Hagia Sophia

**Hagia Sophia** (Turkish: *Ayasofya*; Ottoman Turkish: آیا صوفیا; Greek: Ἁγία Σοφία, romanized: *Hagía Sophía*; Latin: *Sancta Sapientia*; lit. 'Holy Wisdom'), officially de **Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque** (Turkish: *Ayasofya-i Kebir Cami-i Şerifi*; Ottoman Turkish: آیا صوفیاى کبیر جامع شریف), be a mosque, museum den former church wey dey serve as a major cultural den historical site insyd Istanbul, Turkey. De last of three church buildings wey be successively erected for de site by de Eastern Roman Empire, na dem plete am insyd AD 537, wey e cam turn de world ein largest interior space den among de first make dem employ a fully pendentive dome. Na dem consider am de epitome of Byzantine architecture wey na dem say e "change de history of architecture". Na de site be an Eastern rite church from AD 360 to 1453, except for a brief time as a Latin Catholic church between de Fourth Crusade insyd 1204 den 1261. After de fall of Constantinople insyd 1453, na e serve as a mosque, wey get ein minarets added shortly later, til 1935, wen e cam turn a museum, before ebe redesignated as a mosque insyd 2020. Insyd 2024, na de upper floor of de mosque begin make e serve as a museum.

Na de current structure be built by de Byzantine emperor Justinian I as de Christian cathedral of Constantinople between 532–537 wey ebe designed by de Greek geometers Isidore of Miletus den Anthemius of Tralles. Na ebe formally called de **Church of God's Holy Wisdom**, (Greek: Ναὸς τῆς Ἁγίας τοῦ Θεοῦ Σοφίας, romanized: *Naòs tês Hagías toû Theoû Sophías*) de third church of de same name make e occupy de site, as na dem destroy de prior one insyd de Nika riots. As de episcopal see of de ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople, na e remain de world ein largest cathedral for nearly a thousand years, til na dem plete de Seville Cathedral insyd 1520.

Hagia Sophia cam turn de quintessential model give Eastern Orthodox church architecture, wey na ein architectural style ve emulated by Ottoman mosques a thousand years later. Na de Hagia Sophia serve as an architectural inspiration give chaw oda religious buildings wey dey include de Hagia Sophia in Thessaloniki, Panagia Ekatontapiliani, de Şehzade Mosque, de Süleymaniye Mosque, de Rüstem Pasha Mosque den de Kılıç Ali Pasha Complex.

After de fall of Constantinople to de Ottoman Empire insyd 1453, na dem convert am to a mosque by Mehmed the Conqueror wey e cam turn de principal mosque of Istanbul til de 1616 construction of de Sultan Ahmed Mosque. Na de patriarchate move to de Church of the Holy Apostles, wich cam turn de city ein cathedral. Na de complex remain a mosque til 1931, wen na dem close am to de public for four years. Na dem re-open am insyd 1935 as a museum under de secular Republic of Turkey, wey na de building be Turkey ein most visited tourist attraction . Insyd 2020, na de Council of State annull de 1934 decision make dem establish de museum, wey na dem reclassify de Hagia Sophia as a mosque. Na de decision be highly controversial, wey dey spark divided opinions den drawing condemnation from de Turkish opposition, UNESCO, de World Council of Churches dem de International Association of Byzantine Studies, as well as chaw international leaders, while chaw Muslim leaders insyd Turkey den oda countries welcome ein conversion.

