Turkish leaders marked the sixth anniversary of the reopening of Istanbul's Hagia Sophia as a mosque with commemorative messages on Friday, while authorities announced a new phase in the structure's major restoration. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan commemorated the date with a post on X, referring to the event as a blessed return to the sixth-century structure's original identity after it had functioned for 86 years following its conversion from a museum.
Originally built as a Byzantine cathedral by Emperor Justinian in Constantinople, the historic building once stood as the greatest architectural achievement of its era. The ongoing restoration work represents the latest efforts by Turkish authorities to maintain the landmark following its controversial transition back to a place of Islamic worship.
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