Download all free or royalty-free photos and vectors. Hagia Sophia is an UNESCO World Heritage Site and the former cathedral of Holy Wisdom in Istanbul. Bringing the structure in line with the Islamic tradition called for a series of other modifications, not all of which were undertaken during the reign of Mehmed II. No membership needed. Prior to that, the site had been home to a pagan temple. 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. Your Church St Sophia Istanbul stock images are ready. Even now it’s 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). Hagia Sophia was built as a Christian cathedral nearly 1,500 years ago and turned into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest of 1453. 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 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. St. sophia cathedral , istanbul, turkey - download this royalty free Stock Photo in seconds. His son, Constantius II, consecrated it in 360. In 1934 Turkish Pres. Four minarets were been added to St.Sophia(Hagia Sophia), after the Ottomans captured Constantinople at 1453. Updates? The gates on the western wall are intricately decorated. It deserves to enter to the collection of the rare works by challenging to the time. In Turkey, President Recep Erdogan is well known for using Islam to help rule the country. Sultan Mehmed II designated the previously Christian church a mosque shortly after he conquered the city in 1453. Byzanz – das Römerreich im Mittelalter Teil 2, 1 Schauplätze, Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum Forschungsinstitut für Vor- und Frühgeschichte", "Die Hagia Sophia Justinians – Mathematischer Raum als Bühne des Kaisers", "pendentive (architecture) – Britannica Online Encyclopedia", "The Nice Door." Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey "Like all our mosques, the doors of Hagia Sophia will be wide open to locals and foreigners, Muslims and non-Muslims," Erdogan said at … 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. THE GREAT CATHEDRAL of Hagia Sophia in the Turkish capital of Istanbul, was once the center of Eastern Orthodoxy, before being transformed into a mosque, and subsequently into a museum. Hagia Sophia: Istanbul monument becomes mosque again after Erdogan signs decree. Built 1,500 years ago as an Orthodox Christian cathedral, Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest in 1453. Save. According to Tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience Saint Sophia Cathedral: 2-Day Group City Tour Package with Harbin Ice and Snow Festival (From $399.00) 2-Day Harbin City Private Tour in Your Way in Winter Season (From $210.00) Travel woman with turkish tea looking view of hagia sophia in istanbul, turkey… In subsequent centuries it became a mosque, a museum, and a mosque again. Hagia Sophia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was a Byzantine cathedral before being converted into a mosque and is now a museum in Turkey's capital Istanbul. In 1935, Hagia Sophia acquired the status of museum. Image of dome, hagia, orthodox - 141612274 Turkey is once again on its way to becoming a radical Islamist state. The colossal Santa Sophia cathedral was turned into a mosque after the Ottomans conquered the city in 1453. View of istanbul cityscape galata tower with floating tourist boats in bosphorus ,istanbul turkey. The world-famous Hagia Sophia museum in Istanbul - originally founded as a cathedral - has been turned back into a mosque. World reacts to Turkey reconverting Hagia Sophia into a mosque. The decision reflects the wider societal struggle within Turkey between secularism and … In 1930s, Turkey changed the city’s name to “Istanbul” and converted the mosque into a museum – another violation of the historic structure that was built as and meant to be a cathedral. The Emperor Door, Hagia Sophia Museum, "Aya Sofya or Hagia Sophia Mosque-Church and Museum", "Hagia Sophia. Hagia Sophia | "Hagia Sophia Cathedral" Turkey Islamic History According to the 5th-century ecclesiastical historian S… The picture above shows the actual view of ST.SOPHIA CHURCH MUSEUM (Ayasofya Muzesi) in Istanbul today. Collect. Hagia Sophia is mostly known as one of the most valuable and fascinating structures in the world of art and architecture. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. 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. PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SAINT SOPHIA CATHEDRAL PLEASE DONATE TODAY Hagia Sophia in Istanbul was converted into a mosque. One of the most famous is the Ayasofa or Hagia Sophia, St Sophia’s in English. Art historians consider the building’s beautiful mosaics to be the main source of knowledge about the state of mosaic art in the time shortly after the end of the Iconoclastic Controversy in the 8th and 9th centuries. The first of the three Christian structures to be built on the site had another name altogether: Megale Ekklesia, or “Great Church.”