Since its reopening for worship three years in the past, the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque has became a magnet for home and overseas vacationers alike, drawing an astounding 21 million guests. This iconic landmark, which served as a church for 916 years earlier than changing into a mosque in 1453 and later a museum for 86 years, has as soon as once more turn into a cherished place of worship and an emblem of historic significance.
The momentous determination to transform Hagia Sophia from a museum again right into a mosque got here to fruition on July 24, 2020, following a lawsuit filed by the Permanent Foundations Service to Historical Artifacts and Environment Association. The Council of Ministers’ determination to revive its standing as a mosque was upheld and a grand ceremony attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan marked the historic return of the primary Friday prayer after 86 years.
Since then, Hagia Sophia has witnessed an awesome inflow of holiday makers, forming queues stretching for tons of of meters exterior its doorways. Both native and overseas vacationers have proven super curiosity in exploring the historic monument, resulting in organized entry and managed visits, particularly throughout peak instances. The mosque opens its doorways with the morning prayer and closes after the night time prayer, welcoming guests from varied corners of the world.
Bünyamin Topçuoğlu, the Imam of Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, shared insights into the surge in guests through the years. “In 2021, approximately 1.3 million people visited Hagia Sophia. However, the main influx of visitors started in 2022, with a total of 13.6 million visitors. As of January-June 2023, we have already welcomed 6 million visitors, and this number continues to rise,” Topçuoğlu revealed.
The attract of Hagia Sophia extends far past European and Western nations, because it captivates the hearts of vacationers from Arab nations, Central Asia, the Far East, and past. Notably, the mosque has witnessed a rising variety of Indonesian guests, significantly these embarking on Umrah pilgrimages. During transits in Istanbul, these pilgrims go to the Hagia Sophia earlier than persevering with their journey to Mecca and Medina.
Topçuoğlu emphasised respecting sure guidelines and decorum inside Hagia Sophia, similar to anyplace of worship all over the world. Visitors are suggested to decorate appropriately and behave with reverence whereas exploring the mosque’s wealthy heritage.
Special applications paying homage to the Ottoman interval have been revived to breathe new life into this historic web site. Oil lamp nights and Kadir Nights, amongst others, at the moment are a part of the mosque’s cultural calendar. “We hold very special programs here, including oil lamp programs, Quran recitations before Friday prayers by our huffaz (those who have memorized the Quran by heart), and alternating double calls to prayer between Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. High-participation Mevlid programs are also conducted here,” Topçuoğlu shared.
Both guests and mosque officers deeply felt the non secular significance of Hagia Sophia. Topçuoğlu, who beforehand served on the famend Fatih Mosque, conveyed his profound connection to Hagia Sophia.
“Every time I come here, I experience a spiritual pleasure as if I have entered the Prophet’s Mosque. The sense of spirituality is overpowering. I recall praying the night prayer here once, and it evoked emotions that sometimes move people to tears,” he shared.
As Hagia Sophia continues to captivate hearts and minds, its timeless magnificence and historic significance stand as a testomony to the wealthy cultural heritage of Istanbul and the broader area. The grand mosque stays a supply of awe and inspiration for hundreds of thousands of holiday makers, symbolizing a bridge between historical past and modernity.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
