Hagia Sophia. Temple of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople Hagia Sophia

The Church of Hagia Sophia was built under Emperor Justinian. He was one of the most famous rulers of Byzantium, coming to power in 527. His name is associated with many actions that led to the power of the Byzantine Empire - the creation of a code of laws, the expansion of territory, the construction of palaces and temples. But the most famous temple in Constantinople is perhaps the Hagia Sophia.

Hagia Sophia in Constantinople, the Cathedral Church of Hagia Sophia, Hagia Sophia, the Great Church - this interesting building has many names. At one time, there were many legends surrounding the erected temple about the resources expended, but they all paled in comparison with reality.

Construction of the cathedral

The idea alone exceeded all possible goals - the Temple of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople was supposed to be better than the famous Temple of King Solomon in Jerusalem. For five years (532-537), ten thousand workers worked to build a new symbol of Constantinople. The temple was made of brick, but much more expensive material was used for decoration. Ornamental stone, gold, silver, pearls, precious stones, and ivory were used here. Such investments greatly tightened the treasury of the empire. Eight columns were brought here from the famous Temple of Artemis at Ephesus. The whole country worked to build this miracle.

By the time the construction of the Hagia Sophia temple in Istanbul began, Byzantine craftsmen already had experience in constructing similar structures. Thus, the architects Anthimius of Thrall and Isidore of Miletus completed the construction of the Church of Sergius and Bacchus in 527. It was they who were destined by fate to become the builders of a great legend, a symbol of the greatness and power of the empire.

floating dome

The building's plan has a rectangle with sides 79 meters by 72 meters. The height of the Church of Hagia Sophia along the dome is 55.6 meters, the diameter of the dome itself, “hanging” above the temple on four columns, is 31.5 meters.

Hagia Sophia in Istanbul was built on a hill, and its position stood out from the general background of the city. Such a decision amazed his contemporaries. Its dome stood out especially, visible from all sides of the city, and standing out in the dense buildings of Constantinople.

Inside the temple

In front of the entrance to the Hagia Sophia Cathedral there is a spacious courtyard with a fountain located in the center. There are nine doors leading into the temple itself; the right to enter through the central door was granted only to the emperor and the patriarch.

The inside of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul looks no less beautiful than the outside. The huge domed hall, corresponding to the image of the universe, evokes deep thoughts in the visitor. There is no point in even describing all the beauty of the temple; it is better to see it once.

Cathedral mosaics

In earlier times, the tops of the walls were covered with mosaics with paintings on various themes. During the time of iconoclasm in 726-843, they were destroyed, so the current situation does not fully reflect the picture of the former beauty of the interior decoration of the building. In later times, new artistic creations were created in the Church of Hagia Sophia in Byzantium.

Mosaic image of the Virgin Mary in the apse

Temple destruction

The Hagia Sophia temple was damaged many times during fires and earthquakes, but each time it was rebuilt. But natural elements are one thing, people are another. So after the defeat by the Crusaders in 1204, it turned out to be impossible to restore the interior decoration.

The end of the greatness of the temple came with the fall of Constantinople in 1453. About ten thousand Christians sought salvation in the temple on the day of the death of Byzantium.

Legends and interesting facts

There are also interesting legends associated with the Hagia Sophia in Turkey. So on one of the marble slabs of the temple you can see a handprint. According to legend, it was left by Sultan Mehmed II, who conquered Constantinople. When he rode into the temple on a horse, the horse got scared and reared up. To stay in the saddle, the conqueror had to lean against the wall.

Another story is connected with one of the niches of the temple. If you put your ear to it, you hear a noise. People say that during the assault, a priest took refuge in this niche, and the noise reaching us is his endlessly continuing prayer for salvation.

Hagia Sophia Mosque

After the conquest, it was decided to convert the Christian temple into the Hagia Sophia mosque. Already on June 1, 1453, the first service was performed here. Of course, during perestroika many Christian decorations were destroyed. Also in later times, the temple was surrounded by four minarets.

Hagia Sophia Museum

Restoration work in the temple began in 1935 by order of the President of Turkey. Hagia Sophia acquires the status of a museum. Here, the first images hidden behind thick layers were cleared for the visitor. Even today, the Church of Hagia Sophia can safely be considered a great achievement of human thought, a reflection of spirituality in architecture.

Despite the fact that I have been to Istanbul more than once and for quite a long time, despite my skeptical attitude towards piety and places of worship, Hagia Sophia for me is the focal point of Istanbul-Constantinople.

