“The sea can take my considered a bit significantly, to Istanbul,” the pontiff reported through the prayer, which commemorates individuals who function at sea.
Considering that a cabinet decree in 1934, the legendary making in Istanbul has served as a museum, but on Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan issued a presidential decree to transfer the management of the developing from the Ministry of Culture to the Presidency of Religious Affairs.
The order follows a prior ruling by a Turkish court that annulled the many years-old cupboard decree.
“Hagia Sophia is an architectural masterpiece and a exclusive testimony to interactions between Europe and Asia in excess of the generations,” stated the Director-Basic Audrey Azoulay.
“Its status as a museum reflects the universal character of its heritage, and will make it a effective image for dialogue.”
Greece and France have also named into query Turkey’s secularism.
The iconic building’s historical past stretches back to the Byzantine empire in the 6th century, when it was created as a cathedral. In the 15th century, it became a mosque.
Given that Islam forbids pictures of people to be displayed in mosques, officials prepare to use lights and curtains to protect up the various Byzantine Christian mosaics in the Hagia Sophia, Turkey’s head of spiritual affairs Ali Erbaş mentioned Sunday on Turkish Tv.
“Like all our mosques, its doors will be open up to every person — Muslim or non-Muslim,” Erdoğan claimed.
“As the world’s prevalent heritage, Hagia Sophia, with its new position, will maintain on embracing anyone in a much more honest way.”
CNN’s Sharif Paget, Murat Baykara, Isil Sariyuce, Livia Borghese and Zahid Mahmood contributed to this report.
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