It appears there is an error in the date you mentioned for the Hagia Sophia’s transition to a museum. The Hagia Sophia was officially converted into a museum on February 1, 1935. This transformation was part of a broad secularization policy initiated by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder, and the first President of the Republic of Turkey.

Below is a detailed account of the historic significance and transitions of the Hagia Sophia:

The Hagia Sophia: A Historical Overview

Early History

• Construction: Initially constructed as a cathedral by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, the Hagia Sophia was completed in 537 CE. It served as a center of Eastern Orthodox Christianity and the seat of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople for nearly a millennium.

Transformation to a Mosque

• 1453: Following the Ottoman Empire’s conquest of Constantinople in 1453, led by Sultan Mehmed II, the Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque. This conversion included the addition of minarets and other Islamic architectural features, reflecting its new religious function.

Conversion to a Museum

• Secularization in 1935: Under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey, the Hagia Sophia was secularized and opened as a museum on February 1, 1935. This move was emblematic of Atatürk’s broader efforts to modernize and secularize Turkish society. The transformation allowed for the preservation and display of both Christian and Islamic features, celebrating the monument’s rich cultural history.

Significance

• Cultural Heritage: The Hagia Sophia is an architectural marvel and an iconic symbol of both Byzantine and Ottoman empires. Its status as a museum allowed visitors from around the world to appreciate its religious, historical, and architectural significance, free from the constraints of a particular faith.

Recent Developments

• Reconversion to a Mosque: On July 10, 2020, a Turkish court annulled the 1935 decision, and shortly thereafter, the Hagia Sophia was reconverted into a mosque. However, it remains open to visitors of all backgrounds, retaining its substantial role as a cultural and historical monument.

The Hagia Sophia remains one of the most visited sites in Turkey, reflecting the complex and intertwined histories of Christianity and Islam in the region.