As of June 24 of this year, Hagia Sophia’s icons of the Virgin Mary and infant Christ are covered by fabric curtains as the edifice yet again changes functions. Turkish officials have stated ...

Few buildings, including culturally significant places of worship, have a history as rich and complicated as the Hagia Sophia. First erected in the 6th century C.E., the structure has variously ...

The Christian icons would be uncovered and be open to ... and would let it know of further steps to be taken regarding Hagia Sophia, which was a Byzantine church for nine centuries before the ...

Istanbul, Turkey CNN — Whether you’re a believer or not, visiting Hagia Sophia is a spiritual experience. The architectural genius of this place of worship — which was built as a church in ...

On Twitter, Kalin stressed that all visitors would have access to the religious and cultural heritage of the Hagia Sophia, including its icons and mosaics. "Any claim to the contrary is simply ...

The Hagia Sophia is a major historical monument and a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Istanbul, Turkey. The sixth-century architectural masterpiece is famous for reflecting the various ...

In 1935, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the modern Republic of Turkey, turned Hagia Sophia into a museum. With the new renovations, the stucco covering the Christian icons was removed for ...