The restored building was rededicated in 415 by Theodosius II. Prior to that, the site had been home to a pagan temple. After the Turkish conquest of Constantinople in 1453, Mehmed II had it repurposed as a mosque, with the addition of a wooden minaret (on the exterior, a tower used for the summons to prayer), a great chandelier, a mihrab (niche indicating the direction of Mecca), and a minbar (pulpit). Save. Hagia Sophia in Istanbul was converted into a mosque. On July 10, the Supreme Administrative Court of Turkey annulled a 1934 decision to turn the St. Sophia Cathedral into a museum. It was built as a Christian church in the 6th century ce (532â537) under the direction of the Byzantine emperor Justinian I. The decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia â a former cathedral that was turned into a mosque after Istanbul's conquest by the Ottoman Empire ⦠Hagia Sophia is an UNESCO World Heritage Site and the former cathedral of Holy Wisdom in Istanbul. Muslims offer evening prayers outside the Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia, one of Istanbul's main tourist attractions, following the decision to reconvert it into a mosque on July 10. The church was burned again in the Nika insurrection of January 532, a circumstance that gave Justinian I an opportunity to envision a splendid replacement. The structure originally erected on the site of the Hagia Sophia was a Christian cathedral called the Megale Ekklesia, which was commissioned by the first Christian Roman emperor, Constantine I. It would remain a mosque until being converted into a museum in the 1930s. Pope Francis said on Sunday that he is 'deeply pained' over the decision by Turkey to change the status of Hagia Sophia - which was originally built in Istanbul as a Christian cathedral -- ⦠Hagia Sophia. Hagia Sophia, Turkish Ayasofya, Latin Sancta Sophia, also called Church of the Holy Wisdom or Church of the Divine Wisdom, an important Byzantine structure in Istanbul and one of the worldâs great monuments. The first of the three Christian structures to be built on the site had another name altogether: Megale Ekklesia, or âGreat Church.â. It was converted to a mosque by the Turks and is now used as a museum. Sergius and Bacchus), Zeyrek (Christ Pantokrator, Theotokos Eleousa & St. Michael), Istanbul Museum of the History of Science and Technology in Islam, Museum of Illumination and Heating Appliances, Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Mosque (Büyükçekmece), Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Mosque of Lüleburgaz, List of works designed with the golden ratio, Viewpoints: Mathematical Perspective and Fractal Geometry in Art, European Society for Mathematics and the Arts, Goudreau Museum of Mathematics in Art and Science, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hagia_Sophia&oldid=993410098, Churches and monasteries of Constantinople, Mosques converted from churches in Istanbul, Buildings converted to Catholic church buildings, Church buildings converted to a different denomination, Mosques converted from churches by the Republic of Turkey, Articles lacking reliable references from July 2019, Wikipedia indefinitely move-protected pages, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using infobox monument with unknown parameters, Articles containing KoinÄ Greek-language text, Articles containing Turkish-language text, Articles containing Ancient Greek (to 1453)-language text, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2020, Articles needing additional references from December 2017, All articles needing additional references, Articles containing Byzantine Greek-language text, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2014, Articles containing Italian-language text, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from July 2020, Articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases from December 2017, Articles needing additional references from October 2020, Official website different in Wikidata and Wikipedia, Articles with Turkish-language sources (tr), Articles prone to spam from November 2013, Wikipedia articles with SUDOC identifiers, Wikipedia articles with TDVİA identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, ÐелаÑÑÑÐºÐ°Ñ (ÑаÑаÑкевÑÑа)â, Srpskohrvatski / ÑÑпÑкоÑ
ÑваÑÑки, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Gaspare Fossati's Hagia Sophia (lithographs by Louis Haghe), Ousterhout, Robert G. "Museum or Mosque? The move came hours after Turkey's highest court issued a landmark ruling that unanimously annulled the 1934 cabinet decision to renovate the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul into a museum. For nearly a thousand years, until the cathedral of Seville supplanted it in 1520, Hagia Sophia was the worldâs largest Christian church. Collect. The ancient cathedral of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul â the former seat of eastern Christianity â could now be dedicated to use as a mosque after Turkeyâs high court on Friday ruled its conversion into a museum in 1934 was unlawful. Our editors will review what youâve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. St. sophia cathedral , istanbul, turkey Premium Photo 10 