Protests in Thessaloniki, Greece included the burning of Turkish flags as the famous Hagia Sophia in Istanbul returns to Islamic prayer services on Friday (July 24).

Orthodox prayers and Turkish flags burned at protest against Hagia Sophia mosque convertion

Protests took place across Greece on Friday evening 24/7 following Turkey's decision to reconvert Istanbul's Hagia Sophia into a Muslim place of worship.
Turkish flags burned in streets of Thessaloniki as orthodox protesters demonstrate against the conversion of Hagia Sophia into mosque by Turkey. Protesters chant anti-Turkish slogans and stand out of consulate of Turkey in Thesaaloniki holding Greek and Orthodox flags. Earlier a Sequence of the Akathistos Hymn was held in church of Hagia Sophia in Thessaloniki as a highly symbolic move, in response to the conversion of the Holy Temple of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul into a mosque. Many orthodox pilgrims stood in queues to worship the image of the Virgin Mary.

The ancient building and UNESCO World Heritage site of Hagia Sophia went through several changes throughout the centuries. Inaugurated in 537 as a Christian cathedral, it became a Mosque in 1453 following the Ottomans' conquest of Constantinople (Istanbul) and the subsequent fall of the Eastern Roman/Byzantine empire.