Hagia Sophia, located in Istanbul, Turkey, is a renowned architectural marvel with a rich history. Originally built as a Christian cathedral in the 6th century during the Byzantine Empire, served as the center of Eastern Orthodox Christianity for nearly a thousand years. Following the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453, Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque by Sultan Mehmed II. Islamic features such as minarets and mihrabs were added, and the building served as a mosque for nearly 500 years. In 1935, under the Republic of Turkey, Hagia Sophia was secularized and converted into a museum by the order of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey. In July 2020, Hagia Sophia was once again converted into a mosque by the Turkish government, sparking international debate and controversy over its status and significance as both a religious and cultural symbol.