Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey, the world's largest cathedral until 1520, was a church (537-1453), a mosque (1453-1931) and is now a museum (1935-present).
Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey, the world's largest cathedral until 1520, was a church (537-1453), a mosque (1453-1931) and is now a museum (1935-present).
In 1453, Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey) was conquered by the Ottoman Empire under Mehmed the Conqueror (1432-1481) who ordered this main church of Orthodox Christianity converted into a mosque.
Although some parts of the city of Constantinople were falling into disrepair, the cathedral was maintained with an amount of money set aside for this purpose.
Nevertheless, the Christian cathedral made a strong impression on the new Ottoman rulers and they decided to convert it into a mosque.
The bells, altar, iconostasis, and other relics were destroyed and the mosaics depicting Jesus, his Mother Mary, Christian saints, and angels were also destroyed or plastered over.
Islamic features—such as the mihrab, minbar, and four minarets —were added. It remained a mosque until 1931 until it was closed to the public for four years. It was re-opened in 1935 as a museum by the Republic of Turkey.
Hagia Sophia is Turkey's most visited tourist site attracting an estimated 20,000 visitors per day.
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