Hagia Sophia to host sahur program during Ramadan


A sahur (predawn meal) program to be produced by TRT Diyanet, the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation's (TRT) TV channel focusing on Islam, will be hosted throughout the course of the holy month of Ramadan at Hagia Sophia, a landmark sacred to both Christians and Muslims.The program is scheduled to air at 2:00 a.m. every day, for 29 days, with Quran recitation and a feast for TRT Diyanet. With Ali Bektaş as the program host, the topics discussed will focus on brotherhood in Islam, justice, unity, solidarity and charity along with various guests. Professor Necdet Çağıl and historian Dursun Gürlek will also be on the program to spice it up with their insights on Ramadan and Islam.Regarded as the eighth wonder of the world, the construction of Hagia Sophia first started on Feb. 23, 532, under the Greek Orthodox Byzantine Empire, and opened for prayers on Dec. 27, 537. The historical monument served as an Orthodox cathedral and as the seat of the Patriarch of Constantinople for 916 years, after which it was converted into a mosque in 1453 following the conquest of Istanbul by Sultan Mehmet I. After serving as a mosque for 482 years, Hagia Sophia currently operates as a museum.