Hagia Sophia, Turkey:-

The architectural marvel, Hagia Sophia draws people from all over the world to witness its surreal beauty. The marvelous mosaics give a glimpse of the glorious Byzantine Empire. On the other hand, towering minarets and pulpits are reminiscent of the magnificent Ottoman Empire. 

Hagia Sophia History:-

Hagia Sophia Istanbul is one of the most beautiful architecture in the world. The history of Hagia Sophia dates back to the fourth century. Constructed in 360 AD as a Greek Orthodox church, it remained the center of religious, cultural, and social activities for the Byzantines for about a thousand years. It was in 1453, when Sultan Mehmet, the Conqueror, marked the historic conquest of Constantinople when the identity of Hagia Sophia changed, along with that of Constantinople. He renamed the city Istanbul and changed Hagia Sophia into a mosque. 

Hagia Sophia Architecture:-

The original Hagia Sophia architects were Anthemius of Tralles and Isidorus of Miletus. It was a very modern architecture for its time. After the conquest of Constantinople, Sultan Mehmet hired the best architects to augment the beauty of the Hagia Sophia. Adding Islamic elements such as a minaret, a huge chandelier, a mihrab, and a mimbar changed the look of Hagia Sophia from a church to a mosque. Many Ottoman rulers then made changes to the architecture of Hagia Sophia. Ottoman Empire considered it very significant to glorify Muslim rule by maintaining Hagia Sophia as Islamic architecture. Rulers including Bayezi, Selim, and Murad ordered extensions to the glorious mosque. The famous architect Sinan made remarkable extensions to Hagia Sophia in the 1500s. 

Hagia Sophia Converted to the Mosque:-

When Mustafa Kemal Ataturk abolished Ottoman rule in the nineteenth century, he ordered the conversion of Hagia Sophia from a mosque to a museum. The idea was to disassociate any religious identity from the building. However, in July 2020, Turkish President Erdogan made the historic decision to officially change the building into Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque. This decision bright felicitation all around the Muslim world, reinstating the glory of the Ottoman Empire.