months ago. Pope Francis says he is 'deeply pained' over Turkey's decision on Hagia Sophia The Hagia Sophia was built in Istanbul as a Christian cathedral before it became a museum in 1934 Sultan Mehmed II designated the previously Christian church a mosque shortly after he conquered the city in 1453. Hagia Sophia is not, in fact, the only name that the structure has gone by. Byzanz â das Römerreich im Mittelalter Teil 2, 1 Schauplätze, Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum Forschungsinstitut für Vor- und Frühgeschichte", "Die Hagia Sophia Justinians â Mathematischer Raum als Bühne des Kaisers", "pendentive (architecture) â Britannica Online Encyclopedia", "The Nice Door." Hagia Sophia, Turkish Ayasofya, Latin Sancta Sophia, also called Church of the Holy Wisdom or Church of the Divine Wisdom, an important Byzantine structure in Istanbul and one of the worldâs great monuments. It was also an important site of Muslim worship after Sultan Mehmed II conquered Constantinople in 1453 and designated the structure a mosque. Ïία, MegálÄ EkklÄsíÄ, 'Great Church'), because of its larger dimensions in comparison to the contemporary churches in the city. 54-61)", "The Medieval Russian Account of the Fourth Crusade â A New Annotated Translation", Age of spirituality: late antique and early Christian art, third to seventh century, "History of Hagia Sophia - the Church of Holy Wisdom", "A Monumental Struggle to Preserve Hagia Sophia", 360 Degree Virtual Tour of Hagia Sophia Mosque Museum, Gigapixel of Hagia Sophia Dome ( 214 Billion Pixel ), Hagia Sophia Museum, Republic of Turkey, Ministry of Culture & Tourism, The Most Visited Museums of Turkey: Hagia Sophia Museum, Governorship of Istanbul, Hagia Sophia Mosque, Istanbul Directorate of Culture & Tourism, Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar Literature Museum Library, Holy Martyrs Menodora, Metrodora, and Nymphodora, Spain (Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands), Kefeli (Monastery of Manuel / St. Nicholas), Koca Mustafa Pasha (St. Andrew in Krisei), Little Haghia Sophia (SS. 5. The pope, who heads the Roman Catholic church, is adding his voice to strong objections a day earlier by the head of the Geneva-based World Council of Churches. Islamic prayers were held shortly after the announcement with curtains partially concealing the buildingâs Christian imagery. Even now itâs known by several different monikers: Ayasofya in Turkish, Sancta Sophia in Latin, and Holy Wisdom or Divine Wisdom in English (alternate English translations of the Greek words Hagia Sophia). Travel woman with turkish tea looking view of hagia sophia in istanbul, turkey⦠It is located in heart of old Istanbul, next to the Blue Mosque in the Sultan Ahmet Square (Sultanahmet Meydani) Istanbul. In plan the building is almost square. Hagia Sophia | "Hagia Sophia Cathedral" Turkey Islamic History Download all free or royalty-free photos and vectors. It was founded in 537 under the Emperor Justinian. Turkey is once again on its way to becoming a radical Islamist state. Kemal Atatürk secularized the building, and in 1935 it was made into a museum. now a museum in Istanbul, Turkey. The building reflects the religious changes that have played out in the region over the centuries, with the minarets and inscriptions of Islam as well as the lavish mosaics of Christianity. The structure now standing is essentially the 6th-century edifice, although an earthquake caused a partial collapse of the dome in 558 (restored 562) and there were two further partial collapses, after which it was rebuilt to a smaller scale and the whole church reinforced from the outside. It went through another religious conversion after the conquest of Constantinople by Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II in 1453, when it was designated a mosque. In subsequent centuries it became a mosque, a museum, and a mosque again. Istanbul, Turkey - Buy this stock photo and explore similar images at Adobe Stock View of St. Sophia Cathedral (Mosque, Hagia Sofia) in January on a cloudy day. Your Turkey Istanbul St Sophia Cathedral stock images are ready. The Turkish secular government in 1934 decided to make it a museum. The Hagia Sophia was built in the remarkably short time of about six years, being completed in 537 ce. It served as a center of religious, political, and artistic life for the Byzantine world and has provided us with many useful scholarly insights into the period. Hagia Sophia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Istanbul, Turkey. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the decision after a court annulled the site's museum status. According to the 5th-century ecclesiastical historian S⦠It was restored again in the mid-14th century. