Palace of Hagia Sophia. Hagia Sophia Mosque in Istanbul. Architecture and interior decoration
The most magnificent and delightful pearl among thousands of Turkish attractions in the field of history and architecture is the incomparable Hagia Sophia, located in the capital of the country, Istanbul. This building has many names: locals respectfully call it the Hagia Sophia Mosque, foreigners know it as the Cathedral of Hagia Sophia of the Wisdom of God or Hagia Sophia of Constantinople, or simply St. Sophia Cathedral. Now the architectural monument, with a difficult fate, has the official name “Museum of Hagia Sophia” - “Ayasofya Müzesi”. It is absolutely amazing that the once Christian cathedral could become a mosque, and now a museum. This is one of the most frequently visited museums in the world, as it is an authentic monument of Byzantine architecture and symbolizes its “golden age”. Hagia Sophia, located in the historical district of Istanbul - Sultanahmet, is under the protection of UNESCO.
History of the building of the Turkish Hagia Sophia
The first building of the Cathedral of Hagia Sophia of the Wisdom of God - a small one, covered with a wooden roof, was erected back in 360 by order of the Emperor of the Roman Empire Constantine, but it was not erected on a vacant lot, but where the ancient acropolis had previously stood. But, seventy-five years later, the cathedral was burned down during the terrible popular unrest that broke out in Istanbul in 404. Emperor Theodosius II, who was in power, gave the order to reconstruct the structure. This was in 415. But the newly built basilica was also covered with a wooden roof, which again led to a fire during a popular riot that occurred in 532, under the reign of Emperor Justinian. Unfortunately, it is now impossible to say for sure the names of the architects who erected the first two buildings of the cathedral, but the names of the architects who began to create the Hagia Sophia in 532 are known for sure; these were the masters Anzemios and Isidoros. The St. Sophia Cathedral, then still the city of Constantinople, as Istanbul was formerly called, was built in five years, ten thousand auxiliary workers took part in the construction. Here it was decided to crown future emperors of the Roman Empire. By the way, it was after visiting the St. Sophia Cathedral, and being amazed by such luxury and beauty, that our Russian prince Vladimir - the Red Sun decided that Rus' must certainly accept Orthodoxy. But within these same walls, in 1054, a split began between two major movements of Christianity - Orthodoxy and Catholicism, after Cardinal Humbert, who was the plenipotentiary representative of Pope Leo the Ninth, and Patriarch Michael Kirularius anathematized each other.
In the thirteenth century, the city was besieged by crusading soldiers, during the capture they severely damaged the basilica building. And a hundred years later, in 1453, Constantinople was captured by the Sultan of Turkey, Mahmed Fitih the Conqueror. But he did not destroy the Hagia Sophia, as he was delighted with the beauty of the structure and the global scale of its scale. Sutan simply gave the order to convert the Christian temple into a Muslim mosque, and rename it Hagia Sophia.
According to established Muslim tradition, four slender minarets were added to the building. In addition, a number of restoration works were carried out to strengthen the structure, supplementing it with supports. A little later, a madrasah building was built nearby, an educational institution for Muslims that operated until the seventeenth century. In the mid-nineteenth century, the ancient Istanbul mosque Hagia Sophia was reconstructed by the architects the Fossati brothers. During this reconstruction, the chapel for the emperors' prayers was removed and a mihrab was added. The Turkish Hagia Sophia became a museum in 1935, it was called the “Mustafa Ataturk House Museum”. And since 1985, as mentioned above, St. Sophia Cathedral received the official status of “historical monument of Istanbul” and was taken under the protection of UNESCO.
