This church was built by the Byzantine emperor, Justinian, between 532 and 537 A.D. It was converted to a mosque by Mehmet the Conqueror on the very day he conquered Istanbul in 1453. Now it’s a museum.
Still under restoration during my visit.
You can see mosaics showing the Emperor Constantine and the Empress with Jesus on the wall.
At the other corner you can find the 'mihrab' added by the Ottomans when Aya Sofia was converted into a mosque (it was a church for more than 1,000 years) as referent point to the direction of Mecca (kiblat).
This is the view taken from the gate of the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camii) shortly after exploring one of the mosy beautiful mosques I have ever stepped my foot on.
I like the quote after the film GUBRA: "The lamps are different but the light is the same" - Jelaluddin Rumi
What would the world be like if there is only ONE religion?
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