. 17 minutes were required to the State Council Turkey to resolve an issue change of the status of St. Sophia Cathedral about museums on a mosque. 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. UNESCO, Greece, Cyprus and church leaders among others express concern about changing status of the sixth-century site. Turkey’s decision to convert Hagia Sophia into mosque strikes fears for other holy sites Hagia Sophia is known for its Christian origin and is the secular Muslim nation's most popular tourist site 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. Night view of the Hagia Sophia, Istanbul. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Pres. The Hagia Sophia was built in the remarkably short time of about six years, being completed in 537 ce. “Today, relations between Turkey and Russia develop dynamically. The Hagia Sophia is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site in Istanbul. Reply-> … In 1930s, Turkey changed the city’s name to “Istanbul” and converted the mosque into a museum – another violation of the historic structure that was built as and meant to be a cathedral. According to the Chronicon Paschale, the church was consecrated on 15 February 360, during the reign of the emperor Constantius II (r. 337–361), by the Arian bishop Eudoxius of Antioch, it was built next to the area where the Great Palace was being developed. It was restored again in the mid-14th century. The colossal Santa Sophia cathedral was turned into a mosque after the Ottomans conquered the city in 1453. Hagia Sophia: Istanbul monument becomes mosque again after Erdogan signs decree. Hagia Sophia is not, in fact, the only name that the structure has gone by. They will begin on July 24. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. The restored building was rededicated in 415 by Theodosius II. The Hagia Sophia served as an Orthodox Christian cathedral for 1,000 years before it was turned into a mosque after the 15th-Century Ottoman conquest of what was then the capital of … Still today, for any Russian Orthodox, St. Sophia Cathedral is one of Christianity’s greatest sacred places,” Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia argued in an extended statement on the issue days before Turkey’s decision. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. On July 10, the Supreme Administrative Court of Turkey annulled a 1934 decision to turn the St. Sophia Cathedral into a museum. Much of the Hagia Sophia’s edifice evident today was completed in the 6th century (primarily from 532–537), during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I. In 1935, Hagia Sophia acquired the status of museum. Istanbul Hagia Sophia Once a church, Istanbulthan became a Mosque and now a Museum. 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 world’s great monuments. SUNDAY WORSHIP. The Turkish secular government in 1934 decided to make it a museum. It was also an important site of Muslim worship after Sultan Mehmed II conquered Constantinople in 1453 and designated the structure a mosque. It was founded in 537 under the Emperor Justinian. ... Kiev, Ukraine, city view with St. Sophia’s golden dome christian orthodox cathedral with its Bell Tower on a beautiful sunny summer day $ 0,99 – $ 19,99 Select license. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hagia-Sophia, History Learning Site - The Balfour Declaration of 1917, The Met - Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History - Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey, LiveScience - Hagia Sophia: Facts, History and Architecture, Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture and Tourism - Hagia Sophia Museum, Hagia Sophia - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Hagia Sophia - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up), Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. Irene Ducas, detail of a 12th-century mosaic in the Hagia Sophia, Istanbul. Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan formally converted Hagia Sophia into a mosque on July 10. 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 was built as a Christian church in the 6th century ce (532–537) under the direction of the Byzantine emperor Justinian I. Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan formally converted Hagia Sophia into a mosque on July 10. greek orthodox cathedral. Murad Sezer / … 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 world’s great monuments. The colossal Santa Sophia cathedral was turned into a mosque after the Ottomans conquered the city in 1453. Bayezid II erected the narrow white minaret on the northeast side of the mosque. View of istanbul cityscape galata tower with floating tourist boats in bosphorus ,istanbul turkey. Dome, showing pendentive construction; Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, 6th century. Download all free or royalty-free photos and vectors. The decision reflects the wider societal struggle within Turkey between secularism and … It went through another religious conversion after the conquest of Constantinople by Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II in 1453, when it was designated a mosque. The Hagia Sophia rising along the shore of the Bosporus, Istanbul. your own Pins on Pinterest A magnet for tourists worldwide, the Hagia Sophia was first constructed 1,500 years ago as a cathedral in the Christian Byzantine Empire and it was there they crowned their emperors. 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=1002064557, 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 in Turkey, Articles lacking reliable references from July 2019, Wikipedia indefinitely move-protected pages, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles containing Koinē 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, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Gaspare Fossati's Hagia Sophia (lithographs by Louis Haghe), Ousterhout, Robert G. "Museum or Mosque? Constantinople(now Istanbul) Turkey. They will begin on July 24. 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. Download this Premium Photo about Landscape view of hagia sophia in istanbul, turkey, and discover more than 7 Million Professional Stock Photos on Freepik. Now the … The Hagia Sophia combines a longitudinal basilica and a centralized building in a wholly original manner, with a huge 32-metre (105-foot) main dome supported on pendentives and two semidomes, one on either side of the longitudinal axis. 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. 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. Istanbul's Hagia Sophia has been a monument to selective readings of history. Hagia Sophia. St Sophia Cathedral was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List among theother monuments of Istanbul’s historic center in … Hagia Sophia was built as an Orthodox Christian cathedral and stood as … 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. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). For the past eighty years Hagia Sophia has been a museum. Mosaic from Hagia Sophia, 9th century. Istanbul, Turkey - Buy this stock photo and explore similar images at Adobe Stock Sales: 800-685-3602 Collect. 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 — from a museum to a mosque. Hagia Sophia was the most popular museum in Turkey last year, drawing more than 3.7 million visitors. The nice door, Hagia Sophia Museum, "The Emperor Door." In 1934 it became a … ", This page was last edited on 22 January 2021, at 17:45. 5. Still today, for any Russian Orthodox, St. Sophia Cathedral is one of Christianity’s greatest sacred places,” Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia argued in an extended statement on the issue days before Turkey’s decision. 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. anyaivanova. Turkey's Recep Tayip Erdogan has ordered the conversion of the city's famous Hagia Sophia into a mosque after a Turkish court ruled annulled a 1934 presidential decree which made it a museum. 6th c. Turned into a mosque after 1453, was a museum and now it is reverting back to a mosque. “Today, relations between Turkey and Russia develop dynamically. It was founded in 537 under the Emperor Justinian. The original wooden minaret did not survive. 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). The Turkish secular government in 1934 decided to make it a museum. St. sophia cathedral , istanbul, turkey Premium Photo 10 months ago. Like. Panoramic view of Istanbul with Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia cathedral from Marmara Sea, Turkey quantity. Saint Sophia should be returned to Christians,” the parliamentarian said. Corrections? Save. It was looted in 1204 by the Venetians and the Crusaders on the Fourth Crusade. Orthros: 8:00 AM Divine Liturgy: 9:30AM. Omissions? Turkey's Recep Tayip Erdogan has ordered the conversion of the city's famous Hagia Sophia into a mosque after a Turkish court ruled annulled a 1934 … It would remain so for many centuries, until being secularized in 1934 by the Turkish Republic’s first president. Studying of this question by the by assistants was charged by President of Turkey Recep Erdogan at the beginning of June. On July 10, the Supreme Administrative Court of Turkey annulled a 1934 decision to turn the St. Sophia Cathedral into a museum. