TEMPLE OF SAINT SOPHIA

Hagia Sophia, the Church of Divine Wisdom, one of the most important and most beautiful buildings in the history of world architecture. For all Orthodox Christians, the most important monument of the ancient city is the Cathedral of St. Sophia. Miracle of architecture of the VI century! Let us remind you that, according to Russian legends, it was here that Prince Vladimir the Red Sun sent his ambassadors, who were supposed to tell him whether the Christian religion was good. After, having visited the temple of St. Sophia, they were so cracked by what they saw that they informed Prince Vladimir that they had visited not just a magnificent temple, but paradise. They say that this is what determined the choice of Vladimir and his decision to baptize Russia. Together with the baptism, Russia adopted a great culture. This happened in the 10th century.

HISTORICAL REFERENCE

Hagia Sophia is considered the 4th museum in the world, equal in scale to such masterpieces as the Church of St. Paul in London, San Pietro in Rome and the House in Milan. It should be borne in mind that the oldest of these structures was built approximately 1,000 years after Hagia Sophia. The name Hagia Sophia, one of the 3 epithets addressed to God. These three epithets are defined as follows: Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom), Aya-Irena (Holy Benevolence) and Aya Dynamis (Holy Power).

Around 330, Constantine the Great himself ordered the construction of a temple on the site of today's Hagia Sophia. And in 360, "Megalo Eklesia" was built here, which means "Big Church" which was illuminated by the son of Constantine the Great - Constantius. A fire that broke out on June 20, 404, destroyed the Great Church, as a result of which, on wooden foundation a grandiose structure (404-416), the architect Ruffios designs and builds a new, more stable building, which was ready for attendance by the parishioners on October 10, 416. The construction of a new basilic-type church was financed by the Byzantine emperor Theodosius. The retaining walls, steps and friezes on the pediment of the building in front of today's Hagia Sophia Museum were badly damaged in 532 (January 13-14) as a result of a bloody rebellion called Nika (Victory); the building was completely destroyed by the rebels.

After the suppression of the rebellion, Emperor Justinian, who returned to the throne in 532-537, built a church, which is now open to visitors and tourists. The emperor commissioned the construction of the church to two prominent Anatolian architects of his time: the mathematician Anfemios from Tralles (today's Aydin city) and Isidore from Miletus. Isidore, the famous geometer and mathematician, was probably responsible for the theoretical development of the equilibrium system; Anfimios, however, embodied this system in stone. We know little about Anfimios and Isidore, perhaps the VI century chronicler Procopius called the first of them "the most educated man of his time", and the other - "a man of the highest mind."

Brilliant architects have been working on the architectural plan of the building for 4 months. The work, which began on 23 February 532, lasted 5 years and 10 months.

CONSTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE

Hagia Sophia is to a certain extent a collecting temple, for for its construction the remains of many monumental structures of ancient Greece and Rome were brought. From the Aurelian Temple of the Sun in Rome, for example, porphyry columns were brought, from the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus (the same one that was once set on fire by Herostratus) - columns of green marble, four columns of green granite, taken from the Ephesian port gymnasium, and red porphyry the columns were brought from the Sanctuary of Apollo in Baalbek (modern Lebanon). The marble slabs used in the construction of the church were brought to Istanbul mainly from the marble deposits of Anatolia, as well as from the cities of the Mediterranean basin, from the ancient quarries of Thessaly, Laconia, Caria, Numidia and even from that famous mountain, from Pentelikon near Athens, from whose marble 10 centuries before Hagia Sophia, the Parthenon - Temple of the Virgin Athena was built on the Acropolis, but it is not true that all the precious marble, granite and porphyry columns were broken out of ancient temples:

And for all ages the example of Justinian,
When to kidnap for alien gods
Diana of Ephesus allowed
One hundred and seven green marble pillars.

(Say, he ripped out from the temple of Artemis in Ephesus, echoes Mandelstam's ancient legend.) In fact, most of the columns were carved specifically for St. Sophia. Hagia Sophia was adorned with extraordinary splendor. at some point, Justinian, in a vain impulse, decided to pave the floor with slabs of wrought gold; and even intended to cover all the walls inside the temple with gold, but wise people dissuaded him. Many other miracles are associated with the construction of the temple: lime for it was diluted with barley water, oil was added to the cement, and for top board of the patriarchal throne, material was created that did not exist in the world before (and even now, perhaps, does not exist): they threw gems- rubies, sapphires, amethysts, pearls, topaz, onyx. They say the secrets of the special solution used in construction have never been solved.

Emperor Justinian did not spare any funds for the construction. The construction costs were enormous, they amounted, according to the ancient authors, 320 thousand pounds of gold, i.e. about 130 tons. Hagia Sophia is the most expensive Byzantine building. No wonder Justinian on the opening day of the temple, on Christmas Day December 26, 537, when the work was completed and the parishioners visited the church, standing in the middle of the magnificent temple and raising his hands to the sky, exclaimed: "Thank God, who gave me the opportunity to complete this construction. I have surpassed you, Solomon! " (referring to the biblical Solomon temple; by the way, Justinian called his capital the New Jerusalem).

The third (present) Sofia for 916 years was the cathedral of Constantinople, the main church of the Byzantine Empire and all Orthodox world... After the Turkish conquest, it was turned into a mosque for 481 years and finally, in 1934, it was turned into a museum.

When you enter the church itself, it takes your breath away because it is so large and spacious and so fantastically illuminated (and one must also imagine that the countless windows, because of which the walls seem transparent, were actually even larger by the Turks, some of them were partially blocked) ...

Contrary to the obvious, it is impossible to believe that this entire gigantic structure consists of stone and brick "flesh and blood" - it seems so light and weightless. Actually, the main task of the builders of Sophia was precisely to achieve such an effect - after all, the temple, in theory, should be a semblance of space, that is, it should be something not made by hands, and not the fruit of human efforts. The incredible dome depicts the vault of heaven here, but what supports can the vault of heaven have? Therefore, everything hinting at bodily heaviness is carefully and cunningly hidden, and the dome seems to be really "suspended from a chain to the heavens." All other architectural features of Sophia are subordinated to the idea of ​​divine lightness, which in general is one of the clearest works of world architecture: abstract theological ideas are embodied in it with extraordinary clarity.

