Non-Muslims to pay a fee to enter Hagia Sophia from 15 January

The Turks have turned Hagia Sophia into a mosque. Photo: NTV

Non-Muslims to Hagia Sophia will be charged an entrance fee, in a major policy change after the building was converted from a museum to a mosque by the Turkish government.

The minister said foreign visitors would start to pay a fee to enter the mosque starting Jan. 15, 2024., reports the Turkish resource NTV.

In the temple, which the authorities have turned into a functioning mosque for several years, the authorities have organised routes by which tourists will not interfere with the religious practices of Muslims.

Tourists will enter Sofia through the southern entrance and enter the gallery through a tunnel.

"With the system implemented with the QR code application in Hagia Sophia Cathedral, visitors will be able to receive information in 23 languages without disturbing the worshipers through the headphones of their mobile phones or disposable headphones to be provided," the report said.

As reported, Erdogan called Hagia Sophia a symbol of the Turkish era.

Read also

About how the UOC Council in Feofania "turned into a disorderly gathering"

All insults directed at the Council – as if it were a «gathering», «filth», «scum» and so forth – are based not on canons and not on facts, but only on the emotions of their authors.

In Radivilov, believers of the UOC held a traditional procession for peace

A prayer procession was accompanied by icons with relics of great Orthodox saints.

In Baltimore, hundreds of people gathered at a satanic event

More than 23,000 people have signed a petition against holding a satanic gathering in Baltimore.

In Germany, a Bishop of Constantinople Prayed with Catholics and Lutherans

The ecumenical concelebration concluded with the distribution of safety carabiners to all those present as a symbol of support and trust.

Foreign Christians Repented in the Knesset for Weak Assistance to Israel

Foreign Christians' repentance in the Israeli parliament has been criticized on social media.

HUR: Opinion polls prove religious rights are not violated in Ukraine

A representative of the intelligence service, Andrii Yusov, stated that society does not confirm any facts of religious persecution in the country.