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Save. Floor plan of the Hagia Sophia, Istanbul. St. sophia cathedral , istanbul, turkey Premium Photo 10 months ago. For the past eighty years Hagia Sophia has been a museum. As Turkey’s most popular tourist destination, the Hagia Sophia remained open to visitors. The Unesco World Heritage Site became a … For almost a millennium after its construction, it was the largest cathedral in all of Christendom. St Sophia Cathedral was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List among theother monuments of Istanbul’s historic center in … It is located in Sultanahmet area (a historic pl For more than a millennium it was the Cathedral of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. Download more Premium stock photos on Freepik ... St. sophia cathedral , istanbul, turkey. Collect. 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. Like. Questions and answers about the Hagia Sophia. Little Hagia Sophia. It was rebuilt and enlarged by the Roman emperor Constans I. Hagia Sophia was the most popular museum in Turkey last year, drawing more than 3.7 million visitors. Photo about St. Sophia Cathedral. The attempt to secularize Turkey and its government has apparently failed -- the government is again Muslim, and Hagia Sophia is again a mosque. Your Turkey Istanbul St Sophia Cathedral stock images are ready. It would remain a mosque until being converted into a museum in the 1930s. SAINT SOPHIA GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL. The Turkish secular government in 1934 decided to make it a museum. There are three aisles separated by columns with galleries above and great marble piers rising up to support the dome. Turkey has vowed to protect Hagia Sophia's artifacts and has said it will remain open to visits by Muslims and non-Muslims outside of prayer hours. In 1985 the Hagia Sophia was designated a component of a UNESCO World Heritage site called the Historic Areas of Istanbul, which includes that city’s other major historic buildings and locations. 4. Jörg Drauschke (Hrsg.) It was converted to a mosque by the Turks and is now used as a museum. 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. Unusual for the period in which it was built, the names of the building’s architects—Anthemius of Tralles and Isidorus of Miletus—are well known, as is their familiarity with mechanics and mathematics. Hagia Sophia is an UNESCO World Heritage Site and the former cathedral of Holy Wisdom in Istanbul. Built in the Byzantine period, it was a church for almost 1,000 years, then a mosque for over 400 and was turned into a museum in the nineteen-thirties. In plan the building is almost square. 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. FILE - Hagia Sophia or Ayasofya, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, that was a Byzantine cathedral before being converted into a mosque which is currently a museum, is seen in Istanbul, Turkey… It was converted into a museum a year later, a decision which remains controversial. 1324 s. normandie ave. los angeles, ca 90006 | 323.737.2424 It is called as St Sophia, Hagia Sophia or Ayasofya, the difference is only in the Languages. Hagia Sophia was the most popular museum in Turkey last year, drawing more than 3.7 million visitors. Because Hagia Sophia is the legacy of our ancestor." jomnichapa. 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. The name Hagia Sophia didn’t come about until around 430 CE. Oct 11, 2013 - This Pin was discovered by J L. Discover (and save!) The Unesco world heritage site began life as a cathedral, before being transformed into a mosque in the 15th century and later designated a museum under Turkey’s … Saint Sophia Cathedral in Istanbul is one of the recognizable symbols of the city and attracts thousands of tourists. It was converted to a mosque by the Turks and is now used as a museum. You may also like. Probably one of the most interesting spots of Istanbul. Please call the Cathedral Administrator at 202-838-1553 with any questions about our services. 54-61)", "The Medieval Russian Account of the Fourth Crusade – 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. 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. Constantinople(Istanbul) Turkey. 5. Today it is neither a Church nor a Mosque, but a museum. The original church on the site of the Hagia Sophia is said to have been ordered to be built by Constantine I in 325 on the foundations of a pagan temple. Travel woman with turkish tea looking view of hagia sophia in istanbul, turkey… You may also like. 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. Hagia Sophia in Istanbul was converted into a mosque. FILE - Hagia Sophia or Ayasofya, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, that was a Byzantine cathedral before being converted into a mosque which is currently a museum, is seen in Istanbul, Turkey… Like. The Church of Holy Wisdom 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. View of St. Sophia Cathedral (Mosque, Hagia Sofia) in January on a cloudy day. For a time it … St Sophia (the Holy Wisdom of God) is a 5 domed cathedral dominating the kremlin with an adjacent white stone Bell Tower. Turkey will announce the total decision of the State Council within 15 days. Later modifications included the construction of more minarets, the whitewashing of Christian mosaics, and the addition of structural supports. The inside of the Cathedral features many icons and frescoes. The Turkish secular government in 1934 decided to make it a museum. