Hagia Sofia

The Hagia Sophia (meaning the Holy Wisdom) was originally built as a cathedral under the Byzantines. When the Ottoman Empire took rule over Istanbul, it was converted to a mosque. Although briefly given museum status, it is once again a functioning mosque today. It’s rare in the sense that it mixes traditional Christian imagery with Islamic imagery. Verses from the Quran and names of Islamic caliphs sit beside depictions of Christ and the Virgin Mary. In Islam, images of people are forbidden and so the Christian depictions have been artfully covered to shield them from worshippers while allowing tourists to see them from an alternate angle.

Behind those praying, children play and cats roam freely- a reminder that mosques are more than just places of worship, they’re hearts of the community too.

I’ve been lucky enough to be invited to join Muslim prayers before but watching them take place under the roof of so much history and in the footsteps of so many worshippers, both Christian and Muslim, was something really special.Read more