Turkish President Erdogan joined the celebration program via a live connection to the Kariye Mosque, which is among the 33 works scheduled for reopening in Istanbul.

The Kariye Mosque in Istanbul recently reopened for worship after undergoing extensive restoration work, marked by a ceremony.

"Seventy-nine years later, the Kariye Mosque has been restored by our Foundations General Directorate and is once again open for worship,” stated Safi Arpagus, the mufti of Istanbul, during the inauguration ceremony.

The collective unveiling of 201 restored works, overseen by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism General Directorate of Foundations, occurred on Monday at the Bestepe Presidential Complex's Congress and Culture Centre, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in attendance.

President Erdogan was also part of the celebration program through a live connection to the Kariye Mosque, one of the 33 works set to reopen in Istanbul.

The mosque, located near Istanbul's ancient city walls, is renowned for its intricate mosaics and frescoes. Its origins trace back to the 4th century, with the current structure dating from the 11th-12th centuries.

Today, the newly restored Kariye Mosque in Fatih's Edirnekapi was captured by a drone as it was unveiled.

The footage, showcasing an aerial perspective of the mosque, highlights the lush greenery surrounding the area.

Originally constructed as a church, the building underwent conversion into a mosque by Grand Vizier Hadım Ali Pasha (Atik Ali Pasha) in the 16th century, during the reign of Ottoman Sultan Bayezid II.

During World War II, the Kariye Mosque, also known as Chora, was converted into a museum under the Museum Administration in 1948.

In 2020, a presidential decree reinstated its mosque status, and it is now owned by the Foundations General Directorate of Turkey's Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Subsequent to this decision, restoration efforts commenced and were successfully completed within four years.