“The Hagia Sophia-Kabîr-i-Shérif Symposium” which was organized as online by the Presidency of Religious Affairs was finalized following the ‘Evaluation and Closing Session’ performed with the attendance of the President of Religious Affairs Prof. Dr. Ali Erbaş.

Giving a speech at the ‘Evaluation and Closing Session’ of the Symposium which lasted for 3 days, the President of Religious Affairs Erbaş expressed that Hagia Sophia Mosque was opened to worship again after a longing of almost one century and said “It is a prideful scenery that following the opening, in a pretty short time, a symposium where almost 35 communiqués presented was organized and such symposium was finalized in a perfect manner by our Presidency. Here I give my gratitude to all those who have contributed to such organization.”

Mentioning about the scholarly studies executed in the Ottoman Era in the Hagia Sophia Mosque, the President Erbaş talked as “We will resume this tradition hereinafter as well. Our all esteemed Hodjas, especially our Mufti of Istanbul will give lectures in the Hagia Sophia. We will try to revive such tradition with lectures such as Qur’an, tafsir, hadith, fikh, aqaid, catechism and prophetic biography, Insha Allah.”

“Hagia Sophia Mosque converted to Museum was opened to worship again”

Reminding that Hagia Sophia was converted to Mosque in 1453, the President Erbaş used expressions as “The Hagia Sophia have resumed its identity of a Mosque until today. However, it was closed to worship and converted to a museum. Now, Hagia Sophia was not converted to a mosque from a church, but that mosque which was converted to a museum was opened to worship again. Everyone should note that. Hagia Sophia kept its identity of a mosque officially, and we have such documentation proving such fact. In this regard, we say that those who present such opinions in contrary to this fact are all wrong.”

“Our President of Republic of Turkey has hanged 2 pieces of calligraphy plate in the Hagia Sophia Mosque”

Stating that the subject of ‘Hagia Sophia and Art’ was addressed in the symposium as well and with their works, the Ottoman turned the Hagia Sophia into a social complex, the President Erbaş said that in the later days when the Hagia Sophia was opened to worship again, the President of Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has hanged 2 pieces of calligraphy plate on the walls of the Hagia Sophia Mosque.

“We have remembered once again the importance that our ancestors gave to the science and knowledge on the occasion of this symposium”

Mentioning that the manuscript pieces of Byzantium were translated into Ottoman Turkish in the scope of cultural activities by Mehmed the Conqueror following the Conquest of Istanbul, the President Erbaş, “These translations have reached to today by being copied by the scribal. We have remembered once again the importance that our ancestors gave to the legacy of science and knowledge on the occasion of this symposium.”

Giving his gratitude to the academicians who contributed to this symposium with their researches and studies and to all personnel who supported the symposium in the aspect of both technically and ideally, the President Erbaş continued his words as follows:

“I sincerely wish that we would have a meeting like this again with all scholars and organize an exhibition titled Hagia Sophia near the Hagia Sophia at the heart of Istanbul as soon as possible when this pandemic process is over. Here I request the Almighty Allah (swt) deem this symposium contribute to the increase on the interest to all libraries and books, especially the manuscripts in the Süleymaniye Library and all our mosques, especially the Hagia Sophia Mosque to be a center of knowledge as it was before.”

The President Erbaş recorded that they will organize a similar symposium about a mosque which was constructed by the Sultans of Ottoman Empire every year at the Mosques and Religious Officials Week hereinafter the same as they executed this year regarding the Hagia Sophia Mosque.

The ‘Evaluation and Closing Session’ which was performed online was attended by the Vice President of Religious Affairs Prof. Dr. Huriye Martı and the General Director of Religious Services Bünyamin Albayrak as well.