The forest of restorers, who have been running into the dome for many years, somewhat spoil the picture. However, as a consolation, you can see that these forests themselves are a real engineering miracle.

The main (and now the only) entrance to the church is from the western side (to the left of it, the remains of the Church of Theodosius are visible). In front of the cathedral there was once a huge atrium courtyard surrounded by colonnades. The central gate of Sofia was used only during great holidays, and even then only the emperor had the right to pass under their arch. On ordinary days, the sovereign entered the cathedral through a special passage directly from the Grand Palace. You can follow his example and enter Sofia from the south, where it says "Exit" (which can be safely ignored). You find yourself in a vaulted corridor, which is called the Lobby of the Warriors: here the emperor left his sword, here his guards remained. On the dark vault of the vestibule, traces of a golden mosaic from the time of Justinian are visible (there were no figurative images in Sofia at that time). Above the door leading further to the narthex, there is a 10th century mosaic of Our Lady with two emperors, Constantine and Justinian. Constantine holds a model of the city he founded, and Justinian holds a model of Sophia (completely different).

From the narthex, nine doors lead to the right, into the temple itself. The central Imperial doors are made, according to legend, from the remains of Noah's ark; the mosaic above them depicts the emperor Leo VI the Wise, on his knees repenting before Christ in his fourth marriage (early 10th century). Only the emperor and neighboring high dignitaries could use these doors. There are deep dents on both sides of the doors in the marble floor slabs. When you realize that these pits have been trampled into the stone by the feet of the guards who have stood at the Imperial doors for hundreds of years, your head is spinning from the physical sensation of time.

The marble wall panels are mostly left over from the days of Justinian. The vaults were completely covered with gold mosaics, and the dome was decorated with a blue cross on a gold background. The miraculous Mother of God and Child in the half-dome of the central apse dates back to 867, and the six-winged seraphim in the eastern sails under the dome date back to the 6th century (their counterparts in the western sails are the work of the 19th century restorers). For some reason, the Turks considered the seraphims to be talismans and did not cover them up (unlike all other mosaics) - they limited themselves to covering their faces with copper masks.

On three sides, the domed space of Sofia is surrounded by choirs - galleries, opening into the center of the temple with arches. The entrance to the choir is at the northern end of the narthex; not a staircase leads up, but a gentle ramp. Along this ramp, the empress could go upstairs in her palanquin, without experiencing the slightest inconvenience. The Empress was accompanied by princesses and maids of honor: in the time of Justinian, choirs were intended exclusively for female half yard. It was a very secular place. The most honorable part of the choir is in the center of the western gallery, directly opposite the altar: a circle of green marble marks the place where the empress's throne stood. In the northern gallery, it is worth looking for the image of Emperor Alexander (912-913) and ancient graffiti on the pillars and parapet - drawings and inscriptions scrawled by parishioners. Among the Greek letters, there are also runes of the 10th century (already on the south side, on the parapet of the balcony): they were carved out during a long service by bored Varangian guards. And in the southern gallery, parts of the magnificent mosaic decoration of the XI-XII centuries have been preserved. Once upon a time, the choirs were completely covered with mosaics on a gold background, but only a few images have survived. In one of them, made around 1044, Empress Zoe and her husband Konstantin Monomakh bow before the throne of Christ. The august couple holds symbols of charity in their hands: a purse with money and a deed of gift. The upper part of the figures is well preserved - the more striking are the roughly repaired cracks around Konstantin's head and Zoya's face. These are traces of alterations: the male figure initially depicted not Constantine, but Zoya's previous husband (there were three of them in total). And the face of the empress herself was broken when her stepson, who passionately hated his stepmother, came to power for a short time. When Zoe, one of the few women who ruled the empire, returned to the throne, the mosaic had to be repaired.

Another imperial portrait, similar in composition, but more schematic, depicts the Mother of God with the Emperor John Comnenus, his wife Irina and son Alexei (circa 1120). But the most beautiful mosaic in the choir (and in general one of the most important works of Byzantine art) is the magnificent Deesis: the image of Christ with the Mother of God and John the Baptist. "Deesis" means "prayer": the Mother of God and John pray to Christ for the salvation of the human race. Bottom part the mosaics were destroyed, according to legend, by the crusaders.

And right opposite the Deisus, under a slab with the Latin inscription "Henricus Dandolo", once lay the body of one of the leaders of the Fourth crusade- the Venetian Doge Enrico Dandolo. He died in Constantinople in 1205 and was buried in the choir of Sophia, which was turned into a Catholic cathedral by the crusaders. When Constantinople was taken by the Turks, Sultan Mehmed ordered to dig up the bones of the old doge and throw them to the dogs.

During the period of "Iconoclasm", in 726, Hagia Sophia, along with other churches in Istanbul, was subjected to significant destruction. Marble slabs with images of saints were damaged and replaced with more primitive cross motifs. In 843, with the end of the "Iconoclasm" period, interest in depicting religious motives was renewed. On June 3, 1453, Sultan Fatih Mehmed, who performed the first big Friday prayer in Hagia Sophia, after the capture of the city, ordered to rebuild it into a mosque, allocating a special monetary fund for this purpose.

They begin to rebuild the church from the extension of the mihrab in the direction of Qibla (the side where they face during prayer is the direction to the Kaaba, then a brick minaret is built in one of the western corners of the mosque; and a courtyard was built on the site of the cells of the priests. Madrasah for 150 students, which has : 12 study rooms, courtyard with a pond Mosaic slabs of the mosque were covered with a thin layer of lime, the wall paintings were scraped off, the cross-shaped horizontal bolts above the double-leaf door were riveted. Thus, the mosque building was easily converted The largest restoration in the history of Hagia Sophia was carried out between 1847 and 1849, during the Ottoman rule, under the direction of two Swiss brothers - the Fossati brothers, Gaspare and Trajano.

