Hagia Sophia is not, in fact, the only name that the structure has gone by. For a … It currently functions as a mosque. Muslims attend Friday prayers outside Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque in Istanbul July 24. And it is said that Glee recently left for Heaven. Hagia Sophia is an UNESCO World Heritage Site and the former cathedral of Holy Wisdom in Istanbul. Murad Sezer / … The colossal Santa Sophia cathedral, an iconic structure that now attracts visitors from the world over, was turned from a place of Christian worship … The Turkish secular government in 1934 decided to make it a museum. The picture above shows the actual view of ST.SOPHIA CHURCH MUSEUM (Ayasofya Muzesi) in Istanbul today. In plan the building is almost square. For the past eighty years Hagia Sophia has been a museum. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). 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"Museum or Mosque? 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. Hagia Sophia (Άγια Σοφία 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. 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. Saint Sophia should be returned to Christians,” the parliamentarian said. But Emperor Justinian had a plan to restore the empire to its greatness. The Hagia Sophia was built by Christians and was an Eastern Orthodox Cathedral from 537 until 1453 until Muslims conquered Constantinople changed its name to Istanbul and turned the historic cathedral into a mosque. Nearly half of the capital, Constantinople, lay in smoldering ruins, including the most important cathedral, St. Sophia – Church of the Holy Wisdom. Hagia Sophia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Istanbul, Turkey. 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. In 1935, Hagia Sophia acquired the status of museum. 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. Hagia Sophia in Istanbul was converted into a mosque. In 1934 Turkish Pres. Hagia Sophia was built as an Orthodox Christian cathedral and stood as … Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. You may also like. 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. Image of constantinople, exterior, cathedral - 119351242 For nearly a thousand years, until the cathedral of Seville supplanted it in 1520, Hagia Sophia was the world’s largest Christian church. 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. Download this Premium Photo about St. sophia cathedral , istanbul, turkey, and discover more than 7 Million Professional Stock Photos on Freepik Either he or his son Bayezid II erected the red minaret that stands on the southeast corner of the structure. Travel woman with turkish tea looking view of hagia sophia in istanbul, turkey… 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 … Like. St. Sophia was itself the second church of that name, built after the first one was destroyed by another mob in 404. It went through another religious conversion after the conquest of Constantinople by Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II in 1453, when it was designated a mosque. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Later modifications included the construction of more minarets, the whitewashing of Christian mosaics, and the addition of structural supports. Until 1453, when the Ottoman Turks took the city and renamed it Istanbul, Hagia Sophia served as a cathedral, the seat of the patriarch of Constantinople. The Hagia Sophia rising along the shore of the Bosporus, Istanbul. They will begin on July 24. Hagia Sophia or Saint Sophia may also refer to: The Greek for Holy Wisdom, a concept in Christian theology Floor plan of the Hagia Sophia, Istanbul. Save. Irene Ducas, detail of a 12th-century mosaic in the Hagia Sophia, Istanbul. 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. It was built as a Christian church in the 6th century ce (532–537) under the direction of the Byzantine emperor Justinian I. In subsequent centuries it became a mosque, a museum, and a mosque again. ", This page was last edited on 10 December 2020, at 13:45. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made the controversial decision in 2020 to convert the building back into a mosque. During Mehmed’s 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. jomnichapa. Download all free or royalty-free photos and vectors. Questions and answers about the Hagia Sophia. It was converted to a mosque by the Turks and is now used as a museum. On July 10, the Supreme Administrative Court of Turkey annulled a 1934 decision to turn the St. Sophia Cathedral into a museum. The nice door, Hagia Sophia Museum, "The Emperor Door." Saint Sophia is the finest and most famous example of BYZANTINE architecture in the world. View of istanbul cityscape galata tower with floating tourist boats in bosphorus ,istanbul turkey. Your Turkey Istanbul St Sophia Cathedral stock images are ready. Report on Work Carried out in 1964", "Documentary Evidence on the Apse Mosaics of St. Sophia", "Hagia Sophia, Constantinople: Religious images and their functional context after iconoclasm", "Interpreting the Mosaics of S. Sophia at Istanbul", "Images of the Mother: When the Virgin Mary Became "Meter Theou, "Some Remarks on the Apse Mosaic of St. Sophia", "The Representation of Virgin and Child on a "Thokos" on Seals of the Constantinopolitan Patriarchs (pl. Almost a millennium it was also an important site of Muslim worship after Sultan Mehmed II conquered Constantinople in.... Mosaic in the 6th century ce ( 532–537 ) under the Emperor Door Hagia! Of that name, built after the Ottomans conquered the city in 1453 and designated the structure has by! Dome, showing pendentive construction ; Hagia Sophia acquired the status of.... Will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article signing for... 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