## History

### Church of Constantius II

Na de first church for de site be known as de *Magna Ecclesia* (Μεγάλη Ἐκκλησία, *Megálē Ekklēsíā*, 'Great Church') secof ein size dem compare to de sizes of de contemporary churches insyd de city. According to de *Chronicon Paschale*, na de church be consecrated for 15 February 360, during de reign of de emperor Constantius II (r. 337–361) by de Arian bishop Eudoxius of Antioch. Na dem build am next to de area wer na dem develop de Great Palace. According to de 5th-century ecclesiastical historian Socrates of Constantinople, na de emperor Constantius make dem  "construct de Great Church alongside dem call Irene wich secof na ebe too small, de emperor ein poppie [Constantine] make dem enlarge den beautify am". A tradition wich no be older dan de 7th anaa 8th century dey report say na de edifice be built by Constantius ein poppie father, Constantine the Great (r. 306–337). Na Hesychius of Miletus wrep say na Constantine build Hagia Sophia plus a wooden roof wey na he remove 427 (mostly pagan) statues from de site. Na de 12th-century chronicler Joannes Zonaras dey reconcile de two opinions, dey wrep say na Constantius make dem repair de edifice wey Eusebius of Nicomedia consecrate, after na e collapse. Since na Eusebius be de bishop of Constantinople from 339 to 341, wey na Constantine die insyd 337, e dey seem dat na dem erect de first church by Constantius.

De nearby Hagia Irene ("Holy Peace") church na dem plete am earlier wey e serve as cathedral til na dem plete de Great Church. Besides Hagia Irene, der be no record of major churches insyd de city-centre before de late 4th century. Rowland Mainstone argue say na dem no yet know de 4th-century church as Hagia Sophia.

### Church of Theodosius II

Na dem order a second church for de site by Theodosius II (r. 402–450), wey na dem inaugurate am for 10 October 415. De *Notitia Urbis Constantinopolitanae,* a fifth-century list of monuments, dey name Hagia Sophia as *Magna Ecclesia*, 'Great Church', while de former cathedral Hagia Irene dem refer to am as *Ecclesia Antiqua*, 'Old Church'. For de time of Socrates of Constantinople around 440, "na both churches [be] enclosed by a single wall wey dem be served by de same clergy". Thus, na de complex go be encompassed a large area wey dey include de future site of de Hospital of Samson. If na de fire of 404 destroy de 4th-century main basilica church per, then dem fi build de 5th century Theodosian basilica wey be surrounded by a complex dem construct primarily during de fourth century.

Na a fire start during de tumult of de Nika Revolt, wich na e begin nearby insyd de Hippodrome of Constantinople, den de second Hagia Sophia be burnt to de ground on 13–14 January 532. Na de court historian Procopius wrep:


File:Hagia_Sophia_Theodosius_2007_002.jpg|Column den capital plus a Greek cross
File:Theodosius's_Hagia_Sophia_3.jpg|Porphyry column; column capital; impost block
File:Hagia_Sophia_Theodosius_2007_007.jpg|Soffits den cornice
File:CapCorBizPil1SSofiaTeod-19Lato.jpg|Theodosian capital
File:CapCorBizPil1SSofiaTeod-19.jpg|Theodosian capital give a pilaster, one of de few remains of de church of Theodosius II
File:Theodosius's_Hagia_Sophia_17.jpg|Soffits


### Church of Justinian I (current structure)
 

For 23 February 532, only a few weeks after de destruction of de second basilica, na Emperor Justinian I inaugurate de construction of a third den entirely different basilica, larger den more majestic dan ein predecessors. Na Justinian appoint two architects, mathematician Anthemius of Tralles den geometer den engineer Isidore of Miletus, make dem design de building.

### Mosque (1453–1935)

Na Constantinople fall to de attacking Ottoman forces for 29 May 1453. Na Sultan Mehmed II enter de city wey he perform de Friday prayer den *khutbah* (sermon) insyd Hagia Sophia. Na de church ein priests den religious personnel continue dey perform Christian rites, prayers, den ceremonies til na dem be compelled make dem stop by de invaders. Wen Mehmed den ein entourage enter de church, he order say make dem convert am into a mosque immediately. One of de *ʿulamāʾ* (Islamic scholars) present climb onto de church ein ambo wey he recite de *[[shahada]]* ("Dere no god buh Allah, wey Muhammad be ein messenger"), thus dey mark de conversion of de church into a mosque. Na dem report say na Mehmed take a sword to a soldier wey try make he pry up one of de paving slabs of de Proconnesian marble floor.

