In reconverting Hagia Sophia to a mosque, Turkish officials have emphasized veiling of Christian icons to create a Muslim prayer space. Experts explain why the veiling is in fact a Byzantine practice.
Muslims offer their prayers during the Eid al-Adha prayer, backdropped by Hagia Sophia, July 31, 2020. Some believe the building stands on an ancient pagan site.
(AP Photo/Yasin Akgul)
The Hagia Sophia is important in Turkey as a symbol of nation’s changing identity since the Byzantine empire. However, it also holds significance globally as a Unesco site and tourist attraction.
The first Muslim prayers were held on Friday inside the Hagia Sophia in 86 years.
AP Photo/Yasin Akgul
The first Muslim prayer in 86 years was held on July 24 inside Hagia Sophia, recently reconverted to a mosque. For over a millennium, this grand monument has wielded enormous power.