“The Hagia Sophia-Kabîr-i-Shérif Symposium” which is organized by Presidency of the Religious Affairs due to the opening of the Hagia Sophia-Kabîr-i-Shérif Mosque to worship again after 86 years started with the opening program with the participation of the President of Religious Affairs Prof. Dr. Ali Erbaş.

Giving a speech on the opening program which was executed in the courtyard of the Hagia Sophia Mosque, the President of the Religious Affairs Prof. Dr. Ali Erbaş said “We held the Hagia Sophia Symposium to contribute to understanding the meaning and importance of Hagia Sophia during the Mosques and Religious Officials Week, and to confer distinguished position of the Islamic civilization’s acquis and its contributions to its future perspective.”

Expressing that the Hagia Sophia, which is the relic of the conquest and Mehmed the Conqueror, is one of the most valuable places of knowledge, wisdom and worship in the history of humankind with a life span of more than fifteen centuries, the President of Religious Affairs Prof. Dr. Ali Erbaş talked as “Indeed, the name of “Hagia Sophia” which has profound meanings as “sacred sagacity, divine wisdom” also refers that. With the conquest, this great sanctuary has become the mark of universal nabawi values and the superior humanity principles which Islam taught to the world.”

“The reopening of Hagia Sophia has been a herald of awakening and resurrection for all Islamic societies.”

Indicating that Hagia Sophia reaching its original identity shows Turkish nation’s determination to protect its identity, history and civilization, and its perseverance to build a solid future with the strength which it takes from its roots, the President Erbaş talked as “It has been a herald of awakening and resurrection for all Islamic societies as well. Indeed, Muslim societies that have lost their self-esteem as a result of the traumas and challenges they have suffered during the last century had a great excitement with this opening. The hopes of the geographies damaged by wars and difficulties have blossomed.”

President Erbaş stated that the opening of the Hagia Sophia-Kabîr-i-Shérif Mosque to worship again after 86 years reintroduce the spirit and consciousness of conquest to all oppressed Muslims believing that it will be a milestone that saved them from the imprisonment and deprivation of the last two centuries and raised them to the position of the subject of history again.

“The great conquest that brought Istanbul together with Islam did not come true easily”

Pointing out that “conquest” which is one of the most important concepts of the Islam and entrusted Hagia Sophia to the Muslims never means war, violence and exploitation; on the contrary, it expresses the ideal of bringing hearts together with peace and earth with compassion, the President Erbaş continued as follows:

“Of course, the great conquest that brought Istanbul together with Islam did not come true easily. There was a faith, a keen intelligence, a deep strategy, a disciplined work and a superior technology behind it. The Almighty Allah (swt) bestowed his blessing, mercy and tranquility to the Mehmed the Conqueror and his glorious army who set off with this equipment; eventually honored them with glorious conquest.

Therefore, the adventure of the Hagia Sophia from its construction to the present shows that today’s world and its Muslims may experience some difficulties in realizing their desired ideals. It shows the importance of the iman, perseverance and patience in every condition and situation. It heralds that the path set out with a planned work and brave stance without falling into laziness, despair and carelessness will result in victory by the help of the Almighty Allah (swt).”

“The conquest of Istanbul and reuniting Hagia Sophia with tawhid is an expression of a great ideal and morals.”

Emphasizing that Hagia Sophia is a great symbol of civilization as well as being a great mosque, the President Erbaş talked as “To fully understand it, it is necessary to know its profound meanings. For example, Hagia Sophia is the symbol of tawhid in serving the Almighty Allah (swt); it is an example of the morality of living together by embracing people of all kind of religion, language, race, culture, thought, sect and disposition. It shows us the importance of constructing the age, being the subject of time, producing, being pioneer in science, technology, art and technique, and the value of putting technology under order of justice and mercy. In this regard, the conquest of Istanbul and reuniting Hagia Sophia with tawhid is an expression of a great ideal and morals.”

“Our historical responsibility requires working with all our strength to ensure peace and tranquility rule the whole world.”

Indicating that Muslims, knowing the meaning and the value that Hagia Sophia represents as a sacred relic, have important duties, the President Erbaş talked as “This historical responsibility requires working with all our strength to ensure mercy and tolerance, peace and tranquility rule the whole world. As we all see with sadness that the earth today needs kindness, mercy, good morals and justice more than ever.

As a children of this land where all oppressed a victimized geographies have hope for the future, working with great effort and self-sacrifice for this great ideal is our duty of serving to the Almighty Allah (swt). It is our humanity duty for a better future. At the same time, it is a duty of loyalty to our noble ancestors who conquered the minds with revelation and knowledge, hearts with iman and wisdom, souls with morality and merit, and bestowed a value like Hagia Sophia to the Ummah.”

“We should make the ideal of bringing truth together with all humanity the goal of existence”

Stating that the effort to build the future should be increased by equipping the awareness of history and civilization, the President Erbaş talked as “We should change our values harder by improving our damaged ideals and our world of meaning. With the strength we take from our values, history and knowledge accumulation, we must find ways to meet the thought codes of our ancient and founding civilization with present. We should always trace the truth and make the ideal of bringing truth together with all humanity the goal of existence and life principle. In this direction, we must find the recipes for raising today’s Conquerors, Akshamsaddins and Hasans of Ulubat who will shape the history, the age and the future with a strong grasp of civilization. This will come true with the lost values of the modern times like knowledge, reason and wisdom. When a common awareness is shaped with this ideal regarding Hagia Sophia and it awareness turns into action, there is no doubt that opening of the Hagia Sophia will gain greater meaning and depth.”

Giving his gratitude to the hodjas and all the participants who contributed to the symposium which will continue for three days, as a scholar and a negotiator, the President Erbaş prayed for Hagia Sophia to be everlasting as shouting eternal salvation of humanity from minarets every day until the judgment day.

Following the opening speech of the President Erbaş, the Vice Chairman of the Republic of Turkey Board of Culture and Art Policies Prof. Dr. İskender Pala gave a conference titled "Hagia Sophia in the History of Culture and Civilization."

The sessions of the symposium to be held online

Following the opening conference, sessions of the symposium will be held online.

The annunciators will be giving their presentations as online from where they are in the symposium, and in the first session, “History of Hagia Sophia”, in the second session, “Hagia Sophia and Architecture”, in the third session, “Hagia Sophia; Science and Wisdom”, in the fourth session, “Hagia Sophia and Worship”, in the fifth session, “Hagia Sophia and Religion Services”, in the sixth session, “Hagia Sophia and Art”, in the seventh session, “Hagia Sophia and Literature”, in the eight session, “Hagia Sophia and Travels”, and in the ninth session, “Hagia Sophia and the Tradition of Charity” will be examined.

The attendants who desire to watch the symposium as online will be able to attend the sessions with the live broadcast link, username and the password that they may obtain by filling the “Preliminary Registration Form” on https://ayasofyasempozyumu.com/.

In addition, the sessions will be broadcasted as live from the social media accounts of the Presidency of Religious Affairs and the YouTube Channel of “Hagia Sophia Symposium.”

Governor of Istanbul Ali Yerlikaya, General Director of the Presidency of Religious Affairs Religious Publications Assoc. Dr. Fatih Kurt, General Director of Management Services Mehmet Bilgin, Head of Department of Guidance and Inspection Fatih Mehmet Karaca, 1st Legal Advisor Selami Açan and Istanbul Provincial Mufti Mehmet Emin Maşalı, rector and deans and the guests attended to the program.