The Blue Mosque, which is much newer and just as large is just 300 meters from Haga Sophia. As to history, Haga Sophia was completed in 537 AD, while Islam did not begin until 610 AD. Meaning the Islamic claim to Haga Sophia is based on conquest.
Interesting fun story, there are Norse runes carved in the floors close to the exterior walls. A tour guide told us that these were made by Vikings that made it all the way to Istanbul. True? Who knows, but a cool story.
Of course it is.
The fourth stanza of our national anthem contains the phrase, "then conquer we must, when our cause it is just".
There's nothing wrong with possession by conquest, it is perfectly normal. If you want Hagia Sophia to be a cathedral again, you have to conquer at least European Turkey (and probably the whole thing), subdue and convert the population to the True Faith, and then you're good to go.
Yes, they have similar lore about coming to America along way back and leaving marking in the NE part of the country.
My mother was a Swede. Her name maiden name was Erickson. (pretty common)
“Vikings that made it all the way to Istanbul. “
The Byzantines used Vikings as a mercenary force. They were called the Varangian Guard. They were some of the most feared soldiers in the near east who used two-handed, double-bit axes rather than swords or spears.
Yeah, it’s true there were Vikings in Constantinople!