‘Hagia Sophia’ (Holy Wisdom) is the name of a magnificent Church built by Roman Emperor Justinian I (r. 527 – 565 CE) some 1500 years ago in Constantinople, his capital city (now Istanbul). This epitome of Byzantine architecture has been grabbing media attention after Turkey’s highest court issued an order on 10.07.2020 enabling the conversion of this 65,000 square feet architectural marvel into an Islamic place of worship (mosque)How did this great Byzantine structure become a mosque?