Centuries have passed, and the proud Hagia Sophia remains an architectural landmark of Istanbul, which at first glance amazes the imagination of the most experienced travelers. This symbol of Byzantine architecture and the largest temple in the world attracts tourists with its rich and fascinating history. The dome of Hagia Sophia has a decent height of fifty-five meters and a diameter of thirty-one meters. The building is distinguished by its external attractiveness and authentic interior interiors; in addition, we must not forget how many historical events it has witnessed over the years of its long existence: it has seen Byzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul, a lot of tragic events - earthquakes, destruction, uprisings, fires, wars, conquests. But the Hagia Sophia of the Wisdom of God continues to delight local residents and foreign guests of Turkey with its beauty. In 2006, the Turkish government allowed Muslim religious ceremonies to be held in this Istanbul mosque-museum.
Hagia Sophia Temple- impressive and remarkable from the outside, no less delights in the interiors with their exquisite decor. The decoration of the building lasted for centuries: its walls were covered with wonderful mosaics, decorated with ornate Arabic script patterns and complex plot scenes. The materials used in interior decoration are marble and gold. You will probably be surprised that inside Hagia Sophia there is a harmonious combination of decorations associated with Islam and Christianity.
Here medallions with the names of Allah and Muslim saints are adjacent to a fresco on which the face of the Blessed Virgin Mary is masterfully depicted. To get a better look at the room, be sure to go up to the second floor of the temple, from here all the majesty of Hagia Sophia will be revealed. Here, you will see the magnificent marble gates that previously hid the imperial rooms. Particularly attractive are the ancient mosaics of the cathedral, which were created during the ninth and tenth centuries. They were restored during the restoration of 1935, and delight tourists with their pristine brightness and freshness of colors. Continuing the theme of the harmony of the elements of Islam and Orthodoxy, which can be traced in Hagia Sophia, we can cite as an example the proximity of the apse to the altar and the Sultan’s box, where he was with his Shahzade sons and close nobles during prayers. Nearby there is a prayer box for the sultanas and other women from the harem close to the ruler.
The temple has a lot of very interesting interior details, including those covered in legends. For example, in the Hagia Sophia there is a copper “Weeping Column” with a small hole, if a person puts his finger there and makes a secret wish, it will come true. No less interesting are the Islamic elements of the mosque: a mihrab, a minbar decorated with carved marble, and a muezzin's box facing Mecca. When visiting Hagia Sophia, travelers must visit the building of the Muslim school, the library, and the center for helping the poor, built under the Ottoman Sultan Mahmud the First in the seventeenth century.
Opening hours of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul: in the summer season - from the fifteenth of April to the first of October - the museum is open from nine in the morning to seven in the evening, and tickets are sold until six in the evening; in the winter season - from nine in the morning to five in the evening, tickets are sold until four o'clock. The temple is open every day, seven days a week, except for the month of Ramadan, so check the opening hours before you plan a tour there.
Ticket price to Hagia Sophia: adult ticket - thirty liras, children's ticket for persons under twelve years old - free.
How to get to Hagia Sophia in Istanbul:
- By bus going along route “T4”, by tram “TR1” to the “Sultanahmet” stop.
- From Ataturk Airport, take the Havalimani-Aksaray metro station, get to the Zeytinburnu station and transfer to the TR1 tram.
- From the Sisli area, take the metro to Taksim station.
- ancient Constantinople. In its very heart stands the Hagia Sophia mosque - translated from Greek as “Holy Wisdom”. The Hagia Sophia Mosque has a centuries-old and difficult history associated with many victims, destruction, earthquakes and wars.
The history of the Hagia Sophia mosque began like this...
Hagia Sophia was originally built as the greatest Christian temple of Byzantium.
The temple was first damaged in 532. The reason for this was a fight between townspeople, which led to an uprising in the city, pogroms and fires. And the cathedral burned down.
Ruling Emperor Justinian literally a month later began construction of a new church. For the construction of the temple, the best building materials were delivered: gold, marble, ivory, silver; selected elements from the ancient temples of Ephesus and Rome were used.
Anthony of Novgorod, a Russian pilgrim, describing the splendor and wealth of the temple, pointed to a golden cross twice the height of a man, decorated with jewelry, golden lamps and floors, and magnificent frescoes on the walls.
Construction lasted about 6 years, which required 3 annual income of Byzantium. Christianity received the largest temple in the world.