ARCHITECTURAL PLAN AND DIMENSIONS OF THE BUILDING

The definition of "Domed Basilica", first used in relation to Hagia Sophia; on the "pandantifs" of the building, images of cherubs were also used for the first time in the (14th century), who glorified him in the history of architecture. The dome, 55.6 m high, is considered one of the most perfect not only in Istanbul and Turkey, but also in the top five tallest domes in the world. After the earthquakes of 553, between 558-562, the dome of the building was rebuilt and enlarged by 6.5 m. Incomplete roundness of the dome is more like an ellipse; dimensions on the first axis 31 m, on the second 33 m. The structure, size 7 570 sq. m, and length. 100 m, has a main part measuring 75 m by 70 m.At the very entrance - Narteksy, 60 m long, 11 m wide.

Nartex

This part of the building, devoid of any ornamentation and decoration, was set aside for preparations for a prayer ritual. The mosaic tiles that adorn the building were brought from various locations. There are also relief images of the 12th century. The increased degree of humidity had a negative effect on the ceiling of the building, on which there are 9 cruciform arches. Three of the nine entrances located in the building were open to the public. The middle, largest entrance belonged to the emperor, and the side ones belonged to the imperial retinue of the highest rank and his entourage.

The coverings of the imperial gold, and the silver coverings of the other two doors, disappeared during the period of the Latin invasion. Above the imperial door is a 9th century mosaic depicting Jesus Christ in the center, St. Mary and the Archangel Gabriel to the right and left of him, and the kneeling emperor Leo VI (886-912) is depicted on the mosaic plate; Jesus blesses people with one hand, with the other he holds a book with the inscription: "I am the world's light." Above the door, under a mosaic panel, there is a metal shrine, and under it there is a throne awaiting Jesus.

Main space (naos)

Following from the inner narthex to main part, the first thing that attracts attention is the pomp of the dome, as if built into the top of the church and completely isolated from the structure. In the center of the dome, surrounded by 40 windows, is the image of Jesus (Byzantine period). After the capture of the city by the Turks, a cover was applied and inscribed with a surah from the Koran. On the triangular pandatives supporting the large dome and between the arcades on the four sides, there are images of winged cherubs. The faces of the cherubim (11 m long) in the form of a lion, an eagle and angels are covered with a polygonal star. On the left, at the entrance on the side wall, under the window there are images: Patriarch of Constantinople (IX century), Ignatius; Patriarch John Grisostomos (IV century) and Antioch (today's Antakya) Patriarch (II century).

To the right and to the left of the main entrance are gigantic marble balls brought here in the 16th century from Pergamum. On the left, at the side suite, there is a "weeping column", or a "sweating column" - a quadrangular column made of marble. There is the following belief: "Weeping Colonna" has a miraculous hole through which you need to draw your finger and draw a circle to make a wish that will certainly come true. The capitals of the columns around the main space are engraved with the monograms of the Emperor Justinian and his wife Theodora. The column called "Basket Capital" is made by hand. Giant posters hang from side walls and corners Arabic... On the right side of the mihrab is Allah, on the left is Muhammad, on the sides are the names of the four caliphs Ebu Bekr, Omar, Osman and Ali; and on both sides of the front door are the names of the prophet Hasan and Hussein's grandsons. These posters (7.5 m) are considered to be the most prominent inscriptions in the Islamic world. The square under the dome, laid out of colored marble, served as the place of the ritual of the coronation of the Byzantine emperors.

The imperial throne is located in the center of the large circle, and the imperial retinue took their places in the smaller circles. The interior of the abscissa, decorated with colored marble slabs during the Ottoman period, contains a mihrab pointing towards the Kaaba and many posters in Arabic script. The mismatch of the center point of the mihrab with the central part of the church building was a consequence of religious custom Muslims performing the namaz ritual, turning their body towards Saint Mecca, i.e., to the southeast of Istanbul. To the left of the abscissa is the mahfil khyunkara (a place reserved for the ruler) dating from the 19th century, and to the right is the mimbar, the pulpit from which the imam reads sermons on the day of Friday prayer. And opposite the mimbar there is a monument of the 16th century, makhfil muedzin, the servant of the mosque, who calls from the minaret to prayer. To the right of the abscissa, at the intersection of the main enfiliad on the right, an image of a handprint dedicated to the Mother of God adorns the wall near the porphyry granite columns. This piece of granite, brought here, previously adorned a monument of the Byzantine period, which is located in Istanbul - Theotokos Church.

On the right, at the right suite, is the Hagia Sophia library, transported here during the reign of Sultan Mahmud 1, in the 18th century. Books lined up on shelves decorated with Iznik ceramics of the rarest work are now exhibited in another museum. The Koran stands exhibited in the same part of the building are very original and arouse great interest among visitors. Above the side door, which during the Byzantine period served as the imperial exit door (today's main entrance), there is a perfectly preserved mosaic. It depicts the Virgin and Child Jesus. Emperor Constantine to her right, Emperor Justinian to her left. In the hands of the Emperor Constantine, the model of the city, and in the hands of the Emperor Justinian - the model of the church. Both structures are dedicated to the ancestors who took their place in the center of the mosaic. Both emperors (the years of their lives in the 4th and 6th centuries) on the mosaic of the 10th century. turned out to be close, bypassing the centuries.

Galleries

A sloping road leading to the upper tier, used for worship for women and church synods, runs through the left side of the suite. The road, which has a special slope, served so that the empress could be carried on a palanquin, and in order to avoid unnecessary shaking while moving around the gallery where the divine service was performed. No significant traces have survived from the northern gallery on the left side of the upper tier. In the middle gallery, located opposite the mihrab, cross-shaped crucifixes made of wood are visible between the arcades. Such crucifixes are found only in the Katerina monastery on the peninsula. The right gallery (from the side of the main entrance), located in the southern part, is a rare example of architectural art.

According to legend, there is an inscription on the marble tablets on the left, which tells about the visit of these places by the Vikings. The carved door at the entrance to the right gallery has the name "Heavenly Gates". The "Paradise Gate" has cross-shaped images on the outside. To the left of the entrance gate is one of the rarest in beauty mosaic tiles: Jesus, St. Mary and John the Baptist. The lower part of the mosaic, which was seriously damaged during the Latin invasion, still has not lost its artistic value, because it consists of small colored slabs that give it great significance. In this famous mosaic, dating back to the 14th century and called "Deesis", which means "supplication", Mary and John, with sad, full of sadness faces, pray to Jesus to send sinners to paradise.

