Hagia Sophia
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Thousands attend first Eid prayers at Hagia Sophia in 86 years
Istanbul: Muslims, wearing protective masks as a precaution against infection from coronavirus gather for the Eid al-Adha prayer inside the Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia, recently converted back to a mosque, in the historic…
- Middle East
Hagia Sophia: Top Imam uses Ottoman’s sword during Friday sermon
ISTANBUL: Turkey’s iconic Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque reopened for worship on Friday for the first time in 86 years. Ahead of the Friday sermon, the country’s Religious Affairs Directorate (Diyanet) head Ali…
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Tayyip Erdogan joins thousands at Hagia Sophia for Friday prayer
ISTANBUL – Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan joined thousands of worshippers at Hagia Sophia today. The Friday prayer was held for first time after Erdogan declared the monument, revered by Christians and Muslims…
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Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia opens for Friday prayers
Istanbul: Istanbul’s iconic Hagia Sophia opened its doors to Muslim worshippers for Friday prayers for the first time since the 1,500-year-old Unesco World Heritage site was converted into a mosque. “Muslims are excited,…
- Middle East
With 3 imams, 5 muezzins; Hagia Sophia ready for Friday prayers
ISTANBUL: A magnet for tourists worldwide, Hagia Sophia is ready to reopen on July 24 for the inaugural Friday prayer for the first time in 86 years in the Istanbul landmark following…
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Erdogan visits Hagia Sophia after reconversion to mosque
Ankara: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday paid a surprise visit to Hagia Sophia just days before the first Muslim prayer is scheduled to be held at the Istanbul landmark since…
- World
Greek mosque restoration works to be stopped after Turkey’s move
NEW DELHI: After Turkey’s Hagia Sophia move, a regional governor in Greece wants the restoration works of a historical mosque to be stopped. The 17th-century Valide Mosque on the island of Lesbos in Greece is being restored…
- Middle East
Deafening silence when Israel converts Al-Ahmar Mosque into bar
NEW DELHI: Earlier on Friday, the Turkish State Council annulled the Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia status saying its use as anything other than a mosque was “not possible legally”. Following this, there is…
- News
Putin, Erdogan discuss Hagia Sophia over the telephone
Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed in a phone conversation developments in Syria and Libya, as well as the fate of Istanbul’s iconic Hagia Sophia,…
- Middle East
Hagia Sophia: World Council of Churches wants decision reversed
ISTANBUL: The World Council of Churches has called on Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to reverse his decision to turn the Hagia Sophia museum into a mosque. In a letter to Erdogan,…
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Azaan resounds in Hagia Sophia, first prayers will be on July 24
ISTANBUL: Call for prayer from loudspeakers is heard for the first time from Hagia Sofia in Istanbul after the stunning edifice was once again turned into a mosque. Brushing aside international warnings not to…
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Hagia Sophia to be restored as mosque after Turkish court ruling
Istanbul: Overturning the 1934 ruling which converted it into a museum at the time, the Turkish top administrative court has ruled in favour of reconverting the Hagia Sophia museum into a mosque.…
