Hagia Sophia history. Orthodox temple in the center of Muslim Istanbul - Hagia Sophia Cathedral

I think that almost all tourists begin their acquaintance with Istanbul with Sultanahmet and the attractions located on it and near it. That's what we did too. When we first came to Sultanahmet, first of all, we paid attention to two towering buildings - the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia (Hagia Sophia in the Turkish version). We were not able to get into the Blue Mosque right away, since it is mainly closed to people during Ramadan. ordinary tourists, so the first place we met in Istanbul was the Hagia Sophia, especially since I remembered the story about it from school and wanted to see everything with my own eyes.

Path to the entrance to Hagia Sophia from Sultanahmet Square.

To our great surprise, during the entire period of our stay in Istanbul there were almost no people near popular tourist places, and we freely entered all the museums. So it is here. At the entrance to the cathedral territory there was a small group of tourists, but it was almost unnoticeable. By the way, reading reviews from other tourists about excursions in Istanbul during high season(April-June, September, New Year and Christmas), was very surprised by the photos with huge queues at all the main attractions. Therefore, if you are traveling on your own, go see the city in low season - hotels will be cheaper, and access to attractions will be easier and quieter.

Hagia Sophia in Istanbul: opening hours, tickets, audio guide

You can get to the Hagia Sophia by purchasing tickets for 30 liras (children under 12 years old go free) or a museum card for 85 liras for three days or 115 liras for 5 days. They are sold in special vending machines. Making a purchase is very easy - the interface is intuitive. I explained in the post what a museum card is and how to save money with it. However, we didn’t buy it right away, which we later regretted a little, but went to the museum with tickets.

Entering the territory of the Hagia Sophia, we were faced with the fact that we didn’t have much knowledge about it, everything brief descriptions and the inscriptions are in Turkish and English, but just staring without understanding what you see is stupid. Therefore, we bought an audio guide at the entrance (20 liras for each) and went to have fun.

By the way, it is designed in an interesting way: you are given a laminated map of the cathedral with dots, to which you place a remote control pointer and listen to information about this place. It turned out to be very convenient.

1 - entrance; 2 - imperial gate; 3 - weeping column; 4 - altar - Mihrab; 5 - Minbar; 6 - Sultan's box; 7 - Omphalos (“navel of the world”); 8 - marble urns from Pergamon; a - Byzantine-era baptistery, tomb of Sultan Mustafa I; b - minarets of Sultan Selim II

It is worth noting that Hagia Sophia is open every day (except Monday): in the summer season (April 15 - October 25) from 9.00 to 19.00, the ticket office closes at 18.00, in the winter season - from 9.00 to 17.00 and the ticket office closes at 16.00. However, on the first day of Ramadan the museum is closed, as are most of the places in Istanbul.

What is Hagia Sophia: history and brief description

If you didn’t get a working audio guide or just don’t want to spend money, then a short historical reference and a short description of all the sights that Hagia Sophia in Istanbul can show you.

In fact, the cathedral in its modern form is not the first religious building built in Constantinople on this site. First there was the Basilica of Constantine, which burned down during a popular uprising in 404, then the Basilica of Theodosius, again damaged as a result of the Nika uprising in 532. You can see its ruins in front of the main entrance to today's cathedral. There are remains of columns, a portico, and stairs leading to the entrance, which went 2 meters below ground level. However, nothing remained except the descriptions of ancient historians and these few stones, although these two churches were also quite large and richly decorated.

Hagia Sophia in Istanbul(and then Constantinople) in its present form was ordered to be built on the site of the destroyed basilica by Emperor Justinian, one of the key rulers in the history of the Byzantine Empire. Like the state itself, it main temple was to be the greatest and most magnificent of all ever built. Therefore, the territory for construction was cleared of old buildings, the most famous architects were attracted, crazy sums were allocated from the treasury for that time (three budgets of the empire), and the labor of 10 thousand workers was used. The construction itself was also carried out at a rapid pace - in just 5 years.

