Hagia Sophia

The church of Hagia Sophia, dedicated to the Wisdom of God[1], a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture, is still one of the symbols of the city of Istanbul. Located near the Topkapı Palace and the Sultan Ahmed Mosque in the historical centre, in the past it stood near the first Byzantine imperial palace, known as the “Great Palace”.

The first church on this site was built under Constantius II (337–61) and consecrated in 360; it became a cathedral, replacing Hagia Eirene[2] in this role. The church, damaged in 404, was restored then consecrated again in 415 under Theodosius II (408–50). It was greatly damaged once again by a fire in 532, during the Nika revolt[3]. It was on this occasion that Emperor Justinian (527–65) ordered the construction of a new church, which survives to this day and which the Byzantines called the “Great Church” more often than not.

The construction of the building was entrusted to the architects Isidorus of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralles. Their design was inspired by the structures of pre-existing churches of the basilican type and those with centralised plans. However, they elaborated a church, whose dimensions could not be compared with contemporary religious buildings, of a completely new type and that would never be reproduced in Byzantine architecture. The church, consecrated in 537, was thus completed less than six years after the fire of 532.

The building is characterised by its imposing interior volume – the result of the construction of a dome over 30 metres in diameter[4]. The thrusts engendered by the dome are transferred by pendentives and the four large arches on four enormous piers along with secondary piers. The square drum of the dome is buttressed by semi-domes to the east and west. The central nave, which is very wide and dominated by the monumental dome, is flanked by two narrower naves to the north and south. The church has two narthexes, as well as galleries. An atrium – a courtyard with porticoes – now disappeared, stood in front of the church to the west.

In 558 part of the dome, as well as the east semi-dome and its supports, weakened by earthquakes, collapsed. Justinian’s church was then restored for the first time; it was decided to rebuild the dome entirely and it was raised nearly 7 metres. Major repairs were carried out several times during the Byzantine eras. The dome had to be partially rebuilt twice. However, the overall appearance of the church’s interior was preserved. On the exterior, the successive reinforcements gradually modified the building’s appearance.

Although the Byzantine Empire had collapsed and the Ottoman Turks had taken possession of the capital in 1453, Hagia Sophia was still the city’s most imposing monument. The building, which greatly impressed the conquerors, was soon adopted by Mehmed II (1444–46 and 1451–81), who transformed it into a mosque. The former church became the symbol of the triumph of Islam and the Ottomans. A first wooden minaret, then a second masonry one were erected.

The most extensive works undertaken by the Turks in Hagia Sophia took place during the reigns of Selim II (1566–74) and Murad III (1574–95), between 1572 and 1574. The wooden minaret of Mehmed II was rebuilt in brick and two additional minarets were added. Once again, Hagia Sophia had to be reinforced. These works were overseen in part by the great architect Sinan.

Finally, the building was secularised and turned into a museum in 1934 by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder and first president of the Republic of Turkey.

[2] “Divine Peace” in Greek.

[3] The Nika revolt, which took place between 11 and 19 January 532, bears the name of the slogan, which means “Victory”, chanted at the time. The revolt almost cost the emperor his throne.

[4] Because of the deformation of the structure during the construction of the church, the dome is elliptical. It measures 31 metres along the east-west axis and approximately 32 metres according to the north-south axis.