Istanbul’s Kariye Mosque celebrates first Eid al-Adha prayer in 79 years
The first Eid prayer in 79 years was performed at the reopened Kariye Mosque in Istanbul on June 16, 2024 (AA)
Today, in the historic Kariye Mosque in Istanbul’s Fatih district, the first Eid al-Adha prayer in nearly eight decades was observed, marking a significant moment since its reopening for worship.
Originally built as a church, the structure served as a mosque during the reign of Sultan Bayezid II under the auspices of Grand Vizier Hadım Ali Pasha (Atik Ali Pasha).
Later converted into a museum in 1945 and administered by the Museums Directorate in 1948, Kariye Mosque was reinstated as a mosque by presidential decree on August 1, 2020.
Following years of meticulous restoration efforts prompted by this decree, the mosque finally reopened its doors for worship on May 6, amid a ceremony broadcast live from the Presidential Bestepe Millet Congress and Culture Center by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Today, eager worshipers began arriving at the mosque early in the morning to greet Eid al-Adha, filling its interior and praying in neat rows on prayer rugs placed outside.
Kariye Museum regains original mosque status
Kariye Museum, which was known as Chora Church, is located near the city’s ancient walls. It was originally built as a church in the sixth century. It was converted into a mosque in 1511 by Bayezid II, son of Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II who converted Hagia Sophia into a mosque after his conquest of Istanbul from Byzantine Empire.
The mosque was converted into a museum in 1945 with a government decree, more than a decade after Hagia Sophia’s conversion. It currently hosts 14th-century Byzantine mosaics and frescoes showing scenes from biblical stories.
The presidential decree comes after a high court annulled the 1945 decree that made Kariye a museum. It is not known when the venue will be opened to worship, but the Presidency of Religious Affairs (DIB) is expected to cover frescoes and mosaics soon to enable worship for Muslims.
The original church was replaced in the 11th century with another one and rebuilt again in the 12th century after an earthquake. It was Atik Ali Pasa, the grand vizier of Bayezid II, who ordered its conversion into a mosque. It survived multiple earthquakes before it was fully closed to Muslim worship in the 1940s after the decree and during restoration work. It was officially opened as a museum in 1958.
A nongovernmental organization filed a lawsuit to revert it to a mosque in 2005 and last November, the Council of State, the highest administrative court, ruled for its reconversion.
