The imam emphasized that the visits were conducted in a carefully controlled manner, taking into account the pandemic situation, and there were no foreign visitors during that time.
"There has been a notable increase in visitors since 2022. In that year, the mosque welcomed a total of 13.6 million visitors. Additionally, during January to June 2023, around 6 million visitors have already visited the mosque, and this number is steadily growing.
Notably, Indonesian pilgrims and travellers now prioritize visiting Hagia Sophia before heading to Mecca and Medina, making it a significant stop on their journeys," Topçuoğlu said in a statement.
"The spiritual significance of Hagia Sophia as a symbol of conquest is truly unique. Every time I visit, I feel a profound sense of pleasure, akin to entering the Prophet's Mosque.
The spirituality within these walls is so powerful. Once, I prayed the night prayer here, something that became possible after the mosque's reopening.
That spiritual energy deeply touched us," Topçuoğlu, who also served as Fatih imam before, pointed out while concluding his comments.
