Hagia Sophia will be the fourth Byzantine church museum to be restored as a mosque under Mr. Erdogan. In November, the famous Chora monastery church in Istanbul had its status as a museum revoked. When the plan for Hagia Sophia was floated, it met a chorus of dismay from religious and political leaders around the world. Hagia Sophia, famous for the grandeur of its immense and iconic dome, was converted into a mosque in 1453 after Mehmed II the Conqueror held his first Friday prayers there, three days after seizing control of what was then the city of Constantinople. Mr. Erdogan had voiced his intention to convert Hagia Sophia into a mosque several times.

Source: International New York Times July 10, 2020 13:07 UTC