Turkey’s Ministry of Culture is launching a new phase in its maintenance and structural support projects Hagia Sophiawith the aim of anti -seismic shielding of the historical dome and the hemispherical domes of the temple.
The works will be completed without interrupting the worship function of Hagia Sophia as a mosque. The work will be replaced by lead covers on the exterior surfaces of the domes, upgrade the steel frame and use lighter modern materials.
Associate Professor of Mimar Sinan University, Mehmet Selim Octin, a civil engineer and a member of the scientific council who oversees the project, said that these efforts have been the most comprehensive structural intervention for 150 years. “We have been making intensive efforts to restore Hagia Sophia and its surrounding structures for three years,” Mr Okten said, stressing that ‘We are now focusing on the seismic shield of Hagia Sophiaespecially in view of the expected earthquake of Constantinople. “
On the east facade of the temple there will be a crane for the transportation of materials to higher parts of the structure. A protective framework will be placed above the monument, allowing experts to work safely, analyzing the damage caused during the history of fires and previous earthquakes in the 10th and 14th centuries. “This will allow us to study the layers of the building, while ensuring the safety of the public,” Mr Okten said.
In a post on X, the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, says that “work will be done from the outer surface to avoid causing damage to the mosaics on the inner surface of the dome”. The lead overlays will be removed and repaired or replaced, and – as he says – the dome will be temporarily covered abroad with steel construction and special canvas so as not to be affected by the weather and to protect mosaics.
We take care of history, we carry Hagia Sophia to the future!
In the 1486-year-old Hagia Sophia-i Kebir Mosque Sharif, we continue our restoration and strengthening efforts without interrupting worship. We have completed some of these studies, and we carefully carry out the remaining sections.
In this process,… pic.twitter.com/YIcwaN2eW6
– Mehmet Nuri Ersoy (@mehmetnuriersoy) April 14, 2025
The post by Mehmet Nuri Ersoy is accompanied by a video representing the steel platform that will be placed under the dome and relying on four main columns of 43.5 meters high.
Maintenance work is already underway last year in one of the four minarets surrounding Hagia Sophia, Vayazit II, as cracks were found in him.
In July 2023, Turkey’s Minister of Tourism and Culture, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, had announced the conduct of projects to enhance the static of Hagia Sophia.
In the context of maintenance and rehabilitation work in Hagia Sophia, steel scaffolding has been installed with the aim of safety of visitors from any decline in material.