On the occasion of the 571st anniversary of the Fall of Constantinople, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan prefaces a three-volume work entitled “In the Footsteps of the Sacred Call: The Conquest of Constantinople, Mehmed the Conqueror, and the Hagia Sophia Mosque in the Turkish Press,” published by the Directorate of Communications of the Turkish Presidency.
In his introductory note for the book, “The Conquest of Constantinople in the Turkish Press,” the Turkish president writes that Mehmed the Conqueror, who conquered Constantinople by honoring the Prophet Muhammad’s proclamation and realizing the seven-century-old dream of Muslims, left a valuable legacy.
He argues that the conqueror’s determination and perseverance serve as an example to transform his legacy, “beloved Constantinople,” into one of the world’s most important economic, commercial, scientific, cultural, and artistic centers. “Now, we are continuing our struggle for our nation following the vision of the Turkish Century, and we are moving forward with determination to implement new plans. Our dreams are for Turkey,” said Erdoğan.
In another part of the introductory note, the Turkish president emphasizes the following: “For us, conquest is not only about conquest and victory; it is also a symbol of rebirth, construction, revitalization, and faith. Mehmed the Conqueror, who set out to conquer hearts rather than lands, conquered not only a city but also hearts with his tolerance and just rule, transforming Constantinople into a center of culture, art, and science. It was not a piece of land that was conquered that day, but millions of hearts. The faith, determination, and perseverance of Mehmed the Conqueror and his blessed soldiers during the conquest of Constantinople inspire us to serve our nation and lead Turkey to 2053 (the 600th anniversary of the Fall of Constantinople) and 2071 (the 1000th anniversary of the Battle of Manzikert)”.
In the introduction to the volume “The Hagia Sophia Mosque in the Turkish Press”, the Turkish president writes that “restoring the Hagia Sophia to its original identity is not only about breaking the chains on the doors of this holy place but also about breaking the chains in hearts and minds.
He also notes that Hagia Sophia, one of the most significant symbols of the historical landscape of Constantinople in the heart of Turkey, has undergone many transformations over the centuries and bears the traces of many civilizations. He adds that after the fall, it became one of the symbolic sanctuaries of the Islamic world and has always held an important place in the heart of the Turkish nation.
This volume presents the history of Hagia Sophia, and its conversion into a mosque in July 2020 is characterized as a major step towards reviving the historical and cultural heritage of Turkey and the Islamic world.
The three volumes were prepared by scanning archives and articles by prominent writers, poets, and academics in newspapers and magazines from 1922 to the present.
Translated by Ioanna Georgakopoulou
