After Mehmed the conqueror took Istanbul, it was continued to be waited for the Hagia Sophia Mosque in Istanbul, which was converted into a mosque after being converted into a mosque, while Iznik, which was converted into a mosque after the conquest of Iznik by his great grandfather Orhan Ghazi, was used as a museum for a long time. Hagia Sophia has been used as a mosque since 2011 with the request of the Directorate of Religious Affairs and the 'becomes' of the General Directorate of Foundations.
No need for court, General Directorate of Foundations opened
The different procedures for the two Hagia Sophia, whose names and stories are the same, draw attention. Hagia Sophia, which was converted into a mosque by Fatih Sultan Mehmet after the conquest of Istanbul, is still sad after the chain hit its door in 1934. While the excitement of the final decision to be opened for the worship of the historical building to be made by the Council of State, Orhan Gazi converted Iznik district of Bursa into a mosque after the conquest in 1331, it became a museum in 2007 and upon the request of the Directorate of Religious Affairs, it becomes the General Directorate of Foundations. Muslims have been praying for 9 years in Iznik Hagia Sophia, which was converted into a mosque in 2011.
Citizens came together for the first Friday prayer at the Iznik Hagia Sophia Mosque, where worship was interrupted during the pandemic period, and they requested the opening of the Istanbul Hagia Sophia Mosque...
Museum sign removed, mosque sign hanged
The building, which was converted into a mosque in 1331 by the conquest of Iznik by Orhan Ghazi, was renovated by Mimar Sinan during the period of Suleiman the Magnificent. In 1935, the experts of the German Archeology Institute made some soundings, in 1953 the thick soil layer inside was removed by the administration of the museums.
In recent years, some reinforcements have been made on the walls, inside and around, and the building has been kept under protection. In 1979-1981, the whole of the building, which was freed from the surrounding soil, and its additional structure, which was the south-eastern burial chapel in 1985, were revealed.
The old bell tower, which was converted into a minaret, was restored as a minaret and started to serve as a museum in 2007. The historical building was converted into a mosque in 2011 after the 'General Directorate' of Foundations, whose ownership belongs to the Orhan Ghazi Foundation, which is known today as the Orhan Mosque and evaluates the demand of the Presidency of Religious Affairs.
The 'Hagia Sophia Museum' sign in front of the historical building was also removed and replaced by the 'Hagia Sophia (Orhan) Mosque' sign. The mosque, which was appointed as an imam by the Iznik Mufti, has been able to worship for 9 years.