The historic Armenian Cathedral of Ani, also known as Surp Asdvadzadzin (Holy Mother of God), will be converted into a mosque ...

Experts say the claim that Ani was the site of the first Friday prayer in Anatolia, the basis for plans to convert it into a ...

ISTANBUL (RNS) — Muslim worshippers at the mosque on Friday said they viewed Chora Church's rededication as an Islamic site to be a national win for Turkey.

Istanbul, a cacophonous metropolis that straddles East and West, is home to more than 3,000 mosques. One of these, Hagia Sophia, is the city’s star attraction. It began life as a Christian ...

The Hagia Sophia, originally built as a church in the sixth century, is an architectural site that reflects the various religious changes the Mediterranean region faced over the years.

Istanbul, Turkey — “Tarawih” prayers which Muslims perform every night during the holy month of Ramadan, are returning to Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia mosque for the first time in 88 years, the ...

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan kicked off the New Year with a provocative reference to Agia Sophia, calling the iconic structure, a Christian Orthodox Basilica turned UNESCO Museum and ...

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In reconverting Hagia Sophia to a mosque, Turkish officials have emphasized veiling of Christian icons to create a Muslim prayer space. Experts explain why the veiling is in fact a Byzantine practice.

Hagia Sophia Mosque is set to reopen on July 24 for worship for the first time in 86 years with Friday prayers. Some 1,500 people are expected to do Friday prayers at the opening ceremony ...

Turkey held the first organized Muslim prayers Friday in the famed Hagia Sophia after the grand ancient building was converted from a museum into a mosque.

Hagia Sofia officially re-opened Friday as a mosque after serving as a holy place of both Christianity and Islam before becoming a museum ...