Today, Turkey commemorates the 573rd anniversary of the Fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans on May 29, 1453, with provocative mass events, marches, and official ceremonies.
This year’s celebrations coincide with the third day of Kurban Bayram (Eid al-Adha), which gives the events even greater significance. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan prayed at Hagia Sophia, where he recited passages from the Qur’an and made the following statement:
Cumhurbaşkanı Erdoğan, Ayasofya-i Kebir Cami-i Şerifi’nde Kur’an-ı Kerim okudu pic.twitter.com/f3Wh4qHp8L
— Burak Doğan (@doganburak29) May 29, 2026
‘Today is Friday, May 29. By coincidence, we had the opportunity to perform prayers at Hagia Sophia. The turnout at Hagia Sophia was also magnificent. On this very day, Mehmed the Conqueror walked towards Hagia Sophia and, together with the people of Constantinople, prayed here. This is something especially beautiful,” he told journalists waiting outside the monument.
After making these remarks, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan thanked the journalists and gave them some Turkish delight, commenting on its flavour during a brief exchange.
Cumhurbaşkanımız Sayın Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, cuma namazını Ayasofya-i Kebir Cami-i Şerifi’nde kıldı. pic.twitter.com/oFEnKSNADh
— AK Parti (@Akparti) May 29, 2026
The highlight of the day was the ‘Conquest March’ in Istanbul, which was attended by thousands of people of all ages. Starting at Beyazıt Square, the march concluded at Hagia Sophia, with participants carrying Turkish flags and banners and accompanied by traditional military bands.
The Istanbul Governor’s Office stated that ‘tens of thousands of city residents united as one under the glorious Turkish flag’, and the Istanbul Governor, Davut Gül, also participated in the march.
The official programme also included a major event at the Haliç Congress Centre, attended by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, titled “From the Conquest of Constantinople to the Conquest of Hearts”, which combined the anniversary commemorations with the Bayram festivities.
Meanwhile, mehter marches, concerts, and an aerial display by the SOLOTÜRK aerobatic team over Yenikapı Square have been scheduled, alongside religious ceremonies, Quran recitations, and historical reenactments in various parts of the country.
The celebrations are taking place in an atmosphere of intense symbolism, with Ankara presenting the Fall of Constantinople as a landmark event in Ottoman and Turkish history through ceremonies combining historical remembrance, national symbols, and religious elements.
Source: sigmalive.com