It is interesting that for his cathedral the emperor ordered architectural elements of famous ancient temples and structures to be brought to Constantinople as building material. Therefore, in the Hagia Sophia, columns were made of porphyry (crimson in color) from the Temple of the Sun in Rome, from green marble from the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, from the ruins of cities in Asia Minor and Syria. White marble from the island of Marmara, green onyx from Euboea, yellow and pink marble from North Africa.

In addition to colored stone decoration, gold, silver, and ivory were used in the interior of the cathedral. Before the looting of Hagia Sophia, according to eyewitnesses, there was a golden cross in the altar, twice the height of a man, richly decorated with precious stones and pearls. In front of him hung another half-meter cross, with three golden lamps.

In all respects the temple was great - the largest, the most expensively decorated, the most beautiful, with the largest number ministers.

However, a few years later, an earthquake collapsed part of the cathedral wall, as the builders decided to save time and money on strengthening the walls. After this, the emperor ordered the construction of supporting pillars for the dome, which turned out to be even higher than before. In the history of Hagia Sophia there were several more destructive earthquakes, as a result of which it was strengthened with walls, buttresses, the dome was rebuilt and gradually lost its original appearance.

It was in the Cathedral of Hagia Sophia in then Constantinople that the actual division of Christianity into churches of the Western (Catholic) and Eastern (Orthodox rite) took place - the Pope and the Patriarch of Constantinople anathematized each other.

Along with the decline of Byzantium, the temple also lost its luster. In 1204, the Crusaders took Constantinople and plundered the cathedral. It was in it that until that time the Shroud of Turin was kept - a piece of cloth in which Jesus Christ was wrapped after the crucifixion. They also took out all the precious decorations. Only in 1261 were the Byzantines able to recapture their capital, but they were unable to restore their former luxury.

In 1453, Sultan Mehmet II conquered Constantinople and converted the Hagia Sophia into the Hagia Sophia Mosque, now in Istanbul. The famous architect completed four minarets, which, in addition to their religious function, strengthened the walls of the cathedral and prevented further destruction. A mihrab (an altar for Muslims), a minbar (a staircase leading to the place from which the imam speaks), a sultan's box was completed, and huge medallions were installed under the dome, on which the names of Allah and the prophets were written in gold. It is worth noting that the conquerors treated the cathedral-mosque with care - it was constantly restored, the sultans gave expensive gifts, and several madrasahs were built on its territory.

One of the amazing attractions of the cathedral are its mosaics. Their preservation was helped by iconoclasm, and it is not strange when the luxurious mosaics were covered with plaster. Today, restorers have been able to restore only a part, but what has survived to the present day amazes with its subtlety of execution, beauty, and richness of colors. One of them depicts Empress Zoe and the Emperor next to Jesus Christ. It is interesting that the image of the emperor had two faces, since the emperor’s daughter, Zoya, was married three times and immortalized two of her husbands in the mosaic.

And this is Empress Zoya and her husband

There is one famous mosaic - an offering to Jesus Christ of the city of Constantinople from its founder Emperor Constantine and Hagia Sophia from Emperor Justinian

On the second floor in the gallery opposite the altar was the empress's seat. It is indicated by a green marble circle on the floor.

Right there on the upper galleries, look carefully for runic inscriptions under glass, carved into the railings. They say that this is evidence that there were representatives of the ancient northern peoples in Constantinople.

Below, to the left of the entrance, there is a copper “crying” column. If you put your finger into the hole in it, make a wish and feel the droplets of water, then it will definitely come true.

Near the gate to the Patriarchate on the second floor there is the grave of one of the Venetian doges who participated in the conquest of Constantinople.

Video about an excursion to Hagia Sophia in Istanbul

We didn’t take many photographs in the cathedral, but decided to shoot a short video, since the rooms were quite dark and the camera still did not convey all the power and beauty of this monumental structure.