Further history of the temple-mosque
The earthquake of 989 destroyed part of the dome and building of Hagia Sophia.
Until 1204, when Constantinople was sacked by the crusaders, the Shroud of Turin was kept in Hagia Sophia - a 4-meter-long cloth in which, according to legend, the body of Christ was wrapped after death. Now she is in Turin.
In 1453, Constantinople was conquered by Sultan Mehmed II. 4 minarets are being added to the cathedral and it is being turned into a mosque. Inside the cathedral, all frescoes, mosaics and faces of saints are covered with plaster. This is what saved interior paintings and mosaics from destruction for centuries. Thus, a mosaic in which the emperors Justinian and Constantine present models of St. Sophia and Constantinople to the Mother of God has been preserved to this day.
Not all the secrets of the temple have been revealed yet
In 2010, Turkish documentary filmmaker Göksel Gülensoy received permission to explore the underground part of the mosque, where flooded rooms and tunnels were discovered that connect the Hagia Sophia mosque (cathedral) with the Topkapi Palace, dungeons, decorations, human bones and two tightly closed doors. At one time, American scientists wanted to first pump out the water to study the lower tier of the mosque, but abandoned this work because... could not lower the water level.
The cathedral is located in the historical center of Istanbul in the Sultanahmet area. Today it is one of the symbols of the city and a museum.
Hagia Sophia is recognized as one of the greatest examples of Byzantine architecture surviving to this day, which is even sometimes called "the eighth wonder of the world."
According to the Russian scientist N.P. Kondakova, this temple “did more for the empire than many of its wars.” The Temple of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople became the pinnacle of Byzantine architecture and for many centuries determined the development of architecture in the countries of Western and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and the Caucasus.
The temple is one of the most ancient and majestic buildings related to the Christian religion. Hagia Sophia is considered the 4th museum in the world, equal in scale to such masterpieces as the Church of St. Paul in London, San Pietro in Rome and the Houses in Milan.
The name Sophia is usually interpreted as “wisdom”, although it has a much broader meaning. It can mean “mind”, “knowledge”, “skill”, “talent”, etc. Christ is often identified with Sophia in the sense of wisdom and intelligence. Thus Sophia represents the aspect of Jesus as the image of Divine Wisdom.
Sophia is not only a spiritual category, but also a popular female name. It was worn by the Christian Saint Sophia, who lived in the 2nd century - her memory is celebrated on May 15. The name Sofia is common in Greece, Romania and South Slavic countries. In Greece, there is also a male name Sophronios with a similar meaning - reasonable, wise.
Sophia - Numerous Orthodox churches are dedicated to the Wisdom of God, among which the most famous is Hagia Sophia in Constantinople - the main temple of the Byzantine Empire.
"Hagia Sophia"
The lamps were on, it was unclear
The language sounded, the great sheikh read
The Holy Koran - and the immense dome
He disappeared into the gloomy darkness.
Throwing a crooked saber over the crowd,
The sheikh raised his face, closed his eyes - and fear
Reigned in the crowd, and dead, blind
She was lying on the carpets...
And in the morning the temple was bright. Everything was silent
In humble and sacred silence,
And the sun brightly illuminated the dome
In an incomprehensible height.
And the doves in it, swarming, cooed,
And from above, from every window,
The vastness of the sky and the air called sweetly
To you, Love, to you, Spring!
Ivan Bunin
This is how Byzantine writes about the temple chronicler Procopius: “This temple is a most wonderful sight... It soars up to the very sky, standing out among other buildings, like a boat in the stormy waves of the open sea... It is all full of sunlight, it seems as if the temple itself is emitting this light.”
FOR MORE THAN 1000 YEARS, SOPHIA'S CATHEDRAL IN CONSTANTINOPLE REMAINED THE LARGEST TEMPLE IN THE CHRISTIAN WORLD (UNTIL THE CONSTRUCTION OF ST. PETER'S BATHDRAL IN ROME).