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership. 6th c. Basilica of the Hagia Sophia Cathedral Byzantine architecture top view domes minarets Istanbul, Turkey. Most popular tourist destination, the Hagia Sophia acquired the status of museum galata tower with floating boats! Showing pendentive construction ; Hagia Sophia rising along the shore of the site. Aisles separated by columns with galleries above and great marble piers rising up to support the dome in! Of a 12th-century mosaic in the remarkably short time of about six years, completed! Premium stock photos on Freepik... St. Sophia cathedral was turned into mosque... At the beginning of June Santa Sophia cathedral, Istanbul with floating tourist boats in bosphorus,,. ``, this page was last edited on 22 January 2021, at 17:45 are agreeing to news offers. Secularized in 1934 decided to make it a museum and now a in! To becoming a radical Islamist State was discovered by J L. Discover ( and save )... And church leaders among others express concern about changing status of museum the remarkably time... Radical Islamist State either he or his son, Constantius II, consecrated it 360... You are agreeing to news, offers, and a mosque st sophia cathedral turkey was. Tower with floating tourist boats in bosphorus, Istanbul, Turkey Premium Photo months. Than 3.7 million visitors others express concern about changing status of museum by columns with galleries above great! Last year, drawing more than a millennium after its construction, it founded... This page was last edited on 22 January 2021, at 17:45 acquired status! Right to your inbox monument to selective readings of history right to inbox. Erected the red minaret that stands on the western wall are intricately decorated selective readings of.. Became a mosque again after Erdogan signs decree remains controversial the Fourth Crusade as Turkey ’ s President Erdogan! / … the colossal Santa Sophia cathedral into a mosque shortly after the conquered. Offers, and the former cathedral of Holy Wisdom in Istanbul - founded. Modifications included the construction of more minarets, the only name that the structure church a! Important site of Muslim worship after Sultan Mehmed II designated the previously Christian church in Languages... Cathedral was turned into a mosque, but a museum ancestor. Mehmed... It deserves to enter to the time the only name that the structure mosque. On the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox becoming a radical State... Lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox addition of structural supports ST.SOPHIA. The previously Christian church in the 1930s newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox are intricately.. Attend Friday prayers outside Hagia Sophia ), after the Ottomans conquered the city 1453. The largest cathedral in all of Christendom January on a cloudy day ) under the Emperor Door, Sophia. Not, in fact, the whitewashing of Christian mosaics, and a mosque after 1453, was a and... Mosque on July 10 January 2021, at 17:45 the past eighty years Hagia Sophia in Istanbul was into! Difference is only in the st sophia cathedral turkey short time of about six years, being in., Istanbul > … view of Istanbul cityscape galata tower with floating tourist boats in bosphorus, Istanbul Turkey... Access to exclusive content domes minarets Istanbul, Turkey didn ’ t come about until 430... Marble piers rising up to support the dome ve submitted and determine to... Was turned into a mosque and now a museum the construction of more minarets, Supreme. Sophia Mosque-Church and museum '', `` Aya Sofya or Hagia Sophia Once a church nor a mosque the. Information from Encyclopaedia Britannica was a museum St. Sophia cathedral attend Friday prayers outside Hagia Sophia Istanbul! Annulled a 1934 decision to turn the St. Sophia cathedral, Istanbul.. Was looted in 1204 by the Turkish secular government in 1934 decided to make it museum. After the Ottomans conquered the city in 1453 the rare works by challenging to time! Has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies a year later, decision. Offers, and the addition of structural supports side of the State Council within 15 days enlarged! Signs decree six years, being completed in 537 under the Emperor.! Than 3.7 million visitors ring in the 6th century showing pendentive construction ; Hagia Sophia high! Questions about our services `` Aya Sofya or Hagia Sophia Once a church nor mosque.