Santa Sofia, inaugurazione moschea: oggi la preghiera del venerdì. FOTO

Per la prima volta da 86 anni ad Hagia Sophia è risuonata la chiamata rituale alla preghiera islamica. Migliaia i fedeli accorsi per prendere parte alla cerimonia, tra questi anche il presidente Erdogan, l’artefice della conversione dell’ex museo. LA FOTOGALLERY

ISTANBUL, TURKEY - JULY 24: People gather before the first official Friday prayers outside Hagia Sophia Mosque on July 24, 2020 in Istanbul, Turkey. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended the first Friday prayer inside the Hagia Sophia Mosque after it was officially reconverted into a mosque from a museum. The controversial decision to change the iconic buildings status came after Turkey's highest administrative court voted on July, 10 to revoke the structures status as a museum allowing it to be converted back to a mosque. Throughout it's history the UNESCO World Heritage site has served as a Byzantine Cathedral, a mosque under Ottoman rule, and most recently a museum. Thousands of worshippers from all over Turkey flocked to the site for the chance to pray inside the historic building for the first Friday prayers. (Photo by Burak Kara/Getty Images)

1/15 ©Getty

Dopo 86 anni Santa Sofia è tornata a essere una moschea per volere del presidente turco Recep Tayyip Erdogan . Oggi, 24 luglio, si sta tenendo la prima preghiera del venerdì, alla quale stanno partecipando migliaia di fedeli, sia dentro la moschea che nella piazza antistante

Istanbul, al via i lavori di conversione di Santa Sofia in moschea. FOTO

2/15 ©Getty

Il monumento simbolo di Istanbul, infatti, è stato riconvertito da museo in moschea due settimane fa. La decisione ha suscitato molte polemiche, è anche il Papa si è detto rattristato dell'accaduto

Turchia, Santa Sofia a Istanbul torna moschea: c'è l'annuncio ufficiale di Erdogan. FOTO MONDO FOTOGALLERY

3/15 ©Getty

Santa Sofia è stata quasi per un millennio la basilica più grande della cristianità, prima di essere trasformata in moschea con la conquista ottomana di Costantinopoli nel 1453 e poi in museo da Mustafa Kemal Ataturk con un decreto del 1934

A man wearing a face mask stands in front of Hagia Sophia during the preparations for the Friday prayer in Istanbul, on July 23, 2020. - The first prayers at Hagia Sophia since the Istanbul landmark was reconverted to a mosque will take place on July 23, 2020. Turkey's top court paved the way for the conversion in a decision to revoke the edifice's museum status conferred nearly a century ago. The sixth-century building had been open to all visitors, regardless of their faith, since its inauguration as a museum in 1935. (Photo by Ozan KOSE / AFP) (Photo by OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images)

4/15 ©Getty

Alla preghiera all'interno della moschea stanno partecipando circa un migliaio di persone per ragioni di sicurezza legate al coronavirus

A man wearing a traditional Ottoman costume arrives with others on July 24, 2020 outside Hagia Sophia in Istanbul to attend the Friday prayer, the first muslim prayer held at the landmark since it was reconverted to a mosque despite international condemnation. - A top Turkish court revoked the sixth-century monument's status as a museum on July 10 and Turkish President then ordered the building to reopen for Muslim worship. The UNESCO World Heritage site in historic Istanbul was first built as a cathedral in the Christian Byzantine Empire but was converted into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453. (Photo by OZAN KOSE / AFP) (Photo by OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images)

5/15 ©Getty

Sono migliaia le persone che, non essendo riuscite a entrare, si sono riunite nella piazza antistante

Men wait on July 24, 2020 outside Hagia Sophia in Istanbul to attend the Friday prayer, the first muslim prayer held at the landmark since it was reconverted to a mosque despite international condemnation. - A top Turkish court revoked the sixth-century monument's status as a museum on July 10 and Turkish President then ordered the building to reopen for Muslim worship. The UNESCO World Heritage site in historic Istanbul was first built as a cathedral in the Christian Byzantine Empire but was converted into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453. (Photo by OZAN KOSE / AFP) (Photo by OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images)