#### Renovation of 1847–1849

Na de 19th-century restoration of de Hagia Sophia be ordered by Sultan Abdulmejid I (r. 1823–1861) wey dem plete am between 1847 den 1849 by eight hundred workers under de supervision of de Swiss-Italian architect brothers Gaspare den Giuseppe Fossati. Na de brothers consolidate de dome plus a restraining iron chain wey dem strengthen de vaults, wey dem straighten de columns, den revise de decoration of de exterior den de interior of de building. Na de mosaics insyd de upper gallery be exposed den cleaned, although na chaw be recovered "for protection against further damage".

#### Occupation of Istanbul (1918–1923)

Insyd de aftermath of de defeat of de Ottoman Empire insyd World War I, na Constantinople be occupied by British, French, Italian, den Greek forces. For 19 January 1919, na de Greek Orthodox Christian military priest Eleftherios Noufrakis perform an unauthorized Divine Liturgy insyd de Hagia Sophia, de such instance per since de 1453 fall of Constantinople. Na dem hold de anti-occupation Sultanahmet demonstrations next to Hagia Sophia from March to May 1919. Insyd Greece, na dem issue de 500 drachma banknotes insyd 1923 feature Hagia Sophia.

### Museum (1935–2020)

### Reversion to mosque (2018–present)

File:Façade_principale_de_Ste_Sophie,_prise_de_la_cour_du_médressé_-_Fossati_Gaspard_-_1852.jpg|Main (western) façade of Hagia Sophia, dem dey see from courtyard of de *madrasa* of Mahmud I. Lithograph by Louis Haghe after Gaspard Fossati (1852).
File:Aya_Sofia,_Constantinople_(BM_1889,0603.107).jpg|South-eastern side, dem dey see from de Imperial Gate of de Topkapı Palace, plus de Fountain of Ahmed III for de left den de Sultan Ahmed Mosque insyd de distance. Lithograph by Louis Haghe after Gaspard Fossati (1852).
File:Vue_de_la_nouvelle_tribune_impériale,_prise_entre_les_colonnes_d'Ephèze,_et_ensuite_de_face_-_Fossati_Gaspard_-_1852.jpg|De imperial lodge (b 1850)
File:Aya_Sofia,_Constantinople_(BM_1889,0603.120).jpg|Gaspare Fossati ein 1852 depiction of de Hagia Sophia, after ein den ein bro dema renovation. Lithograph by Louis Haghe.
File:L'intérieur_et_l'extérieur_de_la_mosquée,_avant_sa_restauration_-_Fossati_Gaspard_-_1852.jpg|Nave before restoration, dey face east
File:Vue_générale_de_la_grande_nef,_en_regardant_l'orient_-_Fossati_Gaspard_-_1852.jpg|Nave den apse after restoration, dey face east
File:Gaspare_Fossati_-_Louis_Haghe_-_Vue_générale_de_la_grande_nef,_en_regardant_l'occident_(Hagia_Sophia_-_Ayasofya_Mosque_nave).jpg|Nave den entrance after restoration, dey face west
File:Nartex,_ou_Porche_-_Fossati_Gaspard_-_1852.jpg|Narthex, dey face north
File:Entrée_principale_de_la_mosquée_-_Fossati_Gaspard_-_1852.jpg|Exonarthex, dey face north
File:Vue_de_l'entrée_du_côté_du_nord_-_Fossati_Gaspard_-_1852.jpg|North aisle from de entrance, dey face east
File:Vue_prise_du_même_point,_en_regardant_le_porche_-_Fossati_Gaspard_-_1852.jpg|North aisle, dey face west
File:Vue_centrale_de_la_nef_du_nord_-_Fossati_Gaspard_-_1852.jpg|Nave den south aisle from de north aisle
File:Entrée_du_gynécée,_ou_galerie_supérieure_-_Fossati_Gaspard_-_1852.jpg|Northern gallery den entrance to de *matroneum* from de north-west
File:Vues_dans_la_même_gallerie,_prises_dans_l'angle_sud-ouest_-_Fossati_Gaspard_-_1852.jpg|Southern gallery from de south-west
File:Vue_du_fond_de_la_galerie,_du_côté_oriental_-_Fossati_Gaspard_-_1852.jpg|Southern gallery from de Marble Door dey face west
File:Centre_de_la_galerie_-_Fossati_Gaspard_-_1852.jpg|Southern gallery from de Marble Door dey face east


