The historical Hagia Sophia museum of Istanbul has been turned back into a mosque after the decision of the court of Turkey.
Hagia Sophia tells the story of great powers, civilizations and religions rivalry in the past. Hagia Sophia is a marvelous building which has a long history.
It was inaugurated under the rule of Constantine in 360 A.D. Its roof was destroyed due to fire in 404 A.D. In 415 A.D, Hagia Sophia was restored and rededicated by Theodosius second. In 532 A.D, it was burnt and its structure was completely destroyed. After three months,its construction was started again and it was completed in 537 A.D.
Hagia Sophia Church
Roman king Justinian one ordered to construct this building as a church. Hagia Sophia was considered the main church of the faith of Greek Orthodox. It was damaged during the thirteen century. However, Byzantines repaired its building by tacking its control.
Mosaics of Hagia Sophia
After that, the Ottoman Emperor, Fatih Sultan Muhammad( Muhammad the Conqueror) captured Constantinople in 1453 A.D. This city was renamed by the Ottomans as the city Istanbul.
As, the religion of the Ottomans was Islam, so, they turned Hagia Sophia into a mosque in 1453 A.D. It remained as a mosque up to 1934 A.D.
Hagia Sophia Mosque
However, in 1934, it was turned into a museum by the secular leader of modern Turkey Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
Hagia Sophia Museum
Recently, the Turkish court abrogated its status of museum and ordered to turn it back into a mosque. Muslims welcome this move but this decision is highly criticized by Christians and secular people across the globe.