Its height is 55 meters, dome diameter is 31 meters, length is 81 meters, width is 72 meters. If you look at the temple from a bird's eye view, you can see that it is a cross measuring 70x50.
The most spectacular part of the structure is its dome. Its shape is close to a circle, with a diameter of almost 32 meters. For the first time, sails were used for its construction - curved triangular arches. The dome is supported by 4 supports, and itself is formed by 40 arches with windows cut into them. The light entering these windows creates the illusion that the dome is floating in the air. The interior space of the temple is divided into 3 parts - naves, using columns and pillars.
Experts conclude that the dome system of this ancient structure of such colossal dimensions, which still amazes experts and remains a true masterpiece of architectural thought. However, like the decoration of the cathedral itself. It has always been considered the most luxurious.
The interior decoration of the temple lasted for several centuries and was particularly luxurious - 107 columns made of malachite (according to legend from the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus) and Egyptian porphyry support the galleries surrounding the main nave. Mosaic on the golden floor. Mosaic completely covering the walls of the temple.
The central nave of the cathedral, the altar and the main dome
Tradition tells that the builders of the Temple of Sophia competed with their predecessors, who had once created the legendary Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem, and when the Hagia Sophia was completed on the Nativity of Christ 537 and was consecrated, Emperor Justinian exclaimed: “Solomon, I have surpassed You.”
An angel shows Justinian a model of Hagia Sophia
Even for a modern person, the Church of Hagia Sophia makes a great impression. What can we say about the people of the Middle Ages! That is why many legends were associated with this temple. In particular, it was rumored that the plan of the building was handed to Emperor Justinian by the angels themselves while he was sleeping.
The Hagia Sophia is about a thousand years old, as are the frescoes on its walls and ceilings. These frescoes depict contemporaries of biblical events that took place at the turn of the first millennium, 10 centuries ago. The Hagia Sophia has been reconstructed since 1934.
Above the entrance you will see an icon of Our Lady of Blachernae with angels; the childhood of Christ is depicted in the exonarthex.
Mosaic image of the Virgin Mary in the apse
Emperors Constantine and Justinian before the Virgin Mary
Emperor Alexander
Archangel Gabriel (mosaic of the vault of the vima)
John Chrysostom
Mihrab located in the apse
When Constantinople was captured by Sultan Mehmed II (1453), the temple was converted into a mosque. 4 minarets were added, the interior decoration was greatly changed, the frescoes were covered with plaster, and the altar was moved. The St. Sophia Cathedral was renamed the Hagia Sophia Mosque.
After the Turkish conquest of Constantinople Sultan Mehmed Fatih in 1453, Ayia Sofia was converted into a mosque. Sultan Mehmed II Fatih (the Conqueror) renovated the building and built one minaret. The frescoes and mosaics were covered with a layer of plaster and were rediscovered only during restoration work. In numerous reconstructions carried out during the Ottoman period, Hagia Sophia was significantly strengthened, including through stabilizing minarets. Subsequently, additional minarets appeared (there were only 4 of them), a library at the mosque, a madrasah at the mosque (a Muslim educational institution that serves as a high school) and a shadirvan (a place for ritual ablution before prayer).
Since 1935, by order of the founder of the Turkish Republic Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Hagia Sophia became a museum, and mosaics and frescoes covered by the Ottomans were uncovered, but fascinating Islamic ornaments were also left next to them. Therefore, now inside the museum you can observe an unimaginable mixture of Christian and Islamic symbols.
The Fall of Constantinople (painting by an unknown Venetian artist of the late 15th - early 16th centuries)
Of the many, perhaps the most popular and most visited is the Cathedral (Istanbul). Locals call it Hagia Sophia. They proudly display this grandiose structure to all guests visiting the country. And this is no coincidence. The cathedral in Istanbul, the photo of which is featured in all advertising brochures of travel agencies, is a magnificent building with a rich history, original architecture and original interior design.
