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Hagia Sophia

Photo by: F H Mira

What is it

It is a former Orthodox patriarchal basilica, later a mosque, and now a museum in Istanbul, Turkey

Where is it

Istanbul, Turkey

Did you know?

It is the fourth largest cathedral in size (more facts)

A little more on Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia, meaning “Holy Wisdom,” is a former Orthodox patriarchal basilica, later a mosque, and now a museum in Istanbul, Turkey. From the date of its dedication in 360 until 1453, it served as the Greek Patriarchal cathedral of Constantinople, except between 1204 and 1261, when it was converted to a Roman Catholic cathedral. The building was a mosque from 29 May 1453 until 1931, when it was secularized. It was opened as a museum on 1 February 1935.

The Church was dedicated to the Logos, the second person of the Holy Trinity, its dedication feast, taking place on December, 53. Although it is sometimes referred to as Sancta Sophia (after Saint Sophia), sophia is the phonetic spelling in Latin of the Greek word for wisdom.

Famous in particular for its massive dome, it is considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture and is said to have “changed the history of architecture.” It was the largest cathedral in the world for nearly a thousand years, until Seville Cathedral was completed in 1520. The current building was originally constructed as a church between 532 and 537 on the orders of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian and was the third Church of the Holy Wisdom to occupy the site.

Source: Wikipedia