## Oda burials

* Selim II (1524 – 15 December 1574)
* Murad III 1546–1595
* Mustafa I (c. 1600 – 20 January 1639), insyd de courtyard.
* Enrico Dandolo (c. 1107 – June 1205), insyd de east gallery.
* Gli (c. 2004 – 7 November 2020), insyd de garden.

## Works wey de Hagia Sophia influence

Chaw buildings be modeled for de Hagia Sophia ein core structure of a large central dome wey dey rest for pendentives top den buttressed by two semi-domes.

Byzantine churches influence by de Hagia Sophia dey include de Hagia Sophia insyd Thessaloniki, den de Hagia Irene. Na de latter be remodeled make e get a dome similar to de Hagia Sophia during de reign of Justinian. Neo-Byzantine churches dem model for de Hagia Sophia dey include de Kronstadt Naval Cathedral, Holy Trinity Cathedral, Sibiu den Poti Cathedral. Each closely dey replicate de internal geometry of de Hagia Sophia. De layout of de Kronstadt Naval Cathedral be nearly identical to de Hagia Sophia in size den geometry. Ein marble revetment sanso dey mimic de style of De Hagia Sophia. De Catedral Metropolitana Ortodoxa insyd São Paulo den de Église du Saint-Esprit (Paris) both replace de two large tympanums beneath de main dome plus two shallow semi-domes. Chaw churches combine elements of de Hagia Sophia plus a Latin cross plan. For instance, de transept of de Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis (St. Louis) be formed by two semi-domes wey dey surround de main dome. De church ein column capitals den mosaics sanso emulate de style of de Hagia Sophia. Oda examples dey include de Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Sofia, St Sophia's Cathedral, London, Saint Clement Catholic Church, Chicago, den de Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Chaw mosques wey be commissioned by de Ottoman dynasty get plans wey base for de Hagia Sophia top, wey dey include de Süleymaniye Mosque den de Bayezid II Mosque.

Synagogues base for de Hagia Sophia dey include de Congregation Emanu-El (San Francisco), Great Synagogue of Florence, den Hurva Synagogue.