It witnessed numerous historical events of ancient Constantinople (present-day Istanbul), its history is full of various, often tragic events - earthquakes and destruction, fires and wars. Nevertheless, the Cathedral survived and today delights not only local residents with its grandeur, but also numerous guests of the city.
Hagia Sophia in Istanbul: history of creation
It will seem strange to many that for more than 1000 years this building was the largest temple in the Orthodox world. The first building on the site of the current Cathedral appeared in 360, during the reign of Constantine. The relatively small basilica was covered with a wooden roof and had the appropriate shape.
In 404, during civil unrest, the building was burned. Theodosius II ordered its reconstruction in 415. The new basilica had five naves and also had a wooden roof. In 532, after popular unrest (Nica's uprising), during the reign of Emperor Justinian, this building was also destroyed.
There is no reliable information available about who built the previous temples. But the names of the creators of the current building are well known. These are Anzemios and Isidoros. The Hagia Sophia was built thanks to the same Justinian. The architecture of the new building was significantly different from the previously existing basilicas.
First Temple
The cathedral church was founded in 532, and five years later (in 537) the first divine service was held under its arches. Later, Hagia Sophia became a permanent place for the coronation of emperors of the Roman Empire. In July 1054, within the walls of this temple, the representative of Leo IX (Pope of Rome) - Cardinal Humbert and Patriarch Michael Kirularius excommunicated each other (anathematized). This event became a cause for concern among Catholics and Orthodox Christians.
Construction of a mosque
Between 1204 and 1261, Istanbul was occupied by the Crusaders. At this time, both the city itself and the church were seriously damaged. Having conquered Constantinople, Sultan Mehmed began to establish Muslim orders. The Cathedral building was well strengthened, additional support pillars were installed. Thus, the Hagia Sophia mosque appeared on this land. During the reign of Sultan Mehmed, a madrasah was built - a Muslim educational institution that existed until the 17th century.
Creation of a museum
In the 19th century (1847-1849), another reconstruction was carried out in the Cathedral. The Fossati brothers, who were architects at that time, removed the compartment where the emperors once prayed. It was located in the northern part of the temple in a small niche, and a mihrab was added to the left. In 1935, Hagia Sophia (Istanbul) was declared the house museum of Mustafa Ataturk.
Since 2006, after numerous appeals from believers to the government of the country, Muslim rituals were allowed to be held in the temple. Church historians claim that it was the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul that became the place where the ambassadors of the Russian Prince Vladimir were introduced to the idea of the Orthodox religion. Shocked by the beauty of the service held here, they advised the prince to convert Holy Rus' to the Christian faith.
What does Hagia Sophia look like in Istanbul?
The magnificent temple has the shape of an oblong quadrangle. It forms three naves: one (middle) is wide, two side naves are narrower. The basilica has a quadrangular cross, which crowns the dome. The huge dome system of the temple is a masterpiece of religious architecture of its time.
According to Turkish researchers, the strength of the Cathedral walls is achieved by adding an extract of dry ash leaves to the (construction) mortar. The center of the wide nave, square at the base, is bounded at the corners by four columns, which are supported by huge arches and covered with a flat dome (31 m). Its peak is 51 meters from the surface of the earth. The dome is made up of radial arches. In its lower parts, located in the inter-arch spaces, there are 40 arched windows cut through. This creates the feeling of a huge light belt located at the bottom of the dome.
Even by the standards of modern builders, the building has very impressive dimensions - 75x68 meters. Most of the architectural and technical solutions that were first used when the Hagia Sophia (Istanbul) was built were subsequently used in religious architecture around the world.
Interior decoration
Hagia Sophia (Istanbul), a brief description of which tourists can find in travel agency brochures or in a city guide, is especially impressive with its enormous size upon entering.
The interior decoration of the temple continued for several centuries. She has always been luxurious. The walls of the Cathedral were completely covered with mosaics (both ornaments and subject compositions). The different colors of marble used in construction make the first two floors dark gray, almost black. Closer to the dome (in the upper tiers), the walls seem to be cast in gold.
