First Ramadan prayers at the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque in 88 years

The Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey held its first Taraweeh prayers (Ramadan evening prayers) on Friday after 88 years.

Performing them got postponed because they were not permitted during the past 2 years as precautions against COVID-19. The mosque will host various events during the month of Ramadan including Quran recitation, prayers, chants, litanies, and others.

In 2020, The Turkish Council of State agreed to withdraw the 1934 decree of turning the Mosque into a museum. After the withdrawal, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced that the former Byzantine church will be open to Muslims on July 24th, 2020.

The Hagia Sophia church was turned into a mosque after the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II seized Constantinople in 1453.