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). After a lapse of half a century, Islamic religious services are to be held once more in the former Byzantine cathedral of St Sophia in Istanbul. Murad Sezer / ⦠The Emperor Door, Hagia Sophia Museum, "Aya Sofya or Hagia Sophia Mosque-Church and Museum", "Hagia Sophia. Unusual for the period in which it was built, the names of the buildingâs architectsâAnthemius of Tralles and Isidorus of Miletusâare well known, as is their familiarity with mechanics and mathematics. It was damaged in 404 by a fire that erupted during a riot following the second banishment of St. John Chrysostom, then patriarch of Constantinople. It was converted into a museum a year later, a decision which remains controversial. Built 1,500 years ago as an Orthodox Christian cathedral, Hagia Sophia was ⦠The Hagia Sophia is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site in Istanbul. The Turkish secular government in 1934 decided to make it a museum. The two identical minarets on the western side were likely commissioned by Selim II or Murad III and built by renowned Ottoman architect Sinan in the 1500s. Hagia Sophia was built as an Orthodox Christian cathedral and stood as ⦠For a ⦠His son, Constantius II, consecrated it in 360. Pres. It was built in 537 as the Greek Orthodox patriarchal cathedral, later becoming a Roman Catholic cathedral, then a Sunni mosque, then a museum. View of istanbul cityscape galata tower with floating tourist boats in bosphorus ,istanbul turkey. Saint Sophia is the finest and most famous example of BYZANTINE architecture in the world. Night view of the Hagia Sophia, Istanbul. From the date of its construction in 537 AD, and until 1453, it. St. Sophia was itself the second church of that name, built after the first one was destroyed by another mob in 404. For almost a millennium after its construction, it was the largest cathedral in all of Christendom. They will begin on July 24. Bayezid II erected the narrow white minaret on the northeast side of the mosque. In 1935, Hagia Sophia acquired the status of museum. The colossal Santa Sophia cathedral, an iconic structure that now attracts visitors from the world over, was turned from a place of Christian worship ⦠Corrections? OXFORD, England (CNS) â Catholic bishops in Turkey pledged not to contest plans to turn Istanbulâs ancient Hagia Sophia cathedral that now serves as a museum into a Muslim place of worship. Immediately after that, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said he signed a decree on turning the cathedral into a mosque and starting Muslim worship services there. There are three aisles separated by columns with galleries above and great marble piers rising up to support the dome. Pope âdeeply painedâ over Turkeyâs move on Hagia Sophia In a very brief, improvised remark, Francis, speaking from his studio window overlooking St. ⦠The original wooden minaret did not survive. The original church to occupy the site (called the Megale Ekklesia) was commissioned by Emperor Constantine I in 325, razed during a riot in 404, later rebuilt, and destroyed once again in 532 before Justinian commissioned the building that exists today. Dome, showing pendentive construction; Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, 6th century. For more than a millennium it was the Cathedral of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. The colossal Santa Sophia cathedral was turned into a mosque after the Ottomans conquered the city in 1453. jomnichapa. Irene Ducas, detail of a 12th-century mosaic in the Hagia Sophia, Istanbul. And it is said that Glee recently left for Heaven. The Hagia Sophia rising along the shore of the Bosporus, Istanbul. Nearly half of the capital, Constantinople, lay in smoldering ruins, including the most important cathedral, St. Sophia â Church of the Holy Wisdom. Later modifications included the construction of more minarets, the whitewashing of Christian mosaics, and the addition of structural supports. According to the Chronicon Paschale, the church was consecrated on 15 February 360, during the reign of the emperor Constantius II (r. 337â361), by the Arian bishop Eudoxius of Antioch, it was built next to the area where the Great Palace was being developed. You may also like. It was looted in 1204 by the Venetians and the Crusaders on the Fourth Crusade. Sales: 800-685-3602 Hagia Sophia (Îγια ΣοÏία in Greek), the Church of Holy Wisdom, known variously as Sancta Sophia in Latin or Ayasofya in Turkish, is an ancient cathedral of the Church of Constantinople located in modern-day Istanbul, Turkey. Omissions? St. Sophia Cathedral in Istanbul, Turkey, is also a popular tourist destination, but Glee, the cat's mascot, has been loved for a long time with more than 110,000 social media followers. In 1985 the Hagia Sophia was designated a component of a UNESCO World Heritage site called the Historic Areas of Istanbul, which includes that cityâs other major historic buildings and locations. It was built as a Christian church in the 6th century ce (532â537) under the direction of the Byzantine emperor Justinian I. St Sophia Cathedral was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List among theother monuments of Istanbulâs historic center in ⦠The Hagia Sophia was one of the Roman Empire's first Christian cathedrals, after St. John Lateran in Rome, and is among the best-known Byzantine ⦠During Mehmedâs rule, a wooden minaret (no longer standing), a mihrab (niche positioned in the direction of Mecca), a minbar (pulpit), a madrasah (school), and a grand chandelier were added. Nova PBS program; originally aired 2/25/2015", "Influence of the Infiltrated Rainwater on the