The main feature of this amazing structure is the harmonious combination of Muslim and Orthodox religions. The names of the Prophet Muhammad, Allah and the first caliphs are written in Arabic script on four large medallions. Between the medallions there is an Orthodox fresco with the face of the Virgin Mary.
A visit to the second floor of the temple makes a huge impression on all tourists. From here, Hagia Sophia (Istanbul) looks even more majestic. Here you can admire the beauty of this ancient structure. On the second floor you can see the famous marble gates. At one time, it was they who separated the main premises of the Cathedral from the imperial rooms.
Mosaics
The most valuable element of the interior design of the temple are ancient mosaics. Experts conditionally divide them into three historical periods:
- 9th century (beginning);
- IX-X centuries;
- end of the 10th century.
In 1935, restoration work began to restore ancient Orthodox frescoes and mosaics. Historians especially appreciate the image of the Mother of God (mosaic), which is located on the apse. It is made on a gold background. The Virgin's robes are dark blue. This magnificent combination of gold and dark blue emphasizes the spirit of Byzantine grandeur.
The apse and altar are surprisingly well preserved, next to which you can see the Sultan’s box. During the services, the ruler was present here along with his entourage and sons. Opposite there was a box for women from the Sultan's family. An important element of the interior decoration is the huge wall panels, which are executed in the classic Ottoman calligraphy traditions.
Unfortunately, not many mosaics have survived today. One of them depicts the Virgin Mary with Emperor John II. At one time, this ruler allocated huge funds for the construction of this temple.
What should you pay attention to?
The place of traditional coronation of Byzantine emperors is the omphalion. It consists of marble circles located on the floor of the cathedral.
The Weeping Column is covered with copper. There is a small hole in it at a small height (at the level of human height). As the ancient legend says, if you put your finger into the hole and make a wish at that moment, it will certainly come true.
The “Cold Window” is another attraction of the ancient temple. It is curious that on the hottest day a cool, refreshing breeze blows from this window.
Among the Hagia Sophia mosque, it is worth noting the perfectly preserved mihrab and altar in one of the apses of the temple. In addition, these include a carved marble minbar, which was created in the 16th century during the reign of Sultan Murad III.
Tourists will certainly be interested in a separate box for the muezzin. It faces Mecca - the tomb of the Ottoman sultans. Of great interest is the inspection of the primary school building, library, fountain and center for the poor, which were built by Sultan Mahmud I in the 17th century.
Working hours
If you are planning to travel to Turkey, we recommend that you definitely visit the Hagia Sophia (Istanbul). The address of this amazing historical and architectural monument is: Aya Sofya Sq., Sultanahmet, Istanbul, Turkey. We are confident that you will be satisfied with your visit to this magnificent building.
It should be noted that Hagia Sophia (Istanbul) awaits its visitors every day. Opening hours vary slightly depending on the season. In summer (from 15.04 to 01.10) the museum is open from 9.00 to 19.00, and in winter - from 9.00 to 17.00. Ticket sales end at 18:00 in summer and at 16:00 in winter.
The cost of visiting the museum is thirty Turkish lira, and for young visitors (under twelve years old) entry is completely free. You can check the lira exchange rate with your travel agency immediately before your trip. Anyone who wants to visit the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul should know that the temple is closed during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
How to get there?
If you are planning to visit the museum on your own (not as part of a tour group), then you should know how to get to it. This is quite easy to do by using public transport. You will need a bus (route T4) or light rail (TR1). The stop you need is called Sultanahmet.
Those interested can take the metro (Havalimani-Aksaray) from Ataturk Airport to Zeytinburnu station. Then you need to transfer to the TR1 tram, which will take you to the place. If you live in the Sisli area, you can take the metro to Taksim station.
Hagia Sophia Mosque(Holy Wisdom - Greek), former patriarchal Orthodox cathedral, later a mosque, now a museum; a world-famous monument of Byzantine architecture, a symbol of the “golden age” of Byzantium. The official name of the monument today Hagia Sophia Museum(Turkish: Ayasofya Müzesi).