## Gallery

File:Hagia Sophia (15468276434).jpg|Detail of de columns
File:20131203 Istanbul 048.jpg|Detail of de columns
File:Fossati 003.JPG|Six patriarchs mosaic insyd de southern tympanum as de Fossati bros draw
File:Fossati 002.JPG|Moasics as de Fossati bros draw
File:Nikea-arius.png|De Hagia Sophia insyd de background of an icon from de Monastery of Great Meteoron
File:Relation nouvelle d'un voyage de Constantinople - enrichie de plans levez par l'auteur sur les lieux, and des figures de tout ce qu'il y a de plus remarquable dans cette ville (1680) (14773026492).jpg|Guillaume-Joseph Grelot ein engraving 1672, dey look east den dey show de apse mosaic
File:Relation nouvelle d'un voyage de Constantinople - enrichie de plans levez par l'auteur sur les lieux, and des figures de tout ce qu'il y a de plus remarquable dans cette ville (1680) (14586659270).jpg|Guillaume-Joseph Grelot ein engraving 1672, wey dey look west
File:Interior of the Hagia Sophia.jpg|*Interior of de Hagia Sophia* by John Singer Sargent, 1891
File:Sébah and Joaillier - Interior of Ayasofya Mosque.jpg|Photograph by Sébah & Joaillier, 
File:Philippe Chaperon Sainte-Sophie, 1893 (collection particulière).jpg|Watercolour of de interior by Philippe Chaperon, 1893
File:Detail of Sculptural Relief on the Marble Door of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey.jpg|Detail of relief for de Marble Door top.
File:Hagia Sophia (16064799696).jpg|Imperial Gate from de nave
File:Henricus Dandolo grób RB1.jpg|19th-century cenotaph of Enrico Dandolo, Doge of Venice, den commander of de 1204 Sack of Constantinople
File:Gate of the mosque of Saint Sophia - Lewis John F - 1838.jpg|Gate of de *külliye*, by John Frederick Lewis, 1838
File:Fountain of the gate of Eski (Old) Serai - Lewis John F - 1838.jpg|Fountain of Ahmed III from de gate of de *külliye*, by John Frederick Lewis, 1838
File:Saint Sophia and distant view of Sultan Achmet (Mosques) - Lewis John F - 1838.jpg|Southern side of Hagia Sophia, wey dey look east, by John Frederick Lewis, 1838
File:Adriaan-Reland-Verhandeling-van-de-godsdienst-der-Mahometaanen MG 0720.tif|From *Verhandeling van de godsdienst der Mahometaanen*, by Adriaan Reland, 1719
File:Interior of Haghia Sophia.jpg|Interior of Haghia Sophia
File:Voyage en Orient (bgw20 0447).jpg|Hagia Sophia from de south-west, 1914
File:Hagia Sophia and its faithful tourists (24238189635).jpg|Hagia Sophia insyd de snow, December 2015
File:MG08 on the minaret of the Ayasofya Museum 1941.jpg|*Maschinengewehr* 08 dem mount for a minaret top during World War II 


## References


### Sources

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* *Hagia Sophia*. Hagia Sophia Archived 19 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed 23 September 2014.
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* Runciman, Steven (1965). The Fall of Constantinople Archived 27 December 2022 at the Wayback Machine, 1453. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p.&nbsp;145. .
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## Read further

: *Sanso spy de thematically organised full bibliography insyd Stroth (2021), pp.&nbsp;137–183.*

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* Harris, Jonathan, *Constantinople: Capital of Byzantium*. Hambledon/Continuum (2007). 
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* Scharf, Joachim: "Der Kaiser in Proskynese. Bemerkungen zur Deutung des Kaisermosaiks im Narthex der Hagia Sophia von Konstantinopel". In: *Festschrift Percy Ernst Schramm zu seinem siebzigsten Geburtstag von Schülern und Freunden zugeeignet*, Wiesbaden 1964, pp.&nbsp;27–35.
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* Weitzmann, Kurt, ed., *[http://libmma.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15324coll10/id/156533 Age of spirituality: late antique and early Christian art, third to seventh century]* Archived 26 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine, no. 592, 1979, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 
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** Articles **

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* Bordewich, Fergus M., "A Monumental Struggle to Preserve Hagia Sophia", *Smithsonian* magazine, December 2008
* Calian, Florian, The Hagia Sophia and Turkey's Neo-Ottomanism Archived 20 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine, *Armenian Weekly*.
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* Ousterhout, Robert G. "Museum or Mosque? Istanbul's Hagia Sophia has been a monument to selective readings of history Archived 14 April 2021 at the Wayback Machine." *History Today* (Sept 2020).
* Suchkov, Maxim, Why did Moscow call Ankara's Hagia Sophia decision "Turkey's internal affair"? Archived 14 April 2021 at the Wayback Machine, *Middle East Institute*.
** Mosaics **

* *Hagia Sophia*, hagiasophia.com: Mosaics.
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## External links

* Official website (insyd Turkish)
* 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