An Architectural Masterpiece in Istanbul...

The most important Byzantine architecture found in Istanbul is the churches. The most magnificent of all of the Byzantine churches is the Hagia Sophia.
The earliest of Istanbul's church was constructed during the reign of the Emperor Constantinus in basilica form, with a wooden roof. It was then the cathedral church of the city, and entitled Megala Ekklesia. From the 5th century onwards it became known as the church of Divine Wisdom - Hagia Sophia. The original church was said to have been destroyed by fire during an uprising on 20th June, 404, and was rebuilt during the reign of Theodosius II, and re-opened on 10th October, 415. The second church was destroyed by fire during the Nika uprising in 532, and was completely restored with the support of the Empress Theodora, wife of Justinian after that uprising had been suppressed. The emperor commissioned the architects Anthemius of Tralles and Isidor of Miletos to rebuild it.

Materials were brought from Ephesus, Athens, Rome, and Delphi to be used in the construction of this magnificent building. Eight columns of red porphyry were brought from the Diana Temple at Ephesus. Other marble was obtained from classical sites and from some of the finest marble quarries of the Byzantine world. The work began in 532 AD, and was completed in five years, 11 months and 10 days. The church was consecrated on 26th December, 537 by the Emperor Justinian.

The Hagia Sophia covers an area of 100 x 70 m., and the plan consists of a wide central nave flanked by two smaller naves, an apse, an inner and outer narthex and a central dome reaching 55.6 m. in height, with a diameter of 31-33 meters. The church was considerably damaged by the earthquake of 557 and the nephew of the Architect Isidorus supervised the repair of the structure. Because Byzantium was strongly under the influence of Rome at the time of the construction of the Hagia Sophia, this structure is an amalgam of the magnificence of Roman architecture with the standard church architecture of the Byzantines.

During the Latin invasion of 1204, like the other imperial buildings, St. Sophia was raided and stripped of its finest ornaments, including the doors, which were mistakenly believed to be gold. The building was greatly damaged during this invasion.

The original mosaics of the church were severely damaged by the Iconoclasts, but new mosaics replaced the former in the 9th century after the period of Iconoclasm had disappeared. Besides the religious subjects of the mosaics used to decorate the interior surfaces, the emperor was also used as a subject. Over the main portal to the inner narthex, a mosaic depicts the Virgin Mary holding the Christ child, with the emperors Justinian and Constantine sitting at her sides. Another mosaic over the Emperor's Gate shows Jesus sitting on a throne holding a book with the Emperor Leon VII kneeling before him. Another mosaic of the Madonna enthroned, holding the Christ child; to the right Gabriel, and to the left, Michael, is in the dome of the apse. Portraits of the saints once decorated the semi-circular arched niches below the northern tympanum, only three of these have survived. All these mosaics bear traces of Hellenistic influences. There are also several mosaic "portraits" of other members of the imperial family. Portrait art was very advanced during the Byzantine period.
Access to the galleries of the church is obtained via a stone-paved ramp. The gallery decorated with green columns directly opposite the apses was used by the empress and her retinue during ceremonies. The Deisis mosaic, one of the most famous mosaics in the world is also here. It portrays Christ flanked by the Virgin Mary and St. John the Baptist. This extremely expressive mosaic dates to the 12th century. In the gallery there are two more mosaics, which are also very impressive.

The church had several different restorations. After the conquest of Istanbul, Mehmet the Conqueror had the church restored once again, and converted into a mosque. The four minarets, one on each corner of the building were added at various times during the Ottoman period. After Fatih captured the city this structure was used for worship by Moslems.

It was converted into a museum during the recent Republican period, by order of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, and re-opened on 1st February 1935.