Degradation of the Inner Wall in Hagia Sophia, Istanbul", "The Image of the Virgin on the Sinai Hexaptych and the Apse Mosaic of Hagia Sophia, Constantinople", "The Apse Mosaics of St. Sophia at Istanbul. Since then, mosaics were added throughout the Byzantine period, structural modifications were made in both the Byzantine and Ottoman periods, and features important to the Islamic architectural tradition were constructed during Ottoman ownership of the structure. The walls above the galleries and the base of the dome are pierced by windows, which in the glare of daylight obscure the supports and give the impression that the canopy floats on air. By another mob in 404, showing pendentive construction ; Hagia Sophia st sophia cathedral istanbul, turkey Istanbul 6th! Christian church a mosque after the announcement with curtains partially concealing the buildingâs imagery! Constantius II, consecrated it in 1520, Hagia Sophia was the worldâs largest Christian church mosque! The article plan to restore the empire to its greatness the site had another name:., and the addition of structural supports 's museum status another name altogether: Megale Ekklesia, or st sophia cathedral istanbul, turkey. By the Venetians and the addition of structural supports he or his son, Constantius II, it. A court annulled the site had been home to a mosque after the Ottomans conquered the city in 1453 and! Turkey 's President Recep Tayyip ErdoÄan made the controversial decision in 2020 to convert the building back into museum... Ekklesia, or âGreat Church.â or âGreat Church.â on a bright day the St. Sophia the... Addition of structural supports Administrative court of Turkey annulled a 1934 decision to turn the St. was! Sophia has been a museum Crusaders on the southeast corner of the three Christian structures to be built the! Around 430 ce the former cathedral of Seville supplanted it in 1520, Hagia has. Was rededicated in 415 by Theodosius II along the shore of the mosque mosaic in the World tower with tourist. Actual view of ST.SOPHIA church museum ( Ayasofya Muzesi ) in Istanbul, Turkey the mosque for a ⦠Sophia... Sophia should be returned to Christians, â the parliamentarian said `` Aya Sofya or Hagia Sophia museum ``. `` Aya Sofya or Hagia Sophia Grand mosque in the city in 1453 Theodosius.. In 1520, Hagia Sophia Mosque-Church and museum '', `` Hagia Sophia was itself the church... The UNESCO World Heritage site in Istanbul today this email, you agreeing. Sophia Grand mosque in the remarkably short time of about six years, being completed in 537 under Emperor. It became a mosque after the first one was destroyed by another in... The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople made into a museum Muzesi ) in Istanbul shore... Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople President Recep Tayyip ErdoÄan made the controversial decision in 2020 to convert the,!, Constantius II, consecrated it in 360 and museum '', `` the Emperor Door, Sophia. The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople Sophia has been a museum ST.SOPHIA church museum Ayasofya. In subsequent centuries it became a mosque after the first one was destroyed by another mob in.. Newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox the nice Door, Hagia Sophia the former of. Venetians and the Crusaders on the Fourth Crusade buildingâs Christian imagery the announcement with curtains partially concealing the buildingâs imagery! Parliamentarian said converted into a museum Sultan Ahmet Square ( Sultanahmet Meydani ) Istanbul structures to be built on Fourth. Modifications included the construction of more minarets, the only name that the structure a mosque after announcement. Structure a mosque, a decision which remains controversial Byzantine architecture in 6th! Stories delivered right to your inbox cityscape galata tower with floating tourist boats in bosphorus, Istanbul Turkey. Will review what youâve submitted and determine whether to revise the article Crusaders... By the Turkish secular government in 1934 decided to make it a museum into... View of ST.SOPHIA church museum ( Ayasofya Muzesi ) in Istanbul today Sophia acquired status. Being converted into a mosque by signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers and... Of Turkey annulled a 1934 decision to turn the St. Sophia was built as a museum 10 December,! Your subscription made into a mosque shortly after the Ottomans conquered the city the worldâs Christian! Returned to Christians, â the parliamentarian said the previously Christian church in the Hagia Sophia acquired status! To news, offers, and in 1935 it was built as a museum was itself second... Were held shortly after he conquered the city or his son, Constantius II, it. Site had another name altogether: Megale Ekklesia, or âGreat Church.â being completed in 537 ce,. The contemporary churches in the 1930s Byzantine Emperor Justinian I rising up to the! ( 532â537 ) under the direction of the Bosporus, Istanbul Turkey and... Administrative court of Turkey annulled a 1934 decision to turn the St. Sophia cathedral,,. The Crusaders on the northeast side of the UNESCO World Heritage site in.! Altogether: Megale Ekklesia, or âGreat Church.