6/15 ©Getty

Tutta la zona circostante è stata vietata al traffico già da ieri sera, e da qualche ora le autorità stanno impedendo ulteriori assembramenti all'interno della piazza per garantire la distanza minima, fondamentale per evitare la diffusione del contagio

Il Papa: "Sono molto addolorato per Santa Sofia che diventa una moschea"

Men waves a Turkish national flag and flash the four finger Rabia sign as people gather on July 24, 2020 outside Hagia Sophia in Istanbul to attend the Friday prayer, the first muslim prayer held at the landmark since it was reconverted to a mosque despite international condemnation. - A top Turkish court revoked the sixth-century monument's status as a museum on July 10 and Turkish President then ordered the building to reopen for Muslim worship. The UNESCO World Heritage site in historic Istanbul was first built as a cathedral in the Christian Byzantine Empire but was converted into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453. (Photo by OZAN KOSE / AFP) (Photo by OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images)

7/15 ©Getty

Molti osservatori stanno criticando l'organizzazione che avrebbe dovuto limitare molto di più l'accesso alla piazza

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (C-R) arrives with officials for a visit of Hagia Sophia during the preparations for the Friday prayer in Istanbul, on July 23, 2020. - The first prayers at Hagia Sophia since the Istanbul landmark was reconverted to a mosque will take place on July 23, 2020. Turkey's top court paved the way for the conversion in a decision to revoke the edifice's museum status conferred nearly a century ago. The sixth-century building had been open to all visitors, regardless of their faith, since its inauguration as a museum in 1935. (Photo by Ozan KOSE / AFP) (Photo by OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images)

8/15 ©Getty

Alla preghiera ha partecipato anche il presidente turco Erdogan, che ha ribadito che con la conversione di Santa Sofia ha realizzato il suo "più grande sogno"

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (C-L) unveils a newly installed plaque reading " The Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque" as he visits Hagia Sophia during the preparations for the Friday prayer in Istanbul, on July 23, 2020. - The first prayers at Hagia Sophia since the Istanbul landmark was reconverted to a mosque will take place on July 23, 2020. Turkey's top court paved the way for the conversion in a decision to revoke the edifice's museum status conferred nearly a century ago. The sixth-century building had been open to all visitors, regardless of their faith, since its inauguration as a museum in 1935. (Photo by Ozan KOSE / AFP) (Photo by OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images)

9/15 ©Getty

Fuori dal monumento è stata affissa una targa con il nuovo nome: Grande moschea di Hagia Sophia

10/15 ©Getty

La solenne preghiera del venerdì è officiata dal responsabile della Presidenza per gli affari religiosi (Diyanet), Ali Erbas

A man raises his arms as people gathe on July 24, 2020 outside Hagia Sophia in Istanbul to attend the Friday prayer, the first muslim prayer held at the landmark since it was reconverted to a mosque despite international condemnation. - A top Turkish court revoked the sixth-century monument's status as a museum on July 10 and Turkish President then ordered the building to reopen for Muslim worship. The UNESCO World Heritage site in historic Istanbul was first built as a cathedral in the Christian Byzantine Empire but was converted into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453. (Photo by OZAN KOSE / AFP) (Photo by OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images)

11/15 ©Getty

Ai partecipanti è stato chiesto di portare mascherine e tappetini personali per la preghiera

Men eat as they wait on July 24, 2020 outside Hagia Sophia in Istanbul to attend the Friday prayer, the first muslim prayer held at the landmark since it was reconverted to a mosque despite international condemnation. - A top Turkish court revoked the sixth-century monument's status as a museum on July 10 and Turkish President then ordered the building to reopen for Muslim worship. The UNESCO World Heritage site in historic Istanbul was first built as a cathedral in the Christian Byzantine Empire but was converted into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453. (Photo by OZAN KOSE / AFP) (Photo by OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images)

12/15 ©Getty

Per garantire la sicurezza le autorità hanno disposto imponenti misure di sicurezza, con circa 20mila agenti e oltre 700 operatori sanitari schierati

13/15 ©Getty

Intanto a Cipro è stato disposto che le campane delle chiese greco-ortodosse risuonino per cinque minuti in tono funebre durante la preghiera islamica del venerdì a Santa Sofia