What can we say Hagia Sophia in modern Istanbul is one of the greatest architectural structures in the world, is not it?

And this is us ourselves in the courtyard of the cathedral, resting after the impressions we received.

Summarizing the impressions received, I would like to note: whether you are a Christian or a Muslim, or maybe a Buddhist, it doesn’t matter, when you are in Istanbul, go and look at the Hagia Sophia. Imagine how this monumental structure could have been built one and a half thousand years ago, think about the greatness and futility of empires and their rulers, how eras replace each other and what remains of the greats of this world.

Total 106 photos

It is generally believed that the interiors of Hagia Sophia are more impressive than its external appearance. I’ll say right away that this is an overly bold simplification. You can’t compare all this - externally, Hagia Sophia is unique and gently encourages you to see it again and again. The interior spaces of Hagia Sophia are impressive, amazing, and make your heart and soul tremble. In addition, there is something in the image of Hagia Sophia that cannot be described in words - it is something that penetrates you comprehensively on an unconscious level, and you feel it completely and in everything, and time stops and a Miracle happens... I perceive it all as that very divine grace that completely and completely absorbs you, envelops you in a soulful golden color and shines, I’m not afraid to say, with an unquenchable mystical light. Or you can put it more simply - there is a special energy here that is felt immediately, everywhere. But this word, common in our time, does not at all allow us to understand what a person feels when he steps under the arches of the greatest and most glorious temple of Christianity of all times and peoples, and not only of Christianity.

As we know, Hagia Sophia was the main Christian cathedral for almost a thousand years. It remained a church until May 29, 1453, when Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror captured ancient and glorious Constantinople. The Ottoman ruler not only admired the architectural masterpiece of Christianity, but also appreciated the unearthly grandeur of the Hagia Sophia. He was so amazed by the beauty of Hagia Sophia that he ordered to transform it into the state main mosque. And we must pay tribute to the Ottomans - Hagia Sophia, having lost many of its former external and internal features, nevertheless retained the main ones to this day. Hagia Sophia served as the great mosque of Istanbul for almost 500 years, becoming the basis and model for many future Ottoman mosques in Istanbul, such as the Blue Mosque and Suleymaniye Mosque. During the reign of Sultan Abdul Mejid (1839-1861), the architects Gaspar and Giuseppe Fossati, invited to renovate the Hagia Sophia building, in addition to restoring the dome and columns, made some changes to decoration interior, and discovered mosaics covered with plaster over several centuries. After the fall of the monarchy under Ataturk in 1931, restoration work began on Byzantine mosaics and frescoes. In 1934, Ataturk issued a decree on the secularization of Hagia Sophia and turning it into a museum, which opened its doors to visitors the following year. It should be noted that the restoration work was and continues to be carried out quite competently, maintaining the necessary balance inside Hagia Sophia between two cultures - Islamic and Christian.

And now, in the volume of the main nave, one quarter of the internal volume of the cathedral is closed with building structures for restoration. But I think this will not stop us from enjoying the grandeur and beauty of Hagia Sophia. Let's explore these legendary interior spaces of Hagia Sophia, which were seen by many Byzantine emperors, sultans Ottoman Empire and countless numbers of worshipers and travelers. While processing these photos, I was faced with an irresistible desire to show my reader as much as possible unique images Hagia Sophia, therefore, somehow by itself two articles turned out about the internal spaces of Hagia Sophia - the first level (first floor) of the cathedral and its second level (second floor) with unique mosaic frescoes. I must say that even for these two posts I had to sacrifice many processed photos of the cathedral. So this material is for those who want to see Hagia Sophia in as much detail as possible. This is what will distinguish this material from other similar ones.

In plan, the St. Sophia Cathedral was a three-nave basilica with two narthexes attached to the western facade. The basilica had two tiers of galleries, and a stone ramp led to the upper one, along which the Empress was carried to the upper gallery before the service on a palanquin. We are him.