When you enter his territory (it would be more correct to say “into her domain”

), an amazing feeling arises - it’s not just interest, surprise, admiration, it’s like a state of inner calm, even freezing, when suddenly one and a half thousand years are “unzipped” right before your eyes.

Then pathetic words like “eternity”, “greatness”, “wisdom” come to mind, and you begin to think about this phenomenon: architectural, historical, cultural, religious.

Indeed, a fairly large number of Orthodox churches have been preserved in Istanbul, impressive with their history and architecture, for example, the Church of Pantocrator, the Church of Pammakarista, the Church of the Savior in Chora, the Cathedral of St. Irene, the Church of the Holy Great Martyrs Sergius and Bacchus. And this is only a small part. Some of them are under restoration, others have been completely or partially converted into mosques, and some have been created as museums.

However, Hagia Sophia remains first and only on this list.

Beautiful Saint Sophia. Milestones of history

Each work of art, just like a person, has its own story, its own “book of life”. At the Hagia Sophia this book is one of the thickest in the world.

The life history of the Cathedral dates back to the 4th century and goes back almost one and a half thousand years. You can imagine how many events he witnessed. To get a little more familiar with the main milestones of cathedral life, the seventeen-century period can be divided into three main parts - Byzantine, Ottoman, modern.

Byzantine Hagia Sophia - Cathedral of the Wisdom of God

The progenitor of this historical and architectural miracle, a masterpiece that we have the opportunity to marvel at today, was a small basilica built by Emperor Constantine II in 324-327.

Within a fairly short period of time it became too small for the city's population, and Constantine's successor, his son Constantius, ordered it to be expanded.

In 360, the basilica was expanded and received the name Megale Ekklesia (Greek Μεγάλη Εκκλησία - large church), and a little later, at the beginning of the fifth century, it became known as the Cathedral of Hagia Sophia - the Wisdom of God. The church was the largest in the Eastern Roman Empire and had a high status - rulers were crowned here.

In 404, during the reign of Arcadius (Arkadios), as a result of disagreements between his wife Eudokia (Eudoksia) and Patriarch John (Ioannes Chrysostomos), a popular riot occurred and the church burned down. After 11 years, in 415, the new ruler Theodosius the Younger (Theodosios II) rebuilt it. The church now had five naves, a monumental entrance, and the roof was still made of wood, like its predecessors.

And again a riot, again a fire. January 532. It was the largest riot in Constantinople, which occurred in the fifth year of the reign of Justinian I (527-565) and went down in history under the name “Nike” (Greek Στάση του Νίκα - Conquer). In this uprising against Justinian's empire, the two most significant groups united - the patricians and the plebeians. Like any outstanding reformer, Justinian aroused claims from many segments of the population with his innovations and harsh style of rule. The scale of their discontent was serious, and their plans to overthrow the emperor were almost realized. Justinian was already preparing to flee the city, but, using the cunning and devotion of his supporters, who bribed most of the leaders of the uprising and brought them to their side, he suppressed the rebellion and continued his rule for another 33 years.

As a result of the uprising, a significant part of the city was destroyed, including the Hagia Sophia, and about 35,000 people were killed. After this event, Justinian decided to perpetuate his victory, commemorating it with the construction of such a temple, “which has not been since the time of Adam and which will never be,” and its location on a hill near the Great Imperial Palace and the Hippodrome was supposed to further emphasize its grandeur and sublimity.

It must be said that the emperor succeeded, and today we have the opportunity to admire this building, erected 1479 years ago. True, over the past time the cathedral had to suffer more than once from earthquakes and fires, but each time it was carefully restored.

Construction and its scale

Preparations for construction were not too long, the location was determined. Where the Church of Hagia Sophia burned down on January 13, 532, already on February 23, just 40 days after the fire, the emperor personally laid the foundation stone of the new temple.

To implement the grandiose plan, two of the most famous architects were invited - Anthemius of Thrall (from Thrall) and Isidore of Miletus (from Miletus), who already had experience working together - five years earlier they built the Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus. Another hundred architects supervised the workers, about five thousand of whom worked on one side of the temple, and the same number on the other.

The emperor himself monitored the progress of work every day. During the construction of the temple, the entire empire had to pay a monetary tribute, and all classes from the lowest to the highest were burdened with this responsibility during the five years of construction.

In addition to these funds, the remains of ancient buildings, which were of particular value, were brought to Constantinople to decorate the interior of the cathedral.

Columns were sent from Rome, Athens and Ephesus, from the ancient cities of Anatolia and Syria, which we can see to this day.

And the porphyry columns of the first floor, eight in number, were delivered from the Temple of the Sun in Baalbek, the other eight from the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus.

