Since its reopening for worship three years ago, the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque has turned into a magnet for domestic and foreign tourists alike, drawing an astounding 21 million visitors, SIA refers to Turkish media.
This iconic landmark, which served as a church for 916 years before becoming a mosque in 1453 and later a museum for 86 years, has once again become a cherished place of worship and a symbol of historical significance.
The momentous decision to convert Hagia Sophia from a museum back into a mosque came 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' decision to restore its status as a mosque was upheld and a grand ceremony attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan marked the historic return of the first Friday prayer after 86 years.
Since then, Hagia Sophia has witnessed an overwhelming influx of visitors, forming queues stretching for hundreds of meters outside its doors.
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