and archaeological sites, and provide them with equal opportunities to integrate into society and participate in economic and cultural development.
During the lecture, which comes within the celebrations of the Department of Antiquities in its first centenary, Minister Al-Qaisi stressed that Jordan has witnessed important achievements in this field in recent years, thanks to the tireless efforts of His Majesty King Abdullah II in this regard.
The Minister stressed the importance of providing the necessary support for the deaf in particular and persons with disabilities in general to preserve their cultural heritage, introduce them to the culture, heritage and history of the community, strengthen their national identity, enable them to visit archaeological sites and museums, and provide the necessary means of communication for them to obtain information about these sites and monuments.
“In the belief of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in the need to integrate persons with disabilities with society and enable them to visit tourist and archaeological areas, in the past periods, free trips have been conducted for these groups to tourist and archaeological sites through the Jordan Jannah program supported by the Ministry and the Tourism Authority, ” he said, noting that according to the system of entrance fees to archaeological sites and museums, persons with disabilities were exempted from these fees.
The Minister pointed to the meeting held by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities with the Supreme Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, during which it was agreed to work in the field of inclusive tourism within four axes: the axis of legislation, through which the Council will be involved in reviewing the legislation to amend articles in the Antiquities Law to empower persons with disabilities.
Al-Qaisi said, “With regard to the second axis, work will be done on the use of technology applications in archaeological sites so that this stage includes the processing of content on search engines, in addition to the introduction of languages for persons with disabilities on the platforms of the Ministry, the Department of Antiquities and the Tourism Authority, as well as on the application of the electronic directory.
With regard to the training axis, Minister Al-Qaisi said that it was agreed to involve persons with disabilities in the Ministry ’ s training programs such as “Guide in Sign Language ” and work programs in hotels and restaurants, where the ministry will cover the cost of participation of these groups in these programs.
For his part, the Director General of the Department of Antiquities, Prof. Dr. Fadi Belaoui, stressed the need to identify the importance of cultural heritage and belonging to heritage, history and civilization and strengthen the national identity.
He pointed to the role of the Hashemites in the care and support of persons with disabilities, pointing out the need to work to integrate persons with disabilities in general and the deaf in particular with the community and involve them in various areas of life.
Dr. Balawi pointed out that this initiative is part of the initiatives implemented by the Department in its strategic vision, which focuses on paying attention to persons with disabilities (deaf), contributing to their integration into society and its various activities, introducing them to archaeological sites in the Kingdom, and raising awareness of the importance of cultural heritage and preservation.
He stressed the tireless efforts of the Ministry of Tourism and the Department of Antiquities to rehabilitate archaeological and tourist sites and provide them with means and facilities that facilitate the visit of people with disabilities, such as special corridors, service facilities and educational means.
The lecture, which was delivered by the employee of the Directorate of Studies and Publishing in the Department, Rola Tarifi, Advisor to the Minister Hisham al-Abadi, Deputy Director of the Tourism Police Department, Colonel Samer al-Najjar, and a number of schools and associations of the deaf, where at the end of the lecture, symbolic gifts were presented to the participating students.
The target group of the “I Can ” initiative, which came up with an idea from the Director of Studies and Publishing at the Department of Antiquities, Huda Qassem, will be school students from grades 10, 1, 2 and 2. The initiative includes organizing lectures and presentations for the deaf, trips to archaeological sites and a number of museums to introduce them to Jordan ’ s history and civilizations. Antiquities Sector.
The initiative also includes working to stimulate and strengthen the role of the deaf and involve them, by encouraging them to publish in our Bulletin of Antiquities issued by the Department of Antiquities, which deals with the topics of cultural heritage, awareness and identification of archaeological sites in Jordan, where the best reports receive motivational and encouraging awards.