The mosque, which became a museum after World War II, was renovated with the efforts and support of foundations, he added. Kariye Mosque, also known as Chora, is owned by the Foundations General Directorate of Türkiye's Culture and Tourism Ministry. It was returned to its mosque status by a 2020 presidential decree. Originally built in the fourth century in the Byzantine era, with architectural changes over the centuries, it became a mosque in the 16th century, after the Ottoman conquest of Istanbul. Under the Republic of Türkiye, it was turned into a museum under the Museum Administration in 1948, but under the 2020 presidential decree, it was restored to return to its historic mosque status.
