The Must-see Most Striking Churches in the World 2

This is the second article in a two-part piece.

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey

Hagia Sophia Church or Holy Wisdom is the mother church of all Eastern Christians of the Byzantine built in the 6th century. It is one of the most outstanding buildings that played an important role during the reign of Byzantine Empire as well as its role as a mosque in Ottoman Empire. It is the second oldest church ever constructed in the Bulgarian capital Sofia. In Greek, “Hagia” means “Divine” while “Sophia” means “Wisdom” and “Divide Wisdom” is one of the attributes of Jesus Christ to which his divine wisdom is devoted for this church. It was first called the Great Church or “Megala Ekklessia” as it was the largest church in Constantinople at that time. Socrates, the historian indicated that this church was then named Sophia during the reign of Emperor Constantius. It was first constructed in 360 during the reign of the Eastern Roman Emperor Constantinus, son of Emperor Constantine, who had liberated the Christian faith from centuries of persecution. However, it was burnt in 404 by mobs during the riots, when Emperor Arcadius sent the Patriarch of Constantinople, John Chrysostom, into exile for his open criticism of the Empress. By October, 405, the Emperor Theodosius built a new church in the same place but it was destroyed in the fire. Then, Emperor Justinian I who was a strong believer of Christianity made the third and last church in 537 to enlarge the scope of Christianity. In 1935, Hagia Sophia was turned into a museum and it is opened to the public for a visit. Now, the Hagia Sophia Church is regarded as one of the most elegant, austere and symmetrical architecture of Early Christian in South-eastern Europe, as well as one of the Turkey's most popular museums.

When Turks conquered Istanbul On Tuesday, May 29, 1453, Sultan Mehmet was amazed at the beauty of Hagia Sophia Church and decided to convert the church into his imperial mosque, a place of Islamic worship. During the reign of Ottoman, the original twelfth-century frescoes were destroyed and four minarets were added on the corners of the main edifice in the different periods. The frescoes and mosaic figures of Christian saints on the walls were shaded with plaster as the Islamic code forbids figural representation. The mosque was carpeted and the pulpit (minber) was placed on all the southern part of the church. As it was used as a mosque for nearly 500 years, many Islamic structures such as the fountain (sadirvan), mausoleum (turbe), preacher's pew (muezzin mahfili), soup-kitchen (imare), a library and a primary school (mekteh-I sibyan) were added during the Turkish era, giving Hagia Sophia a mosque-like appearance. In the 19th century, one of the minarets was destroyed by two earthquakes and later the mosque was abandoned until the restoration work was carried out after 1900. Hagia Sophia was served as a mosque until Mustafa Kemal Ataturk ordered the change of its status to a museum on February 6, 1935. In 1929, the plasters were removed and it was reopened as a museum in 1940s.

The church measures 77x 79m and contains nine gospel-books, two of which remain in the church for the use of the priests while the rest are kept in the Skeuophylakion. A total of 600 persons are assigned to serve in Hagia Sophia, of which 80 of them are priests, 150 deacons, 60 subdeacons, 25 chanters, 160 readers, 40 deaconesses and 75 doorkeepers.

From the main gate of the church, visitor passes through two different narthexes (entrance) and the red building is relatively huge and vast with its splendid dome. There is also a big bronze gate situated in the second entry hall (endonarthex) which was believed to be built during the reign of Justinian I. There is a mosaic on the apse dating from 9th century right above the gate, depicting Jesus Christ in its middle, Blessed Virgin on the left hand side and on right is Angel Gabriel. The depiction of Emperor Leo VI can also be found in the mosaic.

In the interior of the church, one can see the most remarkable feature of a 56m big central dome decorated with Arabic calligraphic writings during the reign of Ottoman. The dome is supported by four massive piers, with each measuring approximately 100 square meter at its base. While walking into the church, visitor can see a square which was “Coronation Square” during the reign of the Byzantium Emperors. There is the “Library of Mahmud I” on the right wing of the church. The nave of the church is beautiful with a pulpit on its left. On the left of the nave, there was a secret lodge for prayer ceremonies of the Ottoman Sultans called “Lodge of the Sultan.”