On the capitals of the columns located along the perimeter of the main space, you can see the monograms of the emperor and his wife.

No expense or imagination was spared on the materials: lime was mixed with barley water, and olive oil was added to the cement. They even invented a new material for the throne board: the most precious stones - onyxes, pearls, topazes, sapphires, rubies - were thrown into melted gold, as a result of which this extraordinary alloy received about seventy color shades!

The marble for wall cladding was chosen most carefully, taking into account the characteristics of the deposits - Prokones was famous for its snow-white, Iasos - red-white, Karystos - light green, and Phrygia - pink with veins. In addition to marble, of course, the highest standard gold, silver, amber, jasper, and ivory were used for interior decoration.

To make the dome, clay was brought from the island - it was particularly durable combined with light weight.

It didn’t take much time for construction of such unprecedented design, scale and expense - after five and a half years the temple was ready.

On the day of the consecration of the temple, December 27, 537, Justinian expressed in one phrase both his delight at what he saw and the assertion of his own power: “Oh, Solomon! I have surpassed you!

From that day on and for the next nine hundred and sixteen years, Hagia Sophia was a symbol of the greatness and power of the Byzantine Empire.

Architectural secrets

Trying to describe the main discovery of Anthimius and Isidore - the domed system of the temple - I thought that the words that Justinian uttered should have belonged to them - the greatest architects of their era.

What they managed to design and implement aroused a lot of admiration among their contemporaries, and later became the “ABC” and gave rise to a new direction in architecture.

It turns out that what is familiar to us today and does not cause much surprise, originates one and a half thousand years ago, and then it was a fundamentally new word in the construction of temples. For example, “sails” are spherical triangles that fill the inter-arch space (they also transfer the load of a powerful dome to the pylons, and the adjacent half-domes provide stability and stability), cascades of domes combine both semantic and emotional load, and are also a solution for a special penetration of light into the room (pictured below).

What's special here? The main dome is a slightly elongated sphere with a diameter of 31 meters from east to west, and 30 meters from north to south, formed by 40 radial arches.

The dome has the same number of windows as there are arches - 40, and they are spaced from each other at the minimum possible distance. Because of this, on sunny days the effect of “floating”, “suspending” is especially noticeable - as if the dome is not fixed by anything, but is hanging in the air.

In addition, the dome is covered with gold mosaics, so the light reflected from it has a golden hue.

Smaller domes “cascade down” from the main dome, and thanks to this “lace” inside the cathedral, a feeling of vast space is created, which is really very difficult to describe in words. The emotional principle takes precedence over the rational, and at first you don’t want to analyze anything.

Later, from a distance, you begin to understand a little of the secret - the effect of “immense space” is created by a combination of numerous hemispheres and straight strict lines in the form of vertical colonnades and horizontal cornices - the result of very accurate calculations of scale ratios.

Not a single photograph conveys this optical effect. Try it yourself, but I’m not the only one who thinks it’s impossible.

For a detailed introduction to the architecture of Byzantine (and not only) churches, you can read “History of Architecture” by Auguste Choisy (Histoire De L "Architecture).

Of course, the interior decoration of the cathedral - its cladding, mosaics, accessories - plays an important role in perception. More about this.

Mosaics

You can look at the mosaics of the cathedral endlessly. The most amazing in beauty and skill are considered to be “The Virgin and Child” and “Archangel Gabriel” - they decorate apse(the place in the temple where the altar is located) and vimu(raisin, tribune adjacent to the altar). The mosaics are distinguished by a special style of execution - the softness of the sculpting, the play of halftones, the absence of hard lines, despite the fact that they belong to the earliest period of the formation of Macedonian monumental painting (the second half of the 10th century).

From the point of view of iconography, interesting are the mosaics from the reign of Emperor Leo VI (late 9th - early 10th centuries), when figurative compositions replaced the image of the cross that adorned eastern wall of the narfik in the era of Justinian (narfic or narthex - the entrance room, which is adjacent to the western side of the temple).

These are images of Jesus Christ, a half-figure of the Mother of God (left), Archangel Michael (right) and Emperor Leo VI, falling at the feet of the Almighty

Art critics say that this mosaic must be viewed from below and at a great distance - this is the only way to get a right angle with the viewer’s gaze and achieve the necessary visual effect.

Mosaics of the southern lobbyI are distinguished by a more mature style, due, of course, to the later period of their creation, although the difference in “age” with their predecessors is only fifty years.

On the mosaic there are lunettes (a part of the wall expressed as an arch and located above the door or window) above the door made of southern vestibule in narfik depicts the Virgin and Child and two great Byzantine emperors - Constantine and Justinian (second half of the 10th century).