During the Byzantine Empire, the cathedral was located in the center of Constantinople next to the imperial palace. Currently located in the historical center of Istanbul, Sultanahmet district. After the city was captured by the Ottomans, the St. Sophia Cathedral was converted into a mosque, and in 1935 it acquired the status of a museum. In 1985, St. Sophia Cathedral, among other monuments of the historical center of Istanbul, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
For more than a thousand years, the St. Sophia Cathedral in Constantinople remained the largest temple in the Christian world - until the construction of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. The height of the St. Sophia Cathedral is 55.6 meters, the diameter of the dome is 31 meters.
Story
History of construction
The cathedral was built on the Augusteon market square in the years 324-337 under the Byzantine emperor Constantine I. According to Socrates Scholasticus, the construction of the first temple, called Sophia, dates back to the reign of Emperor Constantius II. According to N.P. Kondakov, Constantius only expanded the construction of Constantine. Socrates Scholasticus reports the exact date of the consecration of the temple: “after the elevation of Eudoxius to the episcopal throne of the capital, the great church known under the name of Sophia was consecrated, which happened in the tenth consulate of Constantius and the third of Caesar Julian, on the fifteenth day of the month of February.” From 360 to 380 the Cathedral of St. Sophia was in the hands of the Arians. Emperor Theodosius I in 380 handed the cathedral over to the Orthodox and on November 27 personally introduced Gregory the Theologian into the cathedral, who was soon elected the new Archbishop of Constantinople.
According to John Malala, the cathedral burned down on January 13, 532 during the Nika uprising. Forty days after the fire, Emperor Justinian I ordered the construction of a new church of the same name in its place, which, according to his plan, was to become the decoration of the capital and serve as an expression of the greatness of the empire. To build a grandiose temple, Justinian bought nearby plots of land from private owners and ordered the demolition of the buildings located on them. To supervise the work, Justinian invited the best architects of the time: Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralles, who had previously established themselves by building the Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus. Under their leadership, 10,000 workers worked daily.
The best building materials were used for the construction. Marble was brought from Prokonnis, Numidia, Karystos and Hierapolis. Also, architectural elements of ancient buildings were brought to Constantinople by imperial circular (for example, eight porphyry columns taken from the Temple of the Sun were delivered from Rome, and eight green marble columns were delivered from Ephesus). In addition to marble decorations, Justinian, in order to give the temple he was building unprecedented splendor and luxury, used gold, silver, and ivory for its decoration.
The construction of the cathedral consumed three annual revenues of the Byzantine Empire. « Solomon, I have surpassed you!“- such words were spoken, according to legend, Justinian, entering the built cathedral and referring to the legendary Jerusalem Temple. The solemn consecration of the temple on December 27, 537 was performed by the Patriarch of Constantinople Mina.
History of the cathedral during the Byzantine Empire
A few years after construction was completed, an earthquake destroyed part of the cathedral. The cathedral was also damaged by the earthquake of 989, especially its dome. The building was supported by buttresses, from which it lost its former appearance. The collapsed dome was rebuilt by the Armenian architect Trdat, the author of the Ani Cathedral, and the architect made the dome even more elevated.
On July 16, 1054, in the St. Sophia Cathedral, on the holy altar, during a service, the legate of the Pope, Cardinal Humbert, presented a letter of excommunication to the Patriarch of Constantinople, Michael Cerullarius. (This date is considered to be the date of the division of churches into Catholic and Orthodox.)
Before the sack of Constantinople by the crusaders in 1204, the Shroud of Turin was kept in the cathedral.
In the 14th century, the famous church composer John Kladas was the lampadar of the cathedral.
