First Friday Prayers At The Hagia Sophia 'Mosque'

Hagia Sophia (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - The historic museum in Istanbul, Turkey that has now been converted back into a mosque, the Hagia Sophia, is holding Friday prayers for the first time. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan joined the congregation at noon local time.

"Muslims are very happy. Everyone wants to be at the opening," said Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya, quoted by the BBC, Friday, July 24.

A thousand people were allowed in through the security checkpoint. Meanwhile others spread out prayer mats.

Joy is expected to arise when many people head for the Hagia Sophia. However, not everyone was happy. This change occurred after the Hagia Sophia stood as a museum for 86 years.

The decision, which involves one of Istanbul's most important sites and a UNESCO world heritage site, has been criticized by international religious and political leaders. UNESCO itself has expressed concern. However, Erdogan's decision did not change.

Erdogan ordered the conversion of the sixth-century building back to the mosque in early July. This happened after the court overturned a 1934 presidential decree that made it a museum.

The Turkish government has tried to ensure that Christian art and frescoes will not be touched. They used technology to hide the painting during Friday prayers.

The Hagia Sophia is the Roman Empire's first Christian cathedral and one of the most famous Byzantine structures in the world. The Hagia Sophia then switched from a cathedral to a mosque in 1453, when the Ottomans conquered Constantinople and changed its name to Istanbul.

The historic site became a museum in 1935 as part of a decree by the founder of modern Turkish secularist Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. Erdogan has positioned himself as a friend to conservative Islam in Turkey, moving the country further away from its secular roots.

UNESCO said earlier this month that it "deeply regrets" Turkey's decision and the choice was made without them receiving prior notification. Pope Frnasiskus meanwhile said he was "deeply saddened" by the changes to the building. Meanwhile Greece's Ministry of Culture denounced the move as "an open provocation to the entire civilized world."

While announcing his retouching of the Hagia Sophia, Erdogan made a televised address on July 10. He urged his decision to be respected and said there would be no more admission fees as its status as a museum had changed.

"Like all our mosques, its doors will be open to everyone, Muslim or non-Muslim. As a shared heritage of the world, the Hagia Sophia with its new status will continue to embrace everyone in a more sincere way," he said.

"We will treat every opinion that is voiced on the international stage with respect. But the way the Hagia Sophia will be used is under Turkey's sovereign rights. We consider any step that goes beyond voicing an opinion to be a violation of our sovereignty," Erdogan said.