At the end of the gallery there are two more mosaics depicting two emperors with their family, St. Mary and Jesus. One of the mosaics depicts the Virgin and Child Jesus, Emperor Ioannes Komnenos, his Hungarian wife Irene, and their son Alexios on the side wall. In the left mosaic depiction of Jesus, Empress Zoe and her third husband, Emperor Constantine Monomachos, are surrounded. This mosaic depicts the Empress for the first time with her first husband, Romanos III. The mosaic image (XI century) conveys all the changes that took place with the empress at each of her marriage. At the very end of the gallery, if you look at the dome of the abscissa, you can see the mosaic images of the 9th century - the Virgin and Child Jesus with the archangels Michael and Gabriel.

Traces of Turkish rule in the interior of Sofia are, first of all, four huge round shields made of camel skin, suspended under the dome. The inscriptions on them - sayings from the Koran, the names of the first caliphs - are considered to be the largest examples of Arabic calligraphy. Ataturk, having turned Sofia from a mosque into a museum, ordered them to be removed. Immediately after his death in 1938, the inscriptions were hoisted into place.

In the altar apse there was a prayer niche - a mihrab; there are other little things dear to the heart of a Muslim, like huge pot-bellied jugs for ablutions near the entrance. The bronze cage-like structure in the south gallery is a library built in the 18th century. But all these additives remained completely alien to the great temple - as well as four minarets and a month above the dome.

The last liturgy in Hagia Sophia began on the evening of May 28, 1453 and continued throughout the night. When the Janissaries burst into the temple the next day, breaking down the doors, the priest, with a bowl in his hands, miraculously disappeared into a pillar in the northwestern corner of the building.

The annoying guides show next to the altar a spot on the wall that vaguely resembles a palm print. The spot is high: here Mehmed the Conqueror allegedly leaned against the wall when his horse slipped on the blood-stained floor. It is not true. That is, the floor was probably covered in blood, but Mehmed entered Sofia, dismounted and, moreover, sprinkled dust on his turban - as a sign of humility.

Islamic fundamentalists in Turkey are demanding that the authorities turn the museum into a mosque again. On the other hand, Orthodox fundamentalists in Greece are putting forward a counter-demand: that the crescent moon should be immediately thrown down and the cross raised over Sophia again.

Cathedral of Hagia Sophia - the Wisdom of God, Hagia Sophia of Constantinople, Hagia Sophia (Greek Ἁγία Σοφία, in full: Ναός τῆς Ἁγίας τοῦ Θεοῦ Σοφίας; tur. Ayasofya) - former Patriarchal Orthodox Cathedral, later a museum; now a mosque; now world famous monument of Byzantine architecture, a symbol of the "golden age" of Byzantium. The official name of the monument today is the Hagia Sophia Museum (tur. Ayasofya Müzesi).

At the time, the cathedral was located in the center of Constantinople next to the imperial palace. It is currently located in the historical center of Istanbul, Sultanahmet district. After the capture of the city by the Ottomans, St. Sophia Cathedral was turned into a mosque, and in 1935 it acquired the status of a museum. In 1985, St. Sophia Cathedral, among other monuments of the historical center of Istanbul, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

For more than a thousand years, St. Sophia Cathedral in Constantinople remained the largest temple in the Christian world - until the construction of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. The height of the Sophia Cathedral is 55.6 meters, the diameter of the dome is 31 meters.

First buildings

The cathedral was built on the Augusta market square in 324-337 under the Byzantine emperor Constantine I. At Socrates Scholastic, the construction of the first temple, called Sophia, dates back to the reign of the emperor Constantius II. According to N.P. Kondakov, Constance only expanded the building of Constantine. Socrates Scholasticus reports the exact date of the consecration of the temple: "after the elevation of Eudoxius to the episcopal throne of the capital, the great church, known as Sophia, was consecrated, which happened in the tenth consulate of Constance and the third of Julian Caesar, on the fifteenth day of the month of February." From 360 to 380, St. Sophia Cathedral was in the hands of the Arians. Emperor Theodosius I in 380 donated the cathedral to the Orthodox and on November 27, he personally brought into the cathedral Gregory the Theologian, who was soon elected the new archbishop of Constantinople.

This temple burned down during a popular uprising in 404. The newly built church was destroyed by fire in 415. Emperor Theodosius II ordered to build a new basilica on the same site, which was completed in the same year. The Theodosius Basilica burned down in 532 during the Nika uprising. Its ruins were discovered only in 1936 during excavations on the territory of the cathedral.

The Konstantinovsky and Theodosievsky churches were large five-aisled basilicas. Only archaeological finds, which make it possible to judge only about its impressive size and rich marble decoration. Also, based on its ancient descriptions, they conclude that above its side naves were two-tier galleries, similar to the Basilica of St. Irene built simultaneously with it.

Construction history

Was used for the construction the best building material... Marble was brought from Proconnis, Numidia, Karista and Hierapolis. Also, architectural elements of ancient buildings were brought to Constantinople according to the imperial circular (for example, eight porphyry columns taken from the Temple of the Sun were delivered from Rome, and eight columns of green marble from Ephesus). In addition to marble decorations, Justinian, in order to give the temple he was building an unprecedented splendor and luxury, used gold, silver, ivory to decorate it.

The unprecedented and unheard-of splendor of the temple amazed the people's imagination to such an extent that legends were formed about the direct participation of heavenly forces in its construction. One legend, Justinian wanted to cover the walls of Hagia Sophia with gold from floor to vaults, but astrologers predicted that "at the end of centuries very poor kings will come, who, in order to seize all the riches of the temple, will raze it to the ground", and the emperor, who cared about his glory, limited the luxury of construction.

The construction of the cathedral consumed three annual income Byzantine Empire. "Solomon, I have surpassed you!" - these words were said, according to legend, by Justinian, entering the built cathedral and referring to the legendary Jerusalem Temple. The solemn consecration of the temple on December 27, 537 was performed by the Patriarch of Constantinople Mina.