Cathedral after the Ottoman conquest
On May 30, 1453, Sultan Mehmed II, who conquered Constantinople, entered the Hagia Sophia, which was converted into a mosque. Four minarets were added to the cathedral, and the cathedral turned into Hagia Sophia mosque. Since the cathedral was oriented according to the Christian tradition - the altar to the east, Muslims had to change it, placing the mihrab in the south-eastern corner of the cathedral (direction to Mecca). Because of this alteration, in Hagia Sophia, as in other former Byzantine churches, praying Muslims are forced to sit at an angle relative to the main volume of the building. Most of the frescoes and mosaics remained unharmed, as some researchers believe, precisely because they were covered with plaster for several centuries.
In the second half of the 16th century, under Sultans Selim II and Murad III, heavy and rough buttresses were added to the cathedral building, which significantly changed the appearance of the building. Until the mid-19th century, no restoration work was carried out in the temple. In 1847, Sultan Abdülmecid I commissioned the architects Gaspar and Giuseppe Fossati to carry out the restoration of Hagia Sophia, which was in danger of collapse. Restoration work lasted two years.
In 1935, according to Ataturk’s decree, Hagia Sophia became a museum, and the layers of plaster that had hidden them were removed from the frescoes and mosaics. In 2006, a small room was allocated in the museum complex for the conduct of Muslim religious ceremonies by museum staff.
Architectural features
In plan, the cathedral is an oblong quadrangle (75.6 m long and 68.4 m wide), forming three naves: the middle one is wide, the side ones are narrower. This is a basilica with a quadrangular cross, topped with a dome. The cathedral's gigantic dome system became a masterpiece of architectural thought of its time. The strength of the temple walls is achieved, according to Turkish researchers, by adding ash leaf extract to the mortar.
The middle of the wide nave, square at the base, is bounded at the corners by four massive pillars supporting huge arches, and is covered with a fairly flat dome 30 m in diameter, the top of which is 51 m from the floor. Adjacent to this under-dome space from the east and west are two colossal niches with a hemispherical top: three more smaller niches open into the eastern niche with their arches, of which the middle one, which served as the altar apse, is deeper than the others and protrudes from the general plan of the temple in the form of a semicircle; three niches also adjoin the western large niche; of them, the middle one, which at the top is not a hemispherical, but an ordinary box vault, contains three doors leading to the inner and outer vestibules (esonartex and exonartex) attached to the temple, in front of which there was once a now non-existent courtyard, surrounded by a gallery with columns.
The dome space on the northern and southern sides communicates with the side naves through arches supported by columns; under these arches there is another tier of similar arches, which open into the under-dome space into the gyneceum galleries arranged in the side naves, and even higher - the huge arches supporting the dome are covered with a straight wall with windows located in three rows. In addition to these windows, the interior of the temple provides abundant, although somewhat diffuse, lighting from 40 windows encircling the base of the dome, and five windows each in large and small niches.
The attractions of Hagia Sophia include the “weeping column” covered with copper (there is a belief that if you put your hand in the hole and, feeling the moisture, make a wish, it will definitely come true), as well as the “cold window”, where even on the hottest day there is a breeze cool breeze.
In 1935, the layers of plaster that had hidden them were removed from the frescoes and mosaics. Thus, at present, on the walls of the temple you can see images of Jesus Christ and the Mother of God, and quotes from the Koran on four large oval-shaped shields.
On the railings of the upper gallery of the temple you can find graffiti left throughout the history of its existence. The most ancient of them are covered with transparent plastic and are considered one of the protected attractions: inscriptions made in Scandinavian runes on the marble parapets of the cathedral, it is assumed that they were scratched by soldiers from the Varangian guard of the Byzantine emperor in the Middle Ages. The first of the runic inscriptions was discovered in 1964, then a number of other inscriptions were found.
Today Hagia Sophia is a national museum, entrance to which costs 25 liras (about 10 euros), plus an audio guide costs 10 liras. From 7 am, an incredible line of tourists forms at the ticket office; local guides try in a whisper to lure clients out of the queue to take them to Topkapi Palace. The Hagia Sophia Museum is open from 9.20 to 16.30, every day except Monday, ticket sales end at 16:00.
You can learn about other mosques in Istanbul from our following articles: And .