You and I are in the exonarthex - the outer porch. This is something like an open “lobby”, “entry” for the early architecture of Byzantine Christian churches. The exonarthex is devoid of decoration, the marble cladding has long been gone and we pass into the narthex without much delay...
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We are now in front of the imperial gates. There is a legend that the Royal (Imperial) Gates were built from the wooden structures of Noah's Ark.
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The tympanum of the Royal Doors depicts Emperor Leo VI bowing before Jesus Christ blessing him, and to the right and left of Christ are the figures of the Virgin Mary and the Archangel Gabriel in round medallions. This mosaic, executed at the border of the 10th and 11th centuries, symbolizes the eternal power granted by God to the Byzantine emperors. Leo VI, according to the interpretation of some researchers, did not fall on his face by chance; he is begging for forgiveness in connection with his fourth non-canonical marriage, after which Patriarch Nicholas the Mystic refused him a wedding and did not let him into the temple.
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Only the emperor could use these doors; the next two were for high dignitaries.
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The Narthex is already impressive with its majestic architecture and colorful ornamental mosaic vaults from the time of Justinian (there were no figurative images in Sofia at that time). The marble panels of the walls mainly remain from the time of Justinian.
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We pass the Royal Doors and we are in the main nave of Hagia Sophia. Here, restoration structures and building panels are immediately noticeable, mainly on the left side of the main nave. But let this not stop us.
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The first thing you feel is how breathtaking with delight and surprise this creation of human hands is!
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These are the Royal Doors - we just entered through them - above them is the Empress's bed, but more on that in the third part.
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You stop, freeze, and the Beauty and inspired thoughts of the creations of the architects of Hagia Sophia fall upon you.
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Beauty permeates and delight and outright surprise quickly rise in the soul at the sparkling density of endless human emotions in which the St. Sophia Cathedral resides.
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This is felt in every detail, in every visible architectural element.
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I wanted to see the famous jug and ball from Pergamon, but now they are hidden by construction panels.
On the left we see the famous porphyry columns - there are two of them in each exedra.
They were brought from the Aurelian Temple of the Sun in Rome.
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Free access to these columns is possible from the right nave closer to the narthex.
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Eight green marble columns were also brought from Ephesus.
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The temple was richly decorated. To decorate it, they used not only mosaics and marble, but also gold and silver, and ivory. There is a legend according to which Emperor Justinian wanted to completely decorate the St. Sophia Temple with gold, cover the ceiling and walls with it, but astrologers dissuaded him. They predicted that the time would come for poor emperors who, because of their thirst for wealth, would barbarously break into the gold in the temple and damage the cathedral. Therefore, in order to protect Hagia Sophia, Justinian abandoned this idea. Although it must be said that some elements of the temple decoration were still made using gold and silver.

The marble slabs used in the construction of the church were brought to Constantinople mainly from the deposits of Anatolia, the Mediterranean basin, from the ancient quarries of Thessaly, Laconia, Caria, Numidia, and even from that very famous Mount Pentelikon near Athens, from which marble was made 10 centuries before Ayia -Sophia was built on the Acropolis Parthenon - Temple of the Virgin Athena.
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As we remember, this amazing structure is the product of the joint work of the architect Isidore of Miletus and the mathematician Anthimius of Thrall. Brilliant architects We worked on the architectural plan of the building for 4 months. The work, which began on February 23, 532, lasted 5 years and 10 months...

