Permanent Imam Is Appointed at Hagia Sophia

Source: Greek Reporter

Istanbul, October 21, 2016

Photo: http://eu.greekreporter.com/ Photo: http://eu.greekreporter.com/
    

The position of Imam at Hagia Sophia that was established in 1936 but remained vacant for years has now been filled, as a permanent Imam has been appointed.

“Now out of the four minarets of Hagia Sophia we will be hearing the voice of the Imam five times a day when until now it was only twice a day,” Turkish media reported.

According to the decision of the Mufti of Fatih district and the Religious Affairs Service where Hagia Sophia belongs, the new permanent Imam will be responsible for all prayers of the day, Eleftheros Typos newspaper reports.

Hagia Sophia, the Orthodox Temple of Constantinople and the Byzantine Empire, was turned into a mosque in 1453, after the city was taken over by the Ottoman Empire and was renamed Istanbul. It served as a mosque until 1931. Then it was secularized, and in 1935 it was converted to a museum.

Since 2010, several Turkish officials have been calling for the turning of Hagia Sophia into a mosque again. In 2015, the Mufti of Ankara, Mefail Hızlı, stated that he believes the conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque will be accelerated.

On July 1st, 2016, the Koran was read for the first time inside Hagia Sophia by a muezzin for the first time in 85 years.

On Saturday the permanent muezzin chanted the azan, the Muslim call for prayer.

Greek Reporter

10/24/2016

See also
The battle for Haghia Sophia in Istanbul escalates The battle for Haghia Sophia in Istanbul escalates The battle for Haghia Sophia in Istanbul escalates The battle for Haghia Sophia in Istanbul escalates
Ever since 1931, the yearnings of the Turkish conservatives to reopen the site as a mosque has never ceased. In the last decade, with tacit government approval, Islamist groups as well as ultranationalists have periodically carried Haghia Sophia to the headlines. They have organized rallies calling upon the government during Friday sermons and initiating petitions to focus the public attention on the matter. Greece Slams Quran Reading in Istanbul's Orthodox Christian Cathedral Greece Slams Quran Reading in Istanbul's Orthodox Christian Cathedral Greece Slams Quran Reading in Istanbul's Orthodox Christian Cathedral Greece Slams Quran Reading in Istanbul's Orthodox Christian Cathedral
The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned on Monday the decision by the authorities of Turkey to read the Quran in Hagia Sophia Orthodox Christian cathedral in Istanbul during Ramadan as a regressive and bordering on fanaticism. Hagia Sophia to Turn to Mosque During Muslim Ramadan Hagia Sophia to Turn to Mosque During Muslim Ramadan Hagia Sophia to Turn to Mosque During Muslim Ramadan Hagia Sophia to Turn to Mosque During Muslim Ramadan
The former Byzantine church that now serves as a museum, will turn into a mosque for the next 30 days and the Koran will be read daily until July 5, when Ramadan ends.
Comments
Helen5/16/2017 4:03 am
This is a church which cannot be a mosque. Build whatever you want somewhere else. God will take what is his including all muslims someday. He is your creator and you will be made to answer for what you have unleashed on his earth.
Nicolette Feltault11/9/2016 7:29 pm
St Sophia, should be left alone as a museum, so every one can enjoye howw grandios this church is. No matter how they want to be a mosque,its still a CHURCH,no matter else.



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