Throughout the Church's history there have been many Christian churches transformed into mosques, which Christians have never tried to reclaim.

Some of the most important examples are:

1)     Basilica of Sta. Sophia (Istanbul): of Byzantine-Orthodox traditions built by Emperor Constantine in honor of Holy Wisdom and expanded by Constance II. In 404 it was destroyed in a fire and after being rebuilt by Theodosius II it burned down again in 532. Emperor Justinian ordered to be rebuilt a second time, being completed in 537 just five and a half years with 10,000 workers participating in the project. The Iconoclasts destroyed most of its precious mosaics. As of 1453 it was the largest Christian church in the world until Mehmet II the Conqueror, the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, converted it into a mosque after conquering Constantinople.  In 1935, the basilica was deconsecrated on orders from Ataturk, founder of the modern Turkish republic at the end of the Ottoman Empire. Today it is a museum. 

2)     Ummayyade Mosque (Damascus): Built between 705 and 715 on top of the ruins of St. John the Baptist Church by Arab Ummayyade caliphs, a dynasty that reigned from 661-750. The mosque was restored in the 15th century and again in the 19th. In May of 2001, the pope visited the mosque. During his historic visit the John Paul II became the first pontiff ever in history to enter a Muslim place of worship. Before he went inside, the pope took off his shoes and prayed in front of the tomb of John the Baptist. According to a legend, when Jesus comes back to earth to battle the Anti-Christ, he will descend upon the Mosque's minaret.  

3) Ibn Tulun Mosque (Cairo): This mosque dates back to the 9th century and is one the largest mosques in the world. It takes its name from Ahmad Ibn Tulum, founder of the Tulunid Dynasty which dominated Egypt from 868-905. The mosque was built from 876-79 with materials gathered from a destroyed Christian church outside the Muslim city. The church's capitals are still visible inside the mosque. (MR)      

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