Cathedral after the Ottoman conquest

On May 30, 1453, Sultan Mehmed II, who conquered Constantinople, entered the Hagia Sophia, which was turned into a mosque... To the cathedral added four minarets, and the cathedral turned into the Ayasofya mosque. Since the cathedral was oriented according to the Christian tradition - the altar to the east, the Muslims had to alter it, placing the mihrab in the southeastern corner of the cathedral (direction to Mecca). Because of this alteration in Ayasofia, as in other former Byzantine temples, Muslims praying are forced to position themselves at an angle relative to the main volume of the building. Most of the frescoes and mosaics remained intact, as some researchers believe, precisely because they were plastered over for several centuries.

In the second half of the 16th century, under the sultans Selim II and Murad III, heavy and rough buttresses were added to the building of the cathedral, which significantly changed the appearance of the building. Until the middle of the 19th century, no restoration work was carried out in the temple. In 1847, Sultan Abdul-Majid I commissioned the architects Gaspar and Giuseppe Fossati to carry out the restoration of Ayasofia, which was in danger of collapse. The restoration work lasted for two years.

In 1935, according to the decree of Ataturk, Ayasofya became a museum, and the layers of plaster that hid them were removed from the frescoes and mosaics. In 2006, the museum complex was allocated small room for carrying out Muslim religious rites by the museum staff.

This grandiose architectural structure on the shores of the Bosphorus attracts many tourists and pilgrims from many countries and from different continents every year. They are driven by the awareness of the fact that a simple description of the Temple in Constantinople from a school history textbook does not give a complete picture of this outstanding cultural monument of the ancient world. You must see him with your own eyes at least once in your life.

From the history of the ancient world

Even the most detailed description of the Temple of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople will not provide a complete understanding of this architectural phenomenon. Without sequential consideration of that sequence historical eras, through which he happened to pass, it is unlikely that he will be able to realize the importance of this place. Before it appeared before our eyes in the state in which modern tourists can see it, a lot of water has flowed under the bridge.

This cathedral was originally erected as the highest spiritual symbol of Byzantium, a new Christian state that arose on the ruins of ancient Rome in the fourth century AD. But the history of the Temple of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople began even before the collapse of the Roman Empire into western and eastern parts. This city itself, located on a strategically important border between Europe and Asia, needed bright symbol spiritual and civilizational greatness. Emperor Constantine I the Great understood this like no other. And only in the power of the monarch was to begin the construction of this grandiose structure, which had no analogues in the ancient world.

The date of the foundation of the temple is forever associated with the name and period of the reign of this emperor. Even though the actual authors of the cathedral were other people who lived much later, during the reign of Emperor Justinian. From historical sources, we know two names of these major architects of their era. These are the Greek architects Anthimius of Trall and Isidore of Miletus. They are responsible for the authorship of both the engineering and construction and the artistic part of a single architectural project.

How the temple was built

The description of the Temple of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople, the study of its architectural features and stages of construction inevitably leads to the idea that the original plan for its construction has changed significantly under the influence of various political and economic circumstances. There was no such scale in the Roman Empire before.

Historical sources claim that the date of the founding of the cathedral is 324 years from the birth of Christ. But what we see today began to build about two centuries after that date. From the structures of the fourth century, the founder of which was Constantine I the Great, today only the foundations and individual architectural fragments have survived. What stood on the site of the modern Hagia Sophia was called the Basilica of Constantine and the Basilica of Theodosius. Emperor Justinian, who ruled in the middle of the sixth century, was faced with the task of erecting something new and hitherto unseen.

The fact that the grandiose construction of the cathedral lasted only five years, from 532 to 537, is truly amazing. More than ten thousand workers, mobilized from all over the empire, simultaneously worked on the construction. For this purpose, the best grades of marble from Greece were delivered to the coast of the Bosphorus. The Emperor Justinian did not spare funds for the construction, since not only a symbol of the state greatness of the Eastern Roman Empire was erected, but also a Temple for the glory of God. He was supposed to bring the light of the Christian doctrine to the whole world.

From historical sources

A description of the Temple of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople can be found in the early historical chronicles of the Byzantine court chroniclers. It is clear from them that the grandeur and grandeur of this building made an indelible impression on contemporaries.

Many believed that it was completely impossible to build such a cathedral without the direct intervention of divine forces. The main dome of the greatest Christian world was visible from afar to all sailors in the Sea of ​​Marmara approaching the Bosphorus Strait. It served as a kind of beacon, and this also had a spiritual and symbolic meaning. So it was originally conceived: Byzantine temples were supposed to overshadow everything that was built before them with their grandeur.

Cathedral interior

The overall composition of the temple space is subject to the laws of symmetry. This principle was the most important even in ancient temple architecture. But in terms of its volume and level of interior design, the Temple of Sophia in Constantinople significantly surpasses everything that was built before it. This is exactly the task set before the architects and builders by the Emperor Justinian. By his will, ready-made columns and other architectural elements taken from pre-existing ancient structures were delivered from many cities of the empire for the decoration of the temple. The domed completion was especially difficult.

The grandiose main dome was supported by an arched colonnade with forty window openings that provided overhead illumination of the entire temple space. The altar part of the cathedral was finished with special care; a significant amount of gold, silver and ivory was used to decorate it. According to the testimony of Byzantine historiographers and estimates of modern experts, Emperor Justinian spent several annual budgets of his country only on the interior of the cathedral. In his ambitions, he wanted to surpass the Old Testament king Solomon, who erected the Temple in Jerusalem. These words of the emperor were recorded by court chroniclers. And there is every reason to believe that the Emperor Justinian managed to carry out his intention.

Byzantine style

Hagia Sophia, a photo of which is currently adorned with advertising products of many travel agencies, is a classic embodiment of imperial architecture. This style is easily recognizable. With its monumental grandeur, it certainly goes back to the best traditions of imperial Rome and Greek antiquity, but it is simply impossible to confuse this architecture with something else.

Byzantine temples can be easily found at a considerable distance from historical Byzantium. This direction of temple architecture is still the predominant architectural style throughout the territory, where the Orthodox branch of world Christianity has historically dominated.