Initially, the interior of the temple was illuminated by 214 windows, now there are only 181 (some are covered by buttresses and later extensions).
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The altar part is in the apse.
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In front of the altar there is a fenced area paved with marble with colored stone inserts. This is Omphalion symbolizing the “Navel of the Earth” or the Center of the World. In general, this area under the main dome of the cathedral served as the site of the coronation ceremony of the Byzantine emperors. The emperor's throne stood in the center of a large circle. Those close to him stood in small circles.
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Emperor Justinian spared no expense on this project. Construction costs were enormous. They amounted, according to ancient authors, to 320 thousand pounds of gold, i.e. about 130 tons. Hagia Sophia is the most resource-intensive Byzantine building.
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In the center of the dome, surrounded by 40 windows during the Byzantine period, there was an image of Jesus. After the capture of Constantinople by the Turks, this place was covered and inscribed with a sura from the Koran.
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In the apse there is an image of the Mother of God. The Mother of God was associated with wisdom (Sophia), which is why she is the mistress of the cathedral. The image was restored from the previous one, destroyed during the period of iconoclasm. Our Lady is beautiful, she symbolizes divine Beauty. Photius wrote about her: "...The sight of Her beauty elevates our spirit to the supersensible beauty of truth...". The color of Our Lady's robes is sublime - dark blue on a golden background - a color combination that would later be associated with the imperial spirit of Napoleonic times.
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The image of the Mother of God and Child in the semi-dome of the central apse dates back to 867.
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Nice stained glass windows in the apse, but with Arabic script.
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The altar contains the Mihrab - classically a niche in the wall of a mosque, often decorated with two columns and an arch. The mihrab indicates the direction to Mecca. In this case, the Ottomans had to adapt the structure of the Mihrab to the apse. He looks here, frankly speaking, alien and out of place.
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On the left in the photo below is an arch (golden color) leading to the Sultan's box.
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To the right of the apse we see a minbar - a platform in the cathedral mosque, from which the imam reads the Friday sermon.
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Here, opposite Mimbara, is a monument of the 16th century, a special elevation of the Mahfil muezzin, the minister of the mosque, calling for prayer from the minaret.
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On three sides, the dome space of Hagia Sophia is surrounded by choirs - galleries that open into the center of the temple with arches.
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The six-winged seraphs in the eastern sails under the dome date back to the 6th century (their counterparts in the western sails are the work of 19th-century restorers). The faces of the seraphim (11 m long) in the form of a lion, an eagle and the faces of angels are covered with a polygonal star.

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One of the seraphim still had his face revealed.
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The weightlessness and visual lightness of this grandiose temple is striking, as if created by angelic forces. It seems that the domes do not rest on columns, but float in the endless divine golden space of light and spirit.
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Eight huge leather-covered disks with a diameter of 7.5 meters with golden Arabic script among the columns of the galleries of the second tier attract attention - these are some of the main shrines Muslim shrines Hagia Sophia.
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On the medallions are written the names of Allah in Arabic script, on the left - Muhammad, on the sides - the names of the four caliphs Ebu Bekr, Omar, Osman and Ali; and on the two sides of the main entrance are the names of the grandchildren of the prophet Hasan and Hussein. These posters are considered to be the most outstanding inscriptions of the Islamic world.
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The carved exquisite capitals of the columns are the true treasure of Hagia Sophia.
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Monograms of Emperor Justinian and his wife Theodora were created on the capitals of the columns located around the main space.
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The gaze feverishly and from everywhere continuously “snatches” the amazing and exquisite architectural details of Hagia Sophia.
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Now we will go into the right nave.
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Here you can easily see a couple more porphyry columns from the Roman Temple of the Sun.

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 of Eastern Europe, Middle East and 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 stormy waves open sea... It is completely 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 BATHDRESS 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 plays the role of high school) and Shadyrvan (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)

Saint Sophia Cathedral or Saint Sophie Cathedral or Hagia Sophia- an outstanding monument of Byzantine architecture, a symbol of the “golden age” of Byzantium.

History of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul

The cathedral, a basilica with stone walls and a wooden roof, was built in 324–337 under the Byzantine Emperor Constantine I, but was burned after civil unrest in 404.

