Hagia Sophia Mosque opens to worship after 86 year in Istanbul

ISTANBUL, TURKEY - JULY 25: People continue to visit Hagia Sophia Mosque after Hagia Sophia Mosque reopened for worship for the first time in 86 years with Friday prayer in Istanbul, Turkey on July 25, 2020. In 1985, during its time as a museum, Hagia Sophia was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. It served as a church for 916 years until the conquest of Istanbul, and a mosque from 1453 to 1934 -- nearly 500 years -- and most recently as a museum for 86 years. A Turkish court annulled a 1934 Cabinet decree on July 10 that turned Hagia Sophia into a museum, paving the way for its use as a mosque. In the new era for Hagia Sophia, Turkey’s Religious Affairs Directorate will oversee religious services at the mosque, while the Culture and Tourism Ministry will supervise restoration and conservation work. The architectural treasure will also be open to visitors free of charge. (Footage by Yunus Emre Günaydın/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)