These structures are characterized by massive domed endings above the central part of the building and arched colonnades below them. The architectural features of this style have been developed over the centuries and have become an integral part of Russian temple architecture. Today, not even everyone knows that its source is on the shores of the Bosphorus Strait.

Unique mosaics

Globally recognized classics visual arts icons and mosaic frescoes from the walls of the Hagia Sophia have become. In their compositional constructions, the Roman and Greek canons of monumental painting are easily seen.

The frescoes of the Hagia Sophia were created over two centuries. Several generations of masters and many icon painting schools worked on them. The mosaic technique itself has a much more complex technology compared to the traditional tempera painting on raw plaster. All elements of mosaic frescoes were created by masters according to only one known rules, which were not allowed for the uninitiated. It was both slow and very costly, but the Byzantine emperors did not spare funds for the interior of the Temple of Hagia Sophia. The masters had nowhere to rush, because what they created had to survive for many centuries. A particular difficulty in creating mosaic frescoes was created by the height of the walls and roofing elements of the cathedral.

The viewer was forced to see the figures of the saints in a complex perspective reduction. Byzantine icon painters were the first in the history of world fine art who had to take this factor into account. Before them, no one had such experience. And they coped with the task with dignity, this can today be attested by many thousands of tourists and pilgrims who annually visit the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.

During the long period of Ottoman rule, the Byzantine mosaics on the walls of the temple were covered with a layer of plaster. But after the restoration work carried out in the thirties of the twentieth century, they appeared in their almost original form. And today, visitors to the Temple of Hagia Sophia can observe Byzantine frescoes depicting Christ and the Virgin Mary interspersed with calligraphic quotations of suras from the Koran.

The restorers also treated the heritage of the Islamic period in the history of the cathedral with respect. It is also interesting to note the fact that some Orthodox saints in mosaic frescoes were given a portrait resemblance by icon painters to the ruling monarchs and others. influential people of his era. In the following centuries, this practice will become common in the construction of cathedrals in the largest cities of medieval Europe.

Cathedral vaults

St. Sophia Cathedral, the photo of which is taken away from the shores of the Bosphorus by tourists, acquired its characteristic silhouette, not least thanks to the grandiose domed completion. The dome itself has a relatively low height with an impressive diameter. This ratio of proportions will later be included in the architectural canon of the Byzantine style. Its height from the level of the foundation is 51 meters. It will be surpassed in size only in the Renaissance, during the construction of the famous in Rome.

Two domed hemispheres located to the west and east of the main dome give special expressiveness to the vault of St. Sophia Cathedral. With its outlines and architectural elements they repeat it and, as a whole, create a single composition of the vault of the cathedral.

All these architectural discoveries of ancient Byzantium were subsequently used many times in temple architecture, during the construction of cathedrals in the cities of medieval Europe, and then around the world. In the Russian dome of the Hagia Sophia, it was very vividly reflected in the architectural appearance in Kronstadt. Like the famous temple on the shores of the Bosphorus, it was supposed to be visible from the sea to all sailors approaching the capital, thereby symbolizing the greatness of the empire.

End of Byzantium

As you know, any empire reaches its heyday, and then moves towards degradation and decline. This fate did not escape Byzantium either. The Eastern Roman Empire collapsed in the middle of the fifteenth century under the weight of its own internal contradictions and the growing onslaught of external enemies. The last Christian service in the Temple of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople took place on May 29 This day was also the last for the capital of Byzantium itself. The empire that existed for almost a thousand years was defeated on that day under the onslaught of the Ottoman Turks. Constantinople also ceased to exist. Now it is the city of Istanbul, for several centuries it was the capital of the Ottoman Empire. The conquerors of the city broke into the temple at the time of the service, brutally dealt with those who were there, and mercilessly plundered the treasures of the cathedral. But the Ottoman Turks were not going to destroy the building itself - the Christian temple was destined to become a mosque. And this circumstance could not but affect external appearance Byzantine Cathedral.

Dome and minarets

During the Ottoman period, the appearance of the Temple of Hagia Sophia underwent significant changes. The city of Istanbul was supposed to have a cathedral mosque corresponding to the status of the capital. The temple building that existed in the fifteenth century did not meet this goal perfectly. Prayers in the mosque should be performed in the direction of Mecca, while the Orthodox church is oriented with the altar to the east. The Ottoman Turks carried out the reconstruction of the temple they inherited - they added rough buttresses to the historical building to strengthen the load-bearing walls and built four large minarets in accordance with the canons of Islam. Hagia Sophia Cathedral in Istanbul became known as the Hagia Sophia Mosque. A mihrab was built in the southeastern part of the interior, thus, Muslims praying had to be positioned at an angle to the axis of the building, leaving the altar part of the temple on the left.

In addition, the walls of the cathedral with icons were plastered. But this is what made it possible to restore the authentic paintings of the walls of the temple in the nineteenth century. They are well preserved under a layer of medieval plaster. Saint Sophia Cathedral in Istanbul is also unique in that in its external appearance and in its internal content, the heritage of two great cultures and two world religions - Orthodox Christianity and Islam - has been intertwined in a bizarre way.

Hagia Sophia Museum

In 1935, the building of the Hagia Sophia mosque was removed from the category of cult. This required a special decree of Turkish President Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. This progressive step made it possible to put an end to the claims to the historical building of representatives of different religions and confessions. The Turkish leader was also able to indicate his remoteness from different kinds clerical circles.

The state budget financed and carried out work on the restoration of the historic building and the area around it. The necessary infrastructure has been equipped to receive a large flow of tourists from different countries... At present, the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul is one of the most important cultural and historical attractions in Turkey. In 1985, the temple was included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List as one of the most significant material objects in the history of the development of human civilization. It is very easy to get to this attraction in the city of Istanbul - it is located in the prestigious Sultanahmet district and is noticeable from afar.

Saint Sophie Cathedral in Constantinople, it is the most beautiful building that survived a fire, earthquake and vandalism by rioters, but each time it literally rose from the ashes and was and remains the most magnificent monument that mankind has seen.
He became the pinnacle of Byzantine architecture and for many centuries determined the development of architecture in the countries of Western and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Caucasus. This temple is one of the most ancient and majestic buildings related to the Christian religion.

