Five Years Since Ayasofya’s Reopening as a Mosque Celebrated in Istanbul
Ayasofya Grand Mosque Marks Five Years Since Reopening for Worship
July 10, 2025 – Istanbul
The Ayasofya Grand Mosque, also known as Hagia Sophia, commemorates the fifth anniversary of its reconversion from a museum back into a mosque, a move that reignited international attention in July 2020.
Marking the occasion, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shared a message on social media platform X, celebrating the mosque’s return to active worship.
“Five years ago today, we broke its chains and reunited Ayasofya with the call to prayer. God willing, it will remain free forever,” Erdogan wrote, alongside an image of the Presidential Decree that officially handed management of the site to the Presidency of Religious Affairs.
A Monument Through the Ages
Ayasofya’s rich history spans more than a millennium. Originally built as a church, it served in that capacity for 916 years before becoming a mosque in 1453, following the Ottoman conquest of Istanbul. In 1934, it was converted into a museum, a status it retained for 86 years until a Turkish court ruling overturned the earlier decree.
On July 24, 2020, thousands gathered as Friday prayers were held at the site for the first time in nearly nine decades, signifying the mosque’s official reopening to Muslim worship.
Religious Site and Tourist Landmark
Though Ayasofya is now a working mosque, it remains one of Türkiye’s most visited landmarks, continuing to attract both local and international tourists. The building, which combines Byzantine and Ottoman architectural styles, is also recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985.
The transformation of Ayasofya from a museum back into a mosque was a longstanding goal for many Turkish leaders, who viewed the change as a restoration of historical and cultural identity.
