Chora, converted into a museum in Turkey in 1945, to reopen for Muslim prayers after presidential decree.

Weeks after the historic return of Hagia Sophia to a mosque, Chora Museum, one of Istanbul's most celebrated Byzantine buildings, is set to reopen for Muslim worship.

Dating back to the sixth-century Byzantine Empire, Chora Church remains intact. In the 16th century, after the conquest of Istanbul by Mehmet II, the church was converted into a mosque. (AFP)Weeks after the historic return of Hagia Sophia to a mosque, Chora Museum, one of Istanbul's most celebrated Byzantine buildings, is set to reopen for Muslim worship.

Dating back to the sixth-century Byzantine Empire, the beautiful structure of the building remains intact. In the 16th century, after the conquest of Istanbul by Mehmet II, the church was converted into a mosque.

The interior of the building is covered with some of the oldest and finest surviving Byzantine mosaics and frescoes. They were uncovered and restored after the building was turned into a museum.

Due to the prohibition of iconic images in Muslim prayer venues, the church's frescoes were covered under a layer of plaster, which took their toll on them, along with major earthquakes (specifically in the 12th century).