After 86 years, Hagia Sophia will be open today at 10 am as a mosque. The Turks finished their rehearsals yesterday and according to the Turkish media, everything is ready for the "fiesta" that Erdogan has set up, for the Muslim prayer at the historic Orthodox monument.
According to the media in the neighboring country, about 1.500 people are expected to pray in the morning, but the entrance will be under certain measures, due to the spread of the coronavirus. "We ask our citizens to bring 4 things with them when they come to Hagia Sophia. "Mask, prayer mat, patience and understanding", the governor of Istanbul, Ali Gerlikaya, said characteristically about today's fiesta of the Turks.
Hagia Sophia Mosque 'carpets are laid pic.twitter.com/ANMlBa7HgU
- Yusuf İşler (@ yusufislereng1) July 20, 2020
Turquoise rugs, sheets cover the mosaics
The works inside the area of the historical monument of Agia Sofia started a few days ago. The turquoise carpets were erected early on the marble floor of the Temple, while in order not to show the Christian mosaics, it was decided to place curtains that will hide them.
"The details of the curtain system that will be used to close the murals and mosaics have begun to become clear. "It was decided to close the murals and mosaics with a 'sail curtain' system, similar to the curtain system used in the film industry," the Turks said.
Officials also say that not a single nail will be disturbed during the installation of the system. As a result, the electronic rail system to be used for the mosaics will open and close in a minute. It is also reported that the light technology, which was tested in the first stage, has been abandoned due to the view that it will damage the works of thousands of years.
Yesterday were the last rehearsals for the sound tests, which will be needed during the recitation of the Koran, while inside the Hagia Sophia, women will pray in a separate place organized by the Turks.
Works under Erdogan's watch
The rehearsals and rehearsals took place yesterday under the watchful eye of Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his wife, Emine. Ignoring the international outcry over the conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque, Erdogan monitored the progress of the work, both by foreign forces (including Trump during his meeting with Archbishop Elpidoforos yesterday) and by international organizations, and he posed with his wife outside and inside the Temple.