Notes on Hagia Sophia: History and Transformation

Introduction

• Location: On a hill overlooking the Sea of Marmara and the Bosphorus in Istanbul
• Built in 537, considered one of the world's most important monuments
• Current status: Houses prayers while remaining open for visitors

Historical Timeline

• First Hagia Sophia (360):

  • Commissioned by Byzantine Emperor Constantius II
  • Wooden roof; destroyed in riots

• Second Hagia Sophia (415):

  • Built by Theodosius II as a grand marble structure
  • Destroyed during the Nica Revolt in 532
  • Some fragments still exist today

• Current Hagia Sophia (537):

  • Constructed during Emperor Justinian I's reign
  • Exclaimed he surpassed King Solomon in building it
  • Remained the world's largest church for nearly a thousand years

Transformation into a Mosque

• Conquest by Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II (1453):
  • Hagia Sophia repurposed as a mosque
  • Name retained; mosaics covered with plaster
  • Islamic features added (minarets, mihrab)
  • Served as the principal mosque until 1616

Conversion to Museum

• 1931:

  • Thomas Whitmore, founder of the Byzantine Institute, gained permission from Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
  • Oversaw removal of plaster covering Byzantine mosaics

• 1935:

  • Official conversion ordered by Atatürk and the Turkish Assembly of Ministers
  • Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • Became Turkey's most popular tourist attraction (3.8 million visitors in 2019)

Recent Developments

• Growing calls for Hagia Sophia to revert to a mosque
• Court hearing (July 2):
  • Decision made to allow prayers to resume, converting it back into a mosque while still open to visitors

Statements from Turkish President Erdogan

• Emphasized preservation of Hagia Sophia's historical, cultural, and sentimental value
• Noted existence of 435 churches and synagogues in Turkey for Christian and Jewish worship

Conclusion

• Hagia Sophia continues to be a significant site reflecting both Christian and Islamic history.