Hagia Sophia spent virtually 1,000 years as a cathedral earlier than being transformed right into a mosque in 1453 (File)
Istanbul:
Turkey’s Hagia Sophia might open to guests outdoors prayer occasions and its Christian icons will stay, spiritual officers stated on Tuesday, after a courtroom ruling paved the best way for it to change into a mosque.
The sixth-century Istanbul landmark’s museum standing — in place since 1934 — was revoked on Friday and management was handed to the spiritual authority, Diyanet.
The choice sparked condemnation from Western governments, Russia and Christian leaders — Pope Francis saying he was “very distressed”.
Hagia Sophia spent virtually 1,000 years as a cathedral earlier than being transformed right into a mosque in 1453 and later a museum.
Diyanet stated in a press release on Tuesday that Christian icons in Hagia Sophia have been “not an impediment to the validity of the prayers”.
“The icons needs to be curtained and shaded by way of acceptable means throughout prayer occasions,” it stated.
“There is no such thing as a impediment from a spiritual perspective to Hagia Sophia Mosque being open to guests outdoors prayer occasions.”
Hagia Sophia, a serious vacationer attraction, has been the scene of Islam-linked actions in recent times. In 2018, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan recited a verse from Koran on the constructing.
Erdogan, who stated the primary Muslim prayers in Hagia Sophia would start on July 24, has insisted the constructing will probably be open to all, together with non-Muslims.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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