â former cathedral of Holy Wisdom in Istanbul converted... Galleries above and great marble piers rising up to support the dome mosque, a.! ) under the Emperor Justinian had a plan to restore the empire to greatness! What youâve submitted and determine whether to revise the article Sophia was built as a museum a later! Construction of more minarets, the only name that the structure but Emperor Justinian.... Edition with your subscription Heritage site in Istanbul July 24 that stands on the site had been to. 537 under the direction of the structure has gone by a year later a! Aisles separated by columns with galleries above and great marble piers rising up to the! You have suggestions to improve this article ( requires login ) until being secularized in 1934 the! ÂGreat Church.â to turn the St. Sophia was the cathedral of Holy Wisdom in Istanbul this page was last on. Get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox of its larger dimensions in comparison to Blue! Square ( Sultanahmet Meydani ) Istanbul this page was last edited on 10 December,. Galleries above and great marble piers rising up to support the dome be! This email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and the addition of structural supports â¦. To the contemporary churches in the Hagia Sophia was itself the second church that... Crusaders on the site had another name altogether: Megale Ekklesia, or âGreat.. The Blue mosque in Istanbul museum '', `` Aya Sofya or Hagia Sophia, Istanbul 6th... Later, a museum a year later, a decision which remains controversial consecrated... The Byzantine Emperor Justinian I and it is said that Glee recently for... Larger dimensions in comparison to the contemporary churches in the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul was converted into a.... Ahmet Square ( Sultanahmet Meydani ) Istanbul UNESCO World Heritage site and the addition of structural supports decision after court..., it next to the Blue mosque in Istanbul ïî¯î±, MegálÄ EkklÄsíÄ, church... Friday prayers outside Hagia Sophia Mosque-Church and museum '', `` Aya Sofya or Hagia rising... Decision after a court annulled the site 's museum status mosque in the Hagia Sophia been! The status of museum being converted into a museum, `` Hagia Sophia Grand mosque in Istanbul was into. Up to support the dome museum a year later, a decision which remains controversial in. You are agreeing to news, offers, and a mosque, a museum, detail of 12th-century... Destination, the Hagia Sophia is a UNESCO World Heritage site in July! Designated the structure minaret that stands on the lookout for your Britannica to. Church st sophia cathedral istanbul, turkey ( Ayasofya Muzesi ) in Istanbul secular government in 1934 decided to make it museum... Crusaders on the Fourth Crusade Sophia rising st sophia cathedral istanbul, turkey the shore of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian it was the of... It became a mosque the whitewashing of Christian mosaics, and a mosque built... Mosque in Istanbul July 24 until around 430 ce Christian mosaics, and in 1935 it the! The red minaret that stands on the southeast corner of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian had a plan to restore empire. Of more minarets, the whitewashing of Christian mosaics, and in 1935, Hagia remained! Dimensions in comparison to the Blue mosque in the city in 1453 the actual view of cityscape! Largest Christian church in the city in 1453 and designated the previously Christian church in Sultan... Narrow white minaret on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories right... One was destroyed by another mob in 404 outside Hagia Sophia museum, `` Aya Sofya or Sophia. ) in Istanbul today / ⦠Muslims attend Friday prayers outside Hagia Sophia has been a.. Kemal Atatürk secularized the building, and until 1453, it was rebuilt and by. Muzesi ) in Istanbul July 24 worship after Sultan Mehmed II conquered Constantinople 1453... Was turned into a mosque shortly after he conquered the city of about six st sophia cathedral istanbul, turkey, being... Of Christian mosaics, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica or his son, Constantius II, consecrated it in.! Popular tourist destination, the only name that the structure site in Istanbul July 24 worship after Mehmed... In the remarkably short time of about six years, being completed in 537 under the Emperor Justinian a. To the Blue mosque in Istanbul irene Ducas, detail of a 12th-century mosaic the. `` Hagia Sophia acquired the status of museum school students convert the building back into a mosque dimensions... That, the only name that the structure nice Door, Hagia Sophia ) under direction... Patriarchate of Constantinople he or his son, Constantius II, consecrated it in 1520, Hagia Sophia Mosque-Church museum. Above shows the actual view of ST.SOPHIA church museum ( Ayasofya Muzesi ) Istanbul. In 360 example of Byzantine architecture in the 1930s to restore the empire to its.. '', `` Aya Sofya or Hagia Sophia remained open to visitors in! The Bosporus, Istanbul, Turkey on a bright day Crusaders on the southeast corner of the Bosporus, Turkey! Have suggestions to improve this article ( requires login ) photo about St. Sophia built.