Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Istanbul under Christianity, Islam and secularism | Reuters.com

"Istanbul under Christianity, Islam and secularism
Wed Nov 29, 2006 9:21 PM IST24

By Thomas Grove

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - When Ottoman Sultan Mehmet conquered Constantinople in 1453, his first destination was Haghia Sophia, the towering seat of Orthodox Christianity.

In front of what was then the largest church in the world, he knelt, sprinkled soil on his turban as a sign of humility and recited the Muslim prayer of faith, turning the church into a mosque: "There is no God but God, and Mohammed is His prophet.""

More:Istanbul under Christianity, Islam and secularism | Reuters.com