2008 Woodie Awards
Cultural Corner
Hagia Sophia: Church, Mosque, Museum
Patrick Senn
STAFF WRITER
thatguy1084@gamil.com
Issue date: 10/8/07 Section: Lifestyles
- Page 1 of 1
The Hagia Sophia (literally "Holy Wisdom") is one of the greatest architectural works of the Western world. Originally , the current church was built by Byzantine emperor Justinian in the mid sixth century, and as the third Church of Holy Wisdom, it stood as the focal point of the Orthodox Byzantine Empire for 900 years. It was completely redone when the city of Constantinople was captured by the Islamic Turks in 1453. Today, it stands as a museum in present-day Istanbul as a testament to ancient architecture.
The current Hagia Sophia, which stands in present day Istanbul, is actually the third church to be built on that site. The first was constructed in AD 380 , and legend had it that Constantine himself actually ordered it to be built, but it was subsequently destroyed by riots. The church was rebuilt by Theodosius II, who inaugurated it in AD 405; however, this church was burned down during the Nika Revolt in Constantinople only a few years later. The third and current church was built upon the same site and dedicated by Justinian in the year 532, with Justinian being quoted by one historian at the dedication as describing the beauty of the church, in allusion to the ancient Jewish temple: "Solomon, I have surpassed thee."
Originally the current church contained many icons, holy relics altars and bells sacred to the Orthodox Christians. When the building was redesigned as a Muslim mosque, the conquerors removed all of the symbolism and art present in the building, claiming it to be idolatrous and not compatible with Islamic doctrine concerning idolatry which strictly forbids images of holy men and women or any visual image of God.
In 1935, the Secular Republic of Turkey began renovating the building, and it has stood as a museum ever since. Many of the pictures of various saints and religious figures that had been covered have been restored, and it now stands as a reminder of both the great Byzantine and Islamic empires.
The current Hagia Sophia, which stands in present day Istanbul, is actually the third church to be built on that site. The first was constructed in AD 380 , and legend had it that Constantine himself actually ordered it to be built, but it was subsequently destroyed by riots. The church was rebuilt by Theodosius II, who inaugurated it in AD 405; however, this church was burned down during the Nika Revolt in Constantinople only a few years later. The third and current church was built upon the same site and dedicated by Justinian in the year 532, with Justinian being quoted by one historian at the dedication as describing the beauty of the church, in allusion to the ancient Jewish temple: "Solomon, I have surpassed thee."
Originally the current church contained many icons, holy relics altars and bells sacred to the Orthodox Christians. When the building was redesigned as a Muslim mosque, the conquerors removed all of the symbolism and art present in the building, claiming it to be idolatrous and not compatible with Islamic doctrine concerning idolatry which strictly forbids images of holy men and women or any visual image of God.
In 1935, the Secular Republic of Turkey began renovating the building, and it has stood as a museum ever since. Many of the pictures of various saints and religious figures that had been covered have been restored, and it now stands as a reminder of both the great Byzantine and Islamic empires.
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