ST SOPHIA AGIA SOPHIA - ISTANBUL CHURCHES

St. Sophia - Chora church- St. Mary Diakonissa ******************************************************** H Agia Sophia or Saint Sophia. The Greek name in full is *Ναός τῆς Ἁγίας τοῦ Θεοῦ Σοφίας* Church of the Holy Wisdom of God, it was dedicated to the Holy Wisdom of God rather than a specific saint named Sophia. It is one of the greatest surviving examples of Byzantine architecture. Of great artistic value was its decorated interior with mosaics and marble pillars and coverings. The temple itself was so richly and artistically decorated that Justinian proclaimed, "Solomon, I have outdone thee!" *Νενίκηκά σε Σολομών*. Justinian himself had overseen the completion of the greatest cathedral ever built up to that time, and it was to remain the largest cathedral for 1000 years. It is an enormous and magnificent structure with an extremely large dome which dominates the exterior of the building. The Architectural style of this Byzantine Temple is domed basilica. Its architects were Anthemius from Tralles and Isidorus from Miletus. In 1453, Constantinople was conquered by the Ottoman Turks and Sultan Mehmed II ordered the Chrisian Temple to be converted into a mosque. The bells, altar, iconostasis, and sacrificial vessels were destroyed, and many of the Mosaics were eventually plastered over. The Islamic Features such as the mihrab, the minbar, and the four Minarets outside were added over the course of its history under the Ottomans. For almost 500 years the principal mosque of ...