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Istanbulite worshippers flock to Hagia Sophia mosque to perform the first Tarawih prayers of Ramadan

The first Tarawih prayers of the holy month of Ramadan were performed by a great number of Istanbulite worshippers at the Hagia Sophia mosque on Friday. The prayers will take place at Hagia Sophia on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during the holy month of Ramadan, beginning this week, the Turkish religious body said in a statement.

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Istanbulite worshippers flock to Hagia Sophia mosque to perform the first Tarawih prayers of Ramadan

"I will witness, God willing, this beautiful moment by leading the first tarawih prayer," he added.

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Istanbulite worshippers flock to Hagia Sophia mosque to perform the first Tarawih prayers of Ramadan

The prayers will take place at Hagia Sophia on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during the holy month of Ramadan, beginning this week, Diyanet said in a statement.

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Istanbulite worshippers flock to Hagia Sophia mosque to perform the first Tarawih prayers of Ramadan

Although the iconic building, previously used as a museum, was turned into a mosque in 2020, the Coronavirus pandemic prevented the prayers from taking place there until now.

It's not the first time the building has changed its use.

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Istanbulite worshippers flock to Hagia Sophia mosque to perform the first Tarawih prayers of Ramadan

The edifice was first built as a Christian cathedral between 532 and 537 AD under emperor Justinian I and is considered the most important Byzantine structure.

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Istanbulite worshippers flock to Hagia Sophia mosque to perform the first Tarawih prayers of Ramadan

After the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople (now Istanbul) in 1453, it was converted into a mosque before being opened as a museum in 1935 after the secular Turkish republic was established in 1923.

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Istanbulite worshippers flock to Hagia Sophia mosque to perform the first Tarawih prayers of Ramadan

It was added to the list of UNESCO world heritage sites in 1985.

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Istanbulite worshippers flock to Hagia Sophia mosque to perform the first Tarawih prayers of Ramadan

In June 2020, Turkish authorities converted Hagia Sophia back into a mosque