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After Nika Riot, Byzantine Emperor, Justinian
the Great ordered for the construction of a new church with unrivalled
dimensions. Two great architects and scholars of the empire were chosen for the
task: Isodorus of Miletus and Antemius of Tralles who prepared the plan of a
revelosionary structure for which nearly ten thousand workers worked about six
year under the supervision of hundred master masons and these two genious
architects. This amazing building was opened to public in 29 December 537 AD.
During the opening ceremony, Emperor Justinian, just considering his church was
superior than Solomon's temple in Jerusalem, uttered his historical words:
"Thanks to Lord, I passed you, oh
Solomon."
Saint Sophia served as church for Ortodox
Faith up to 1453 except the years between 1204 and 1261when the city was under
the Latin Invasion and the church became Roman Catholic Church admisitered by
the Venetian Clergy. After the conquest of Constantnople, Ottoman Sultan ordered
for the convention of the church into a mosque. Ayasofya Mosque served as a
mosque for the Muslim population during Ottoman centuries till 1932. After the
major restoration work in 1930', Saint Sophia started serving as Museum.
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History
Visiting
Mosaic of Justinian
Upper Gallery
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