Hagia Sophia: Muslim's Friday Prayer After 86 Years

The first Friday prayer was performed 86 years later in Hagia Sophia Mosque! President Erdoğan visited the tomb of Fatih Sultan Mehmet

There was a historical day in Ayasofya-i Kebir Mosque-i Sheriff. The first Friday prayer was performed in Hagia Sophia 86 years later. The squares were full and overflowed before the prayer. Those who did not fit in the historical peninsula flocked to Yenikapı. After the ceremonies rising from the minarets, President Erdoğan read Surah Fatiha and the first 5 verses of Surah Bakara. Erbaş, who made the fard of the Friday prayer after the sermon, read the Surah of Fatah. Before the first prayer, which was performed 86 years later, 4 muezzin from 4 minarets read the lunch adhan. After the prayer in Hagia Sophia, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and MHP President Devlet Bahçeli visited the tomb of Fatih Sultan Mehmet.

Hagia Sophia was officially opened to worship today with the Friday prayer. Citizens showed great interest in the opening where President Recep Tayyip Erdogan read the Quran and the President of Religious Affairs Ali Erbaş went to the pulpit with a sword and Friday sermon. Erdogan said that 350 thousand people attended the prayer.

The conquest of Istanbul how church for 916 years, 1453, 1934 the decision of the museum used to be, until the mosque, serving 86 years as a museum Hagia Sophia , today rendered the Friday prayers, re- opened for worship as a mosque.

In Turkey, domestic and foreign tourists between the most visited and conducted by the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage religious services in the list located in Hagia Sophia Religious Affairs Presidency will be carried out by then. The restoration, conservation and conservation activities will be carried out by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism . Local and foreign tourists can visit the mosque free of charge.

In the mosque , the floor of which is covered with carpet outside the Omphalion , the paintings, depictions and mosaics will be closed with the screening system during prayer, and will be reopened after prayer.

During the opening , in which many politicians, especially President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended, and the citizens showed great interest.

Thousands of citizens flocked to the city from outside Istanbul to perform the first prayer at the Hagia Sophia Mosque. Citizens from outside the city took the breath in the Yenikapı Event Area, after Hagia Sophia was completely filled and the entrances closed by the Governor's Office. Prayer areas have been created for citizens who cannot perform the Friday prayer in Hagia Sophia. Recitation of the Quran in the Hagia Sophia the giant screen in the display area, Turkey has made in catering for from various provinces by the Turkish Red Crescent. Residents communicated that they were cheerful and energized due to the opening of Hagia Sophia.

In Ayasofya-i Kebir Cami-i Şerifi, 86 years later, many citizens who came to Istanbul from various cities to perform Friday prayers and witness the historical moment, performed Friday prayers in the Yenikapı event area. First Lady Erdogan's wife, Emine Erdogan, performed her prayers in the section reserved for women.