More than 30 million people visited Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia Mosque, one of the important stops of local and foreign visitors in Istanbul, has hosted more than 30 million people in the 6 years since it was reopened for worship. Hagia Sophia, which was used as a church for 916 years until the conquest of Istanbul and was converted into a mosque with the foundation of Mehmet the Conqueror in 1453, was turned into a museum by the decision of the Council of Ministers dated November 24, 1934 and operated as a museum for 86 years. The lawsuit filed by the Permanent Foundations Association for Service to Historical Monuments and the Environment, requesting the annulment of the decision of the Council of Ministers regarding the conversion of Hagia Sophia from a mosque to a museum, was concluded on July 10, 2020.

With the 10th Chamber of the Council of State unanimously annulling the decision of the Council of Ministers dated 1934, the legal way to reopen Hagia Sophia for worship was opened. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan signed the decision to reopen Hagia Sophia for worship on the same day. The decision regarding the transfer of Hagia Sophia Mosque to the Presidency of Religious Affairs and opening it for worship was published in the duplicate issue of the Official Gazette.

Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque was reopened for worship on July 24, 2020, with the first Friday prayer after 86 years, with the ceremony attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Istanbul Deputy Mufti Arif Cevlek said that the decision to open the Hagia Sophia Mosque for worship was welcomed with great joy in Türkiye and the Islamic world. Stating that the restoration of Hagia Sophia to its original identity is a development that has been awaited for many years, Cevlek said, "The restoration of Hagia Sophia to its original identity has, so to speak, refreshed the hearts that burned with longing for years in the Islamic world, especially among Muslims in Türkiye, with the slogan 'Let the chains be broken, let Hagia Sophia be opened'.

Because it was the symbol of conquest, he said. Cevlek stated that the interest shown in the mosque after it was reopened for worship maintained its liveliness on the first day, and that local and foreign visitors visited Hagia Sophia for both worship and to see its historical and artistic aspects. Emphasizing that Hagia Sophia is not just a place of worship, Cevlek said that hadith, Bukhari and wisdom lessons continued in the mosque throughout the year in line with the foundation charter of Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror, and that Hatim was recited every day.

He stated that on Fridays, the tradition of mukabeleli hatim between sala and adhan is continued. Stating that mosque officials also provide individual courses on the Quran, recitation and music, Cevlek noted that the guidance personnel working within the Presidency of Religious Affairs provide religious guidance services, especially to foreign visitors. Stating that the spiritual atmosphere of Hagia Sophia has an impact on visitors from different countries, Cevlek said, "People who see this place, benefit from the spiritual atmosphere of this place and are affected by it, embrace Islam.

We witness conversion issues on a daily and weekly basis. he said.

Arif Cevlek emphasized that the criticisms expressed in the past about "there is no need" for Hagia Sophia to be reopened for worship were not met with the number of visitors and said, "More than 30 million people visited it after it was reopened for worship. There is always busyness both inside, at the entrances and exits. It is a density that never causes any chaos. he said.

Stating that countries such as Uzbekistan, Malaysia and Indonesia have included Istanbul and Hagia Sophia in their Umrah organizations, Cevlek stated that there has been a significant increase in the number of visitors, especially from the Far East and Central Asia. Cevlek said that the ongoing restoration works in Hagia Sophia are carried out by taking into account visitor safety, and that visitors are allowed into the mosque in a controlled manner due to the works. Underlining that more people will be able to visit the mosque at the same time with the completion of the restoration, Cevlek noted that approximately 30 personnel of the Presidency of Religious Affairs and the Turkish Religious Foundation work in the mosque, and approximately 120 people a day, including the cleaning, security and administrative personnel of the General Directorate of Foundations, serve the visitors."