Loss of Hagia Sophia’s religiously neutral status is both celebrated and decried
July 25, 2020 at 3:52 a.m.
by
MEHMET GUZEL AND SUZAN FRASER THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (center) on Friday takes part in the first Muslim prayers in 86 years at the historic Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. More photos are available at arkansasonline.com/725turkey/
(AP/Turkish Presidency)
ISTANBUL -- Fulfilling a dream of his Islamic-oriented youth, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan joined hundreds of worshippers Friday for the first Muslim prayers in 86 years in the Hagia Sophia, the Istanbul landmark that served as one of Christendom's most significant cathedrals, a mosque and a museum before its conversion back into a Muslim place of worship.
Thousands of other Muslim faithful came from across Turkey and quickly filled specially designated areas outside the Byzantine era monument to join in the inaugural prayers. Many others were turned away, while Orthodox Christian church leaders in Greece and the United States announced a "day of mourning" over the Hagia Sophia's return as a mosque.
The prayers began with Erdogan reciting from the Quran. The head of Turkey's religious authority, Ali Erbas, led the ceremony and prayed that Muslims would never again be "denied" the right to worship at the internationally celebrated sixth-century structure.
As many as many as 350,000 people took part in Friday's prayers, the president said.
Adem Yilmaz, who attended the prayers, expressed joy at experiencing "the making of history."
"This turned into a place where all hearts beat at once," he said.
Brushing aside international criticism, Erdogan issued a decree restoring the iconic building as a mosque this month, shortly after a Turkish high court ruled that the Hagia Sophia had been illegally made into a museum more than eight decades ago.
The structure, a UNESCO World Heritage site, has since been renamed "The Grand Hagia Sophia Mosque."
The move sparked dismay in Greece and the United States and among Christian church leaders who had called on Erdogan to maintain the Hagia Sophia as a museum in recognition of Istanbul's multifaith heritage and the structure's status as a symbol of Christian and Muslim unity.
The Hagia Sophia's reemergence as a mosque is being interpreted as a move aimed at consolidating Erdogan's conservative and religious support at a time when his popularity is sagging amid an economic downturn.
"It allows him to switch the narrative away from the economy to the culture wars, an area where he did well in the past by mobilizing his right-wing base," said Soner Cagaptay, Turkey analyst for the Washington Institute and author of "Erdogan's Empire."
"This is Hagia Sophia breaking away from its captivity chains. It was the greatest dream of our youth," Erdogan said last week. "It was the yearning of our people and it has been accomplished." Erdogan also described its conversion into a museum by the republic's founding leaders as a mistake that is being rectified.
In neighboring Greece, bells tolled and flags flew at half-staff at hundreds of churches across the country in protest of the decision. The Greek Orthodox Church leader, Archbishiop Ieronymos, held a special service at Athens Cathedral later Friday. Churches in Athens and in Greece's second-largest city, Thessaloniki, also organized vigils.
"Universal values have been tarnished, and that is why they require universal condemnation," Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said.
Information for this article was contributed by Robert Badenbieck, Derek Gatopoulos and Costas Kantouris of The Associated Press.
People use their mobile phones to take pictures inside the Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia, in the historic Sultanahmet district of Istanbul, Friday, July 24, 2020. Worshipers earlier held the first Muslim prayers in 86 years inside the Istanbul landmark that served as one of Christendom's most significant cathedrals, a mosque and a museum before its conversion back into a Muslim place of worship. The conversion of the edifice, has led to an international outcry. (AP Photo/Omer Kuscu)
A man waves a Turkish flag outside the Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia, in the historic Sultanahmet district of Istanbul, Friday, July 24, 2020. Hundreds of Muslim faithful were making their way to Istanbul's landmark monument Friday to take part in the first prayers in 86 years at the structure that was once Christendom's most significant cathedral and the "jewel" of the Byzantine Empire then a mosque and museum before its re-conversion into a Muslim place of worship. The conversion of the edifice, has led to an international outcry. (AP Photo/Omer Kuscu)
A man draped in a Turkish flag, stands as people walk inside the Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia following the inaugural Friday prayers, in the historic Sultanahmet district of Istanbul, Friday, July 24, 2020. Worshipers held the first Muslim prayers in 86 years inside the Istanbul landmark that served as one of Christendom's most significant cathedrals, a mosque and a museum before its conversion back into a Muslim place of worship. The conversion of the edifice, has led to an international outcry. (AP Photo/Yasin Akgul)
People take part in a rally against the decision to convert Hagia Sophia into a mosque, in central Athens on Friday, July 24, 2020. In Greece, bells tolled and flags flew at half-staff at hundreds of churches across the country in protest at the decision to convert Hagia Sophia into a mosque. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
A Greek oprthodox priest holds a Greek flag outside Athens' Cathedral as Greek Orthodox Church leader, Archbishop Ieronymos, helds a special service on Friday, July 24, 2020. In Greece, bells tolled and flags flew at half-staff at hundreds of churches across the country in protest at the decision to convert Hagia Sophia into a mosque. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Muslims pray during Friday prayers at the historic Sultanahmet district of Istanbul, near the Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia, background, Friday, July 24, 2020. Thousands of Muslim faithful surrounded Istanbul's landmark monument Friday to take part in the first prayers in 86 years at the structure that was once Christendom's most significant cathedral and the "jewel" of the Byzantine Empire then a mosque and museum before its re-conversion into a Muslim place of worship. The conversion of the edifice, has led to an international outcry. (AP Photo/Yasin Akgul)
In this combo of photos, a gold-coloured mosaic, top, that depicts The Virgin Mary and Jesus is seen inside the Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia, in the historic Sultanahmet district of Istanbul, Friday, Oct. 15, 2010, while on the bottom photo, the mosaic is covered with sail-like drapes, following the inaugural Friday prayers, Friday, July 24, 2020. Mosaics depicting Christian figures were covered, in line with Islamic traditions that bar the depiction of figures. Worshipers held the first Muslim prayers in 86 years inside the Istanbul landmark that served as one of Christendom's most significant cathedrals, a mosque and a museum before its conversion back into a Muslim place of worship. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel/Yasin Akgul)
Faithful wait at the historic Sultanahmet district of Istanbul, outside the Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia, Friday, July 24, 2020. Hundreds of Muslim faithful were making their way to Istanbul's landmark monument Friday to take part in the first prayers in 86 years at the structure that was once Christendom's most significant cathedral and the "jewel" of the Byzantine Empire then a mosque and museum before its re-conversion into a Muslim place of worship. The conversion of the edifice, has led to an international outcry. (AP Photo/Yasin Akgul)
An imam reads from the Quran, Islams holy book, as dignitaries including Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan take part in Friday prayers in Hagia Sophia, at the historic Sultanahmet district of Istanbul, Friday, July 24, 2020. Fulfilling a dream of his Islamic-oriented youth, Erdogan joined hundreds of worshipers for the first Muslim prayers in 86 years inside the Istanbul landmark that served as one of Christendom's most significant cathedrals, a mosque and a museum before its conversion back into a Muslim place of worship. The conversion of the edifice, has led to an international outcry. (Turkish Presidency via AP, Pool)
