President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Saturday mentioned the reopening of the Hagia Sophia as a mosque made Qurban Bayram, or Eid al-Adha, even more joyous.
“The reopening of the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, an 86-year wound within the coronary heart of our nation, has added to the enjoyment of our Bayram,” Erdoğan mentioned, greeting native officers of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) for the vacation through video-link.
Erdoğan additionally mentioned he sought to carry an upcoming celebration congress as a “new resurrection, a brand new rising milestone.”
The subsequent AK Party congress is predicted to be held, whereas observing well being and security measures in opposition to the Corona Virus, in direction of the tip of 2020.
Erdoğan mentioned those that “see themselves above the nation” couldn’t be a member of the AK Party.
“We’ll enhance our mates, we’ll cut back our enemies,” he mentioned. “The motive for the existence of the AK Party, the rationale why we tackle these duties and the rationale for individuals’s hope in us is similar.”
On July 24, Friday’s prayers within the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque marked the primary acts of worship there in 86 years.
It served as a church for 916 years till the conquest of Istanbul, after which as a mosque from 1453 to 1934, practically 5 centuries. Until lately, it had been a museum for nearly 90 years.
In 1985, the Hagia Sophia was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Besides being a mosque, the Hagia Sophia can be amongst Turkey’s high tourism locations and can stay open for home and international guests.