Hagia Sophia Fatih Madrasa Opened

Hagia Sophia Fatih Madrasa, which was rebuilt by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism General Directorate of Foundations and allocated to Fatih Sultan Mehmet Foundation University to be used in accordance with its essence as Hagia Sophia Campus, was opened by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, who attended the opening ceremony, emphasized the importance of protecting cultural heritage and said, “To protect our history, culture, national and spiritual values, to preserve our national consciousness and knowledge that has come from all these, to enrich it and to be a legacy for future generations. We carry out intensive work in every field of the cultural field in our responsibility with the aim of leaving it behind. We do not only do the structural protection and repairs of our cultural heritage, but also make the works in suitable condition functional again to serve the purpose of their construction and offer them to the use of our people. Hagia Sophia Fatih Madrasa is one of them.” said.

Pointing out that Hagia Sophia was not only a place of worship after the conquest, but also a center of science and education, Ersoy said:

“The buildings called Priest Rooms in the northwest of Hagia Sophia were put into service as madrasahs. The fact that the scholar and the monument are always side by side in our civilization undeniably manifests itself when he builds enormous monuments. Those who try to portray these as opposites are naturally frustrated. After the Hagia Sophia Fatih Madrasa was put into service, it continued its function until 1924, either by maintenance and repair, or by being demolished and rebuilt. Since then, it has served as an orphanage. It was demolished in 1936 as it was in a dilapidated condition and not suitable for use.

As the Ministry, we have rebuilt this relic from the beginning on its historical foundations, from the architecture to the materials used. We also restore it to its original identity. We presented the building to the use of Fatih Sultan Mehmet Foundation University. From now on, this place will serve as the Hagia Sophia Research Center and I hope it will always make a name for itself with scientific studies befitting both its history and our nation.”

Underlining that they showed special sensitivity during the construction process, Minister Ersoy stated that a delegation from the International Council of Monuments and Sites, in the report they prepared as a result of on-site inspection, stated that "the reconstruction of the madrasah will have a beneficial effect in terms of appreciating Hagia Sophia and its environment and the outstanding universal value of the property". told what he said.

Ersoy said, “Therefore, this madrasah, which we have revived in an area that is a World Heritage Site, reveals both the historical and architectural richness of Istanbul again and again. Mr. President, I would like to express my gratitude to you for your support and willpower in our effort to keep the relics of our ancestors alive, not only objectively, but also as a spirit and idea.” used the phrases.

Hagia Sophia Fatih Madrasa

While Fatih Sultan Mehmet converted Hagia Sophia into a mosque after he conquered Istanbul, he put the building called "Priest's Rooms" in the northwest of Hagia Sophia into service as a madrasah.

The building, which continued to function as a madrasah over time, was demolished between 1869-1874 during the reign of Sultan Abdulaziz and rebuilt on the foundations of the old madrasah. The new madrasa building was built according to the projects prepared in line with the western façade by pulling back from Hagia Sophia.

While the last Hagia Sophia Madrasa was used as the Daru'l-Hilafetü'l-Aliye Madrasa, it was considered as Orphans' Dormitory by the Istanbul Municipality in 1924.

The building, which was used as Orphans' Dormitory for a while when Hagia Sophia became a museum in 1934, was demolished in 1936 as it was devastated and unsuitable for use.

The reconstructed Hagia Sophia Fatih Madrasa was allocated to Fatih Sultan Mehmet Foundation University to be used in accordance with its essence as Hagia Sophia Campus.

Hagia Sophia Research Center in Madrasah, Fatih Sultan Mehmet and His Period Research Center, Islamic Arts Application and Research Center, Islamic Law Research Center, Manuscripts Application and Research Center, Foundation Research Center, Evliya Çelebi Studies Research Center, Visual Communication and Design Application and Research Center it will include.