Hagia Sophia in Constantinople

The meaning of the popular female name Sophia is interpreted as "wisdom". It was worn by the Christian Saint Sophia, who lived in the XII century - her memory is celebrated on May 15. Sophia - many are dedicated to the wisdom of God Orthodox churches, among which the most famous is Hagia Sophia in Constantinople - the main temple of the Byzantine Empire.
The main builders of the temple are called Isidore of Miletus and Anthimia of Trall, both from Asia Minor. This temple was intended primarily to create the image of the majestic emperor. About ten thousand workers worked on the construction of the cathedral every day. From all parts of the empire, blocks of marble, gold, silver, ivory, pearls, and precious stones were delivered. All the best that was in them was brought from the ancient ancient temples. Snow-white marble was delivered from Prokonese, green marble from Karithos, red from Yasos, and pink from Phrygia.

1. Entrance 2. Imperial Gate 3. Weeping Column 4. Mihrab Altar 5. Minbar 6. Sultan's Lodge 7. Omphalos (navel of the earth) 8. Marble urns from Pergamum a) Baptistery of the Byzantine era (tomb of Sultan Mustafa 1) c) Sultan's minarets Selima 2

During the construction of the temple, completely new materials were used. For example, oil was added to cement, lime was prepared using barley water, but another material deserves special attention: the most precious things - pearls, topaz, rubies and sapphires - were used for its production. Even the floor of the temple is made of precious and semi-precious stones - marble, jasper, porphyry. All of them are laid out in the form of some kind of pattern.

In 1204 Hagia Sophia suffered from the attacks of the Crusaders. Part of the wealth was exported to European countries For example, a magnificent altar made of pure gold was taken out of the sanctuary, its further history is still unknown.

Hagia Sophia in Constantinople

During the conquest of Constantinople by the Turks (in 1453), a difficult fate awaited the temple. The temple, at the behest of Mahmed II Fatih, was turned into the Hagia Sophia mosque. The temple was seriously damaged: all animals and people on the frescoes and mosaics were covered with lime, since according to Muslim canons they should not be depicted. The cross was replaced with a crescent, 4 minarets were added. The Sultan's bed and tombs appeared. On eight large shields, the name of Allah, the Prophet Muhammad and the first caliphs was inscribed in gilding.

Here is how the Byzantine chronicler Procopius writes about the temple: “This temple is a wonderful sight ... It soars up to the sky, standing out from other buildings, like a boat in the stormy waves of the open sea ... It is all full of sunlight, it seems as if it is the temple itself emits this light. "

The dimensions of the temple: length - 81 meters, width - 72 meters, height - 55. The most spectacular part of the structure is its dome. In shape, it is close to a circle, with a diameter of almost 32 meters. For the first time, sails were used for its construction - curved triangular arches. The dome is supported by 4 pillars, and itself is formed by 40 arches with windows carved into them. Light entering these windows creates the illusion that the dome is floating in the Air. The inner space of the temple is divided into 3 parts - naves, with the help of columns and pillars.

Above the doors in front of the entrance there is still a mosaic of 4 figures - Mary with the baby, Constantine the Great to her right, and Justinian to her left. It is completely incomprehensible how it survived after the temple was turned into a mosque.

The walls of the temple are made of multi-colored marble, separated from each other by borders. They say that once there was even an idea to cover the top of the temple with thin gold. Now the walls are covered with an elaborate pattern. On one of the walls there is a picture of a hand. According to one of the legends, this is the handprint of the hand of Sultan Ahmed, who was riding his horse, and it reared up. In order not to fall, the sultan had to lean on the wall of the temple.

Mosaic. Archangel Gabriel
Hagia Sophia in Constantinople

Many believe that the Hagia Sophia was built and opened at the end of the 10th century, on May 13, 994. However, his story begins even earlier. Many times the built temples were destroyed, as if some higher power contributed to this. The temple was subjected to significant destruction 8 times, and in 989 it was almost completely destroyed with all the frescoes.

History Hagia Sophia begins in the distant 360 year. The first temple of Hagia Sophia was burned down and collapsed in 404. But it was reopened in 415. Then the temple was demolished by Emperor Justinian on January 13-14, 532. In its place, a new, most grandiose Christian temple of antiquity of all times and peoples was erected in five years. It was opened on December 27, 537. Moreover, there were no mosaics in it for several hundred years.

Earthquakes in August 553 and December 14, 577 partially destroyed the building. And on May 7, 558, the main dome and the entire roof collapsed completely. At the same time, all the interior decoration and decoration of the temple were also destroyed. Four years later, on December 23, 562, the temple was reopened.

In 859, the cathedral was again seriously damaged by a strong fire; on January 8, 869, the temple was destroyed by an earthquake. It took six years to fully rebuild, and on May 13, 994, Hagia Sophia reopened. It is not surprising, but 4 years after the opening of the new building, it was almost lost as a result of a severe fire (already the third), but this time the temple was saved.

Thus, the Hagia Sophia is about a thousand years old, as are the frescoes on its walls and ceilings. These frescoes depict contemporaries of biblical events that took place at the turn of the first millennium, 10 centuries ago.

Mosaic. John Chrysostom
Hagia Sophia in Constantinople

The temple of Hagia Sophia has been reconstructed since 1934. Today it is the main attraction of Istanbul, a symbol of Byzantine art that influenced.

Even contemporaries, the temple of Hagia Sophia makes a great impression. What can we say about the people of the Middle Ages! That is why many legends were associated with this temple. In particular, it was rumored that the plan of the building was handed to Emperor Justinian by the angels themselves when he was sleeping. And some were afraid of this temple. This was already associated with the difficult fate of his predecessors.

There is one famous landmark in Hagia Sophia - the so-called fogging column. They say that if you touch it with a sore spot, it will go away immediately.

