Hagia Sophia

"God's Wisdom" : The eternal structure of Byzantine Constantinople

a magnificent Orthodox Patriarchal Basilica built in the sixth century 
on the orders of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian

the Imperial Gate used only by the emperors

over the centuries, the imperial and religious images worked in mosaic
that had decorated the great church during its Christian era
were slowly covered with plaster and painted decorations

in the interest of art, the Turkish government allowed the experts of the Byzantine Institute,
an international body of scholars, to uncover the ancient mosaics,
and the work was begun in 1931 and continued to 1938.
Hagia Sophia was declared a museum

the Apse mosaic features the Blessed Mother with her feet on a bejeweled pedestal, 
with baby Christ on her lap, against a golden background. 
Mary, the Mother of God, was the protectoress of the Great Church of Hagia Sophia and Constantinople. 
She is said to have appeared at a critical time in a  siege in the seventh century 
and in gratitude for deliverance, the city afterwards held her in especial reverence

the dome "as though suspended from heaven by a golden chain"

the temple was so richly and artistically decorated that Justinian proclaimed,
"Solomon, I have outdone thee!"

pillars from Ephesus and chandeliers adorn the interior

marble pillars of great artistic value

frescoes and mosaics

the walls, from the ground up, are covered in identical manner.
Plaques of red, yellow and green marble blend with the mosaics,
and these are further embellished by the capitals, imposts, architraves and friezes

the upper gallery

gigantic circular-framed calligraphy medallions hang on columns

inscribed with the names of Allah, the Prophet Muhammad,
the first four caliphs and the two grandchildren of Mohammed

Sultan's gallery

one of the greatest monuments of Christianity was made a mosque
when the city fell to the Ottoman Turks in 1453

throughout the siege of Polis in 1453, the Holy Liturgy and Prayer of the Hours 
were performed at the Hagia Sophia and the church formed a refuge for many of those 
who were unable to contribute to the city’s defense

trapped in the church, a few of the elderly and infirm were killed and the remainder chained. 
Priests continued to perform Christian rites until stopped by the invaders.  
When Sultan Mehmed II entered the church, 
he insisted it should be at once transformed into a mosque

before that, Hagia Sophia had enjoyed the status as the largest cathedral in the world 
for almost a thousand years until Seville's cathedral was built

Ottoman and Byzantium effects under one great dome

the prophet of God in Muslim religion, Muhammad,
had prophesied that the first Muslim to pray in Hagia Sophia would go to paradise

it remained a mosque until 1935 when it was opened as a museum