On the mosaic southern gallery- Christ is on the throne, and Constantine Monomakh and Empress Zoe present gifts

This work dates back to the beginning of the 11th century.

The southern gallery also contains two mosaic icons from the 12th century, which are the only representatives of the Komnenos era preserved on the territory of Constantinople.

This is a portrait of the imperial couple - John II Komnenos and Empress Irene, located on either side of the Mother of God and presenting her with their gifts.

And Deesis, of whose original appearance, unfortunately, only less than half remains.

But even from these fragments one can see the level of skill of the authors. Experts compare the image with the most perfect examples of Byzantine painting of that time - icons of Our Lady of Vladimir and frescoes of the Demetrius Cathedral in Vladimir.

If you are interested in artistic, historical, iconographic details, a professional opinion, figures, facts, research, you can read about it in “The History of Byzantine Painting” by V. N. Lazarev.

There is also an interesting study about the restoration of mosaics, albeit in English: Mosaics of Hagia Sophia, Istanbul: The Fossati Restoration and the Work of the Byzantine Institute, Natalia B. Teteriatnikov.

Other attractions of the cathedral remaining from Byzantine times

While on the lower level of the temple, pay attention to omphalion- the place of coronation of the emperors of Byzantium.

To find it, stand under the center of the dome and look to the right. This is a large square, lined with colored stone, in the center of it is a circle on which the throne was placed for the newly proclaimed emperor.

Along the wide passage, climb to the second tier, which was used by church synods and where women worshiped. Pay attention to the interesting slope of the road - it was calculated specifically in order to achieve maximum smoothness during movement when the empress was carried on a palanquin (a stretcher on two poles).

From the top floor you can get a better look at the mosaics, look at the lower level from a twenty-meter height, and pay attention to the difference in the perception of the huge space below and above.

Stroll through the upper galleries and find Empress's box, located in the center of the western gallery.

From here she had an excellent view for observing rituals and ceremonies.

Walking along the northern gallery, go to the railing and try to find on it "graffiti"(translated from Italian this word means “scratches”). This is not at all the “hooliganism” of our contemporaries, this is Scandinavian runes- traces that Varangian warriors left in the 9th century, apparently wanted to perpetuate the memory of themselves.

In the southern gallery you will see a massive marble door, which at one time members of the Synod used to enter and exit the meeting room

Ottoman Hagia Sophia - mosque

1453 was the last year of the existence of the Christian Hagia Sophia. According to historians’ descriptions, on May 29, 1453, the last service took place there, during which the Ottomans broke into the temple and plundered it, not sparing the worshipers. Already on May 30, Mehmed II ordered the Hagia Sophia to be converted into a mosque.

Over the next five centuries, the mosque, called Hagia Sophia, just as when it was a Christian temple, continued to undergo changes - it was restored after destruction, reconstructed, some decorative elements were added and other decorative elements were removed.

First of all, minarets were added to the cathedral (first two hastily under Mehmed II, then two more under Selim II and Beyazid II) and mosaics and frescoes were plastered, and a mihrab was placed in the southeastern part of the temple.

They replaced the silver candelabra with iron ones, and later, under Akhmet III, they hung a huge chandelier that illuminates the cathedral to this day.

The appearance changed significantly already in the 16th century, when it was decided to strengthen the mosque building with massive buttresses.

In the mid-19th century, a serious restoration of the temple was carried out, which was carried out by Swiss architects - the brothers Gaspar and Giuseppe Fossati.

In 1935, under the rule of Ataturk, when the Turkish Republic was proclaimed secular, Hagia Sophia acquired the status of a museum.

The frescoes and mosaics from which centuries-old layers of plaster had been removed were returned to her, and a small space was allocated for Muslim rituals conducted by museum staff.

Landmarks of Ottoman times

From the moment the Christian cathedral was converted into a mosque and over the next five hundred years, almost every Ottoman sultan brought something of his own to the interior of Hagia Sophia.

Calligraphy inscriptions

The first thing that catches your eye is the huge circles and rectangular scrolls with calligraphic inscriptions against the backdrop of Orthodox themes.

These are the largest calligraphic panels in the Islamic world and contain the names of the prophets and early caliphs. They are made from donkey skin.

Marble vases

On the first tier, near the side naves, you will see huge vases carved from a single piece of marble.

They were brought to the Cathedral from the late 16th century during the reign of Murad III and were used to store water - about 1250 liters each.