The reconstruction of the cathedral was carried out by order of Emperor Theodosius II (408-450) in 415, as a result the basilica became five-nave and also covered with a wooden roof.

In 532, during the Nika uprising, this building was also destroyed. In the same year, a new temple building was laid, which took five years to build - from 532 to 537.

It is known that after construction, Emperor Justinian entered the Church of Hagia Sophia with the words:

My Lord, thank you for giving me the opportunity to create such a place of worship.

After this, Hagia Sophia became the place where the Holy Roman Emperors were crowned.

In July 1054, in this place, Cardinal Humbert (representative of the Pope) and Patriarch Michael Kirularius anathematized each other, which caused a split in the church into Catholic and Orthodox.

After the capture of Constantinople in 1453, Sultan Mehmed ordered the construction of a Christian temple Muslim mosque, which was named Hagia Sophia. The building was reconstructed, minarets were installed, and a madrasah appeared at the mosque.

In 1847-1849, reconstruction took place in Hagia Sophia; another mihrab was built on the site where emperors had previously prayed.

In 1935, according to Atatürk's decree, Hagia Sophia became the house-museum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, and the layers of plaster that had hidden them were removed from the frescoes and mosaics.

In 2006, Muslim religious ceremonies were resumed in the temple.

Description of St. Sophia Cathedral

The cathedral is located in the historical center of Istanbul in the area of ​​Sultanahmet Square, currently a museum and one of the symbols of the city.

For more than a thousand years, St. Sophia's 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 meters, the diameter of the dome is 31 meters.

Variants of the name of the cathedral:

• Saint Sophia Cathedral
• Hagia Sophia - Wisdom of God
• Saint Sophia of Constantinople
• Hagia Sophia
• Hagia Sophia

Cathedral interiors

The walls of the Hagia Sophia, in addition to marble, are covered with mosaics, for which gold, silver, glass, terracotta and precious stones were used. Inside the cathedral, Byzantine frescoes were preserved due to the fact that they were covered with plaster.

Mihrabs, minbars, maksoorakhs were built in the 16th - 17th centuries during the period Ottoman rule. Interestingly, the mihrab does not stand along the axis of the temple, pointing to the east, but slightly to the side, as it is oriented towards Mecca.

Inside the St. Sophia Cathedral there are attractions:

• Omphalion- the place of coronation of the Byzantine emperors and represents marble circles on the floor of the cathedral;
• Weeping Column- this is a column covered with copper and in which there is a small hole that fulfills wishes;
• "Cold Window"- from which a cold breeze constantly blows.

Hagia Sophia Museum

A museum is organized on the basis of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.

There is a fee to visit the cathedral; the current cost of visiting can be found on the museum’s website.

Museum opening hours:

• summer time: from April 15 to October 1: 09.00 - 19.00

Hagia Sophia is a unique temple that miraculously combines two different, sometimes even contradictory religions: Christianity and Islam. This cathedral concentrates the extensive history of the current Turkish city of Istanbul, and once of Constantinople, the major Orthodox center of Byzantium. What's so remarkable about this popular tourist place?

Name Features

The main attraction of Istanbul has several names, which constantly replaced each other with the advent of one or another government. In the Christian period it was called St. Sophia Cathedral, Hagia Sophia of Constantinople, Hagia Sophia of the Wisdom of God. The meaning of the female name after which the temple was named is very extensive and varied. It can be interpreted as “wisdom”, “mind”, “knowledge”, etc.

With the arrival of Muslims to these lands, the temple began to be called in the Arabic manner Hagia Sophia, which in translation also means Hagia Sophia.

Predecessors

Hagia Sophia was erected on a hill where in former times other temples with the same name stood. Initially, Emperor Constantine I founded a stone basilica with a wooden roof. However, the building was later severely damaged as a result of the popular uprising of 404. The next emperor, Theodosius II, reconstructed the basilica. But new social unrest did not spare the restored shrine and destroyed it. A little later, the construction of the third Sofia began on this site, which managed to withstand and survive all subsequent disasters, including the conquest of the city by the Ottomans, earthquakes and fires.

