Erdogan arrives at Hagia Sophia for prayers

Thousands of Muslim faithful made their way to Istanbul's landmark Hagia Sophia on Friday to take part in the first prayers in 86 years at the structure that once was one of Christendom's most significant cathedrals, then a mosque and museum before its re-conversion back into a Muslim place of worship.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended the inaugural prayers inside the sixth-century monument along with about 500 dignitaries, as he fulfilled what he has described as the "dream of our youth" anchored in Turkey's Islamic movement.

Thousands of men and women, including many who traveled from across Turkey, quickly filled specially-designated, segregated areas outside of Hagia Sophia, to be part of the first prayers.

Several camped near the structure overnight. Dozens of worshipers broke through a police checkpoint to rush toward Hagia Sophia and social distancing practices, in place due to the coronavirus outbreak, were widely ignored, Turkish media reported.