Istanbul’s Church of St. Saviour converted to Muslim house of prayer, drawing international condemnation, as Erdogan seeks to appease his base with popularity sagging

Now reconverted into a mosque, site was built as a cathedral during Christian Byzantine Empire, became a mosque after the Ottoman conquest in 1453, was turned into a museum in 1934

Erdogan and 500 dignitaries due to join first Muslim service in 86 years at site, which had been one of Christendom’s most significant cathedrals

Country's religious authority says Christian icons would be curtained off and unlit 'through appropriate means during prayer times'

Conference of Presidents says Turkish leader's statements at ceremony marking Hagia Sofia's reopening as a mosque were incendiary and offensive

In improvised remarks, Francis laments decision to return Istanbul icon, originally built as a Christian cathedral, from a museum to a mosque

From Spain to Syria, churches have been converted into mosques, and vice versa, as control over the sites have shifted over the centuries

Move to allow Muslim prayer at iconic 6th century former cathedral comes despite protests from US, Orthodox Christian leaders and could inflame tensions with Greece, Cyprus