Wonderful dream

The history of Hagia Sophia begins one and a half millennia ago. There is a mystical legend about the creation of this cathedral. According to it, one night the Byzantine Emperor Justinian had a wonderful dream in which he saw the appearance of the future temple. Some sources indicate that an angel appeared to him with a plan grandiose building. The next morning, the emperor urgently began to look for people capable of turning the divine plan into reality. Over the next five years, almost all of the empire's income was spent on the construction of the Hagia Sophia Cathedral. During construction, only the most best materials, carefully selected, brought from all over the country and from abroad. At some point, Justinian stopped paying salaries to officials and significantly increased taxes. Finally, in 537, the monumental Cathedral of Hagia Sophia of the Wisdom of God was born, which for a millennium was considered the most monumental and large temple the entire Christian world. Descendants still admire its size and grandeur. Indeed, the enormous efforts of the honored architects of their time, Anfemios of Trallet and Isidore of Miletus, Byzantine architects and taxpayers are worth it.

Model of true Christianity

During the era of the formation of various religions, many countries faced an intractable problem: which religion should they follow? It was with this question that the Russian ambassadors arrived in Byzantium. The monumentality and luxury of Hagia Sophia amazed them. Having visited this temple, they were imbued with the power of Orthodox Christianity. Impressed by what they saw, the ambassadors advised Prince Vladimir to convert to this particular religion.

Church split

The Hagia Sophia became the center of the entire Christian world. Here the new rulers of Byzantium legally accepted power from the patriarch. For a long time The most important Christian relic was kept in the cathedral - the Shroud of Turin, the cloth in which the body of the crucified Jesus Christ was wrapped. In 1054, the most important event in the history of Christianity took place at this place. Then Cardinal Humberd handed over the official document of excommunication to Michael Cerularius, Patriarch of Constantinople. So the once integral Christian church split into two parts: Catholic and Orthodox, which gave rise to many disputes, contradictions and clashes.

Change of faith

In the middle of the 15th century, Constantinople fell under the onslaught of the ever-expanding Ottoman Empire. With the coming to power of Sultan Mehmed II, the era of a new religion began for the city, which continues to this day. According to legend, the conqueror was so amazed by the St. Sophia Cathedral that he did not have the courage to destroy it. It was decided to convert the Christian temple into a mosque. Four minarets were added to it, and a thick layer of whitewash was applied to the luxurious mosaics and icons, after which they were hung with camel skins, on which sayings from the Koran were written in golden script. The cross that crowned the dome of the temple was replaced by a crescent. Thus, the Hagia Sophia of the Wisdom of God turned into the Hagia Sophia Mosque, which became the second most important shrine of Islam after the Kaaba.

The four minarets were not built at the same time, which is noticeable from their appearance. The first minaret was wooden, then subsequent rulers erected three more. In the 16th century, several new buildings were added to the mosque: a library, a madrasah (primary school), a beautiful shadirvan (a fountain for ablutions), office premises, the house of imams and, finally, the tomb of the rulers of the Ottoman dynasties.

The Sultans took great care of the safety of the mosque; it was periodically reconstructed and strengthened. In the 19th century, leading Italian restorers were called in to do this and saved the shrine from complete destruction.

Modern temple

In 1934, Kemal Ataturk, the President of Turkey, turned the temple into a museum, which is still open to the public today. Since then, it is not Muslim rituals that have been carried out here, but restoration work. A thick layer of plaster is removed, and visitors are presented with the spiritualized faces of Christian saints, framed by ornate suras of Islam. Relatively recently, this amazing attraction was included in the list World Heritage UNESCO.