There is another mystery of the Hagia Sophia: in its right part there is a niche, from the wall of which a light noise is heard. According to legend, when Turkish troops invaded Constantinople, 1000 believers hid in the church. When the Turks broke into the temple, the priest continued to read the prayer. Swords were already ready to pierce the old man, but suddenly the wall of the niche opened and hid the priest. Legend claims that the priest is still reading a prayer there, and when the Hagia Sophia becomes Christian again, he will leave the wall and continue the service. You can read about other wonders of the world under the heading ““.

Hagia Sophia, or Aya Sophia, is the main attraction of Istanbul and one of the oldest Christian churches that have come down to us almost completely intact. This building has gained world fame due to its enormous size, age and architectural splendor. Aya Sofia is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Aya Sofia inside.


The history of Hagia Sophia begins in the 6th century, when it was built in its present form by the Emperor Justinian. The figure is monstrously ancient and unlikely, since, as the story goes, for almost a thousand years that followed, advanced Byzantine architects did not build anything comparable in size. Then the city was conquered by “illiterate” Turks and huge mosques suddenly began to grow like mushrooms after rain ... No, we don't need such a story.


Moreover, for some reason, these mosques are stylistically very similar to the Byzantine architecture of that ancient time, including Hagia Sophia. As if this thousand years did not exist. It is often difficult to immediately determine what is shown in the photo: Aya Sophia or some of the large mosques of the 15-17 centuries, of which there are many in Istanbul.


Historians will also say that Hagia Sophia was built two centuries earlier by Constantine the Great. But then this cathedral burned down, then it was rebuilt and it burned down again, etc. However, this has nothing to do with what we see today.


The dimensions of the cathedral are amazing. Its height is 55 meters, and the diameter of the dome is 31 meters. Before the construction of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome in the 16th century, Hagia Sophia was the largest Christian church in the world - for a thousand years! See how it rises above the landscape, how small the figures of people seem.


When the construction of the cathedral was completed, Justinian allegedly exclaimed: “Solomon, I have surpassed you!”. This refers to the legendary biblical temple built by Solomon in Jerusalem. This, of course, is a tale, but the mention of King Solomon, famous for his wisdom, is very curious. Especially in relation to the temple of Wisdom (Greek “Sophia” - wisdom).


It should be noted that the results of biblical archeology in Palestine are zero. And there is no Solomon's temple in Jerusalem, just as there is not even a trace of it. Therefore, it is obvious that the geography of the Holy Land is incorrect and one should look not there, but elsewhere. For example - on the territory of ancient Constantinople, in which in the Middle Ages were located almost all the old and New Testament artifacts. Including the temple, which amazed contemporaries with unprecedented grandeur and splendor.


An interesting hypothesis was put forward by Academician A.T. Fomenko, who identified the Jerusalem Temple of Solomon with the Hagia Sophia. According to this hypothesis, it was built by Sultan Suleiman and, of course, much later than is commonly believed. Incomprehensible and obscure passages in the Bible describing the construction of the temple acquire clarity and meaning in the light of this theory.


A huge pile of money was spent on the construction of Hagia Sophia. Used in interior decoration precious metals and it literally shone with gold. This moment, by the way, takes place in the descriptions of the construction of both the Temple of Solomon and the mosque of Suleiman the Magnificent. But it is confirmed only in Aya Sophia.


It is difficult to say exactly in what year the Turks covered all the walls of the cathedral with plaster, thus covering the magnificent mosaics and frescoes from the eyes of the worshipers. Only in the 20th century was the plaster removed, and these masterpieces of Byzantine art appeared to the world.


Ceiling in one of the galleries.

The main part of the temple.

Tourists-ants swarm below. Unfortunately, almost half of the cathedral inside was in scaffolding.


Let me remind you of the history of the cathedral and Constantinople. In 1204, the city was captured by the crusaders, who had as their goal to conquer Jerusalem. The crusaders plundered the city, and Hagia Sophia was no exception. Among many trophies, the soldiers of the cross took away from the cathedral the famous shroud, which later became known as Turin.


In 1453, the Turks conquered Constantinople and turned the cathedral into a mosque. Nowadays Sofia is a museum. On huge round shields depicts words from the Quran.

Handprint of Sultan Mehmed II, who conquered Constantinople. Of course, it doesn't look very much like a palm, but there is such a legend. When Sultan Mehmed, after storming the city, rode into the cathedral on horseback, he leaned his hand on the column. And since his horse was walking along the mountain of corpses, the print was high from the floor.

Column with the sultan's palm print.


In 1054, within the walls of the Cathedral of Hagia Sophia, the papal legate handed the letter of excommunication to the Patriarch of Constantinople. This date is considered to be the date of separation. christian church to the Catholic, with the center in Rome, and the Orthodox, with the center in Constantinople.


By the way, the fact that Constantinople was the second Rome is also, perhaps, a historical lie. Having visited both Rome and Istanbul-Constantinople, I noticed that the ancient architecture in the second is more archaic, more often stone, with uneven masonry, with poorly maintained geometry. In Rome, even older buildings are made of standard brick, smoother and more architecturally complex, which may indicate a later time of construction than in Constantinople.


Therefore, perhaps the first Rome was Constantinople. Even its very name “Constantine's City” can be translated as “Eternal City” (Latin “constant” - constant, unchanging) - allegedly so from ancient times they called Italian Rome. For a run-down town like Rome in the Middle Ages, such a name is not clear, but in the case of huge Constantinople, everything is clear.

Even the famous phrase “All roads lead to Rome” can only refer to Rome on the Bosphorus, as a city standing at the intersection of many trade routes, both land and sea. In general, no roads lead to Italian Rome, by and large, it is not even a port city. In general, here it is clearly Catholic Church attributed the glory and rich history of Constantinople to her home.


But back to Hagia Sophia. In the photo: traces of former beauty.

The entrance to Aya Sophia, of course, is paid. The ticket costs 25 lira - about 10 euros. There are many who wish: one line at the ticket office, the other - actually to the entrance to the cathedral. You can walk inside as much as you want, but to be honest, there is not much to look at - you can see for yourself. Everything is monotonous and ascetic. Due to repeated looting, periods of iconoclasm and the rule of the Turks, little remained of the interior. The spirit of history and size - it is, of course, impressive and exciting.


A few more photos of Aya Sophia.