Exterior of the cathedral

Hagia Sophia in Istanbul is noticeable from afar, but from the outside the temple looks quite ascetic and blends in with the mosques nearby. First of all, what is striking about this building is its monumentality and massiveness. The area of ​​the building is more than 5000 square meters, the height is 51 meters. All this powerful splendor is crowned by an impressive dome with a diameter of 31 meters.

You can enter the temple from nine gates (a sacred number for Muslims). On the opposite side of the main entrance to the museum are the tombs of the Ottoman sultans. You can watch them for free. There is also an interesting mausoleum of Mehmed III, popularly known as a fighter for justice.

Interior decoration

The main entrance is one of the remarkable places of the temple. More than a thousand years ago, emperors came out from here. The opening is decorated with an interesting mosaic. It depicts the Mother of God with a baby in her arms and two rulers - the emperors Constantine and Justinian. The founder of the city holds in his hands the plan of Constantinople, and the founder of the cathedral holds the plan of the temple.

All the luxury of Hagia Sophia is hidden inside. The size of the former mosque is amazing. Powerful and thick columns supporting the vault seem graceful and sophisticated. Their height is about 25 meters. They all look different, as they were brought from different ancient shrines in Lebanon and Ephesus. The dome itself has many small windows that fill the building with light. It feels as if the structure is floating in the air. The vaults of the temple are decorated with sayings from the Koran, which are adjacent to frescoes and stucco, including the image of the Mother of God.

The walls of the cathedral are lined with golden mosaics. They depict the amazing history of Byzantine art. At first, cathedrals were decorated with ornamental mosaics. Then the decor became more complex, taking on certain forms and plot. With the help of mosaics they began to depict revered saints, and subsequently biblical scenes. Unfortunately, they are not completely preserved. However, even from the fragments one can observe the evolution of Byzantine icon painting, when masters moved from flat images to three-dimensional and deep ones. In the Hagia Sophia Museum you can see a large collection of icons and other items related to Christianity.

The floor is paved with white marble, which visually increases the space even more. On it you can find an omphalion - a colored insert in the marble floor, indicating the place of the traditional coronation of emperors, which is located to the right of the altar, exactly under the center of the dome.

A lot of decorative items indicate the Muslim period of the temple. It is interesting that the minbar (that is, the pulpit) from which the mullah conducted worship was not built on the site of the former altar, but to the southeast. The precepts of Islam require that those praying face Mecca. For this reason, Muslims did not pray in the middle of the temple, but slightly to the side. Today, on the walls next to Christian saints you can see panels with ornate calligraphy from the Ottoman period.

What to see inside

The Hagia Sophia Cathedral in Istanbul has a couple of notable and popular tourist spots. Firstly, you should definitely go up to the second level of the temple, because from there you can see beautiful view for inner splendor. Secondly, if you have enough time, you can stand in line at the “crying” column. It is believed that she fulfills wishes. Previously, there was an icon of Gregory the Wonderworker at this place. Hundreds of pilgrims sought to touch it in the hope of being healed of their ailments. Legend also says that accidentally touching it freed Emperor Justinian from a headache that was tormenting him.

When the temple was turned into a mosque, the icon was removed, after which a small depression remained here. Now this hole shines, because every visitor strives to scroll his finger clockwise through it, making his deepest wish. If the finger becomes wet, it will definitely come true.

Inside the temple there is an unusual “cold” window, from which there is always a cool breeze even on a hot and windless day.

Literary image

The magnificent cathedral was also exalted in poetry, for example in the poem “Hagia Sophia” by I. A. Bunin. Here is its full text:

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!

reference Information

Hagia Sophia in Istanbul is located in the historical district of the city (Sultanahmet). The location is very convenient, because this is where the main attractions of the capital of Turkey are concentrated.

The museum is open every day from 9 to 19 hours in the summer (from April 15 to October 30) and from 9 to 17 hours in winter time. Please note that the temple is closed on such important Muslim holidays as Ramadan and Kurban Bayram.

The entrance fee is 40 Turkish lira (590 rubles).