Library of Mahmud I

In 1739, on the initiative of Mahmud II, a library was built in the cathedral. This room, located on the first tier in the southern gallery, was richly and tastefully decorated with marble and Iznik tiles. The library had a reading room connected by a corridor to the book depository. His cabinets, made of rosewood, contained more than 5,000 books. Nowadays, they are all kept in the library of the Suleymaniye Mosque under the name "Special Collection of Hagia Sophia".

On the eastern wall of the library hangs a “tugra” - the calligraphic signature of Mahmud I, who showed great interest in Hagia Sophia - in addition to the library, he ordered the cathedral to be repaired, a fountain for ablutions to be installed in the courtyard, and a canteen for the poor to be organized on the territory.

Sultan's Lodge

A small "room" in which the Sultan could participate in rituals without being noticed by the public. Tall carved bars sheltered it not only from the eyes of the common people, but also from ill-wishers - they ensured safety.

The stock really does resemble a golden cage - a beautiful carved hexagonal box mounted on stable supports. The lower part of the stock is a marble openwork panel, and the upper part is wooden, covered with gold.

The grilles are made in the Turkish style, and the supporting columns are Byzantine.

Previously, the box was located on the apse and had a different appearance, but in 1847, during the restoration of the temple, the Fossati brothers decorated it and moved it to where it is located to this day.

Mysterious cold window

At the entrance intended for the sultans, a small window was cut. The special microclimate that has formed next to it is surprising - in any weather, even on the hottest and windless day, it is always cool here.

Weeping Column

This column has a peculiarity - its walls are always wet. It is not known for certain when she began to “cry” and when they began to call her that, but today she has become a real tourist “attraction” - after all, people at all times believe that by performing a certain ritual they will become healthier, richer, happier.

The history of “magic” dates back to Byzantine times, when the icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker hung on a column, to which Christians came to ask for healing.

After the temple was captured by the Ottomans, the icon was torn down, and in its place there was a hole. Muslims came up with their own ritual - you need to insert your thumb into this hole, draw a circle with the other four and make a wish. If your finger becomes wet, your wish will come true. The ritual is still relevant today. Here's the story.

Where is it? It will not be difficult for you to find it - where there is a line, there is a column.

Some numbers

Often our impression of visual perception is helped by numbers and facts. Here are some measurements and calculations:

area of the cathedral - 7570 sq.m;
height from floor to top of dome 55.6 m;
columns: 104 in total, 40 in the lower gallery, 64 in the upper;
dome diameter: 31.87 meters - from north to south, 30.87 - from east to west;
number of windows in the dome - 40;
capacity 100,000 people;
the diameter of each circle with calligraphic inscriptions is 7.5 meters.

It was in Byzantine times:

6000 huge candelabra;
6000 portable candlesticks;
each portable candlestick weighed 45 kg.

Modern Hagia Sophia - Hagia Sophia - museum

Today there is a huge amount of discussion about the ownership of the cathedral and its return to the Christian world. While the debate is ongoing, Hagia Sophia continues to be a museum of world significance, amazingly combining elements of different eras, worldviews and cultures.

About three million people come here every year.

You can start exploring the museum from the western garden, which contains the remains of columns and other fragments of the first two churches, found during excavations carried out by the Istanbul Institute of Archeology.

Then go inside, examine everything that interests you, and on the way out go to the former baptistery of the cathedral, where the mausoleum of Mustafa I and Ibrahim is now located.

And finally, look at the mausoleum of Sultan Selim II - the work of the genius Mimar Sinan, the mausoleums of Murad III and Mehmed III, which are located in a small separate area to the left of the exit from the baptistery.

How to get there

The Hagia Sophia Museum is located in the heart of the historical part of the city - in the Sultanahmet district.

You can get here by tram line T1, which runs almost through the entire center and connects the Zeytinburnu and Kabatas districts.

You need the Sultanahmet stop. Blue Mosque" is the name of another celebrity, the Blue Mosque.

When you get off the tram, you will find yourself exactly opposite the mosque, and to the left of it, about five hundred meters away, is Hagia Sophia. It's hard not to notice her.

Working hours

The museum is open:

from April 15 to October 25 from 9.00 to 19.00, ticket offices and entrance to the museum close at 18.00;
from October 25 to April 15 from 9.00 to 17.00, ticket offices and entrance to the museum close at 16.00.

Keep in mind that there is almost always a queue for at least 15 minutes to get into the museum; during the tourist season you can wait for an hour. Calculate your time, do not put off your visit until the evening.

Also keep in mind that:

since May 2016, the museum is closed on Mondays;
You will not be able to visit the museum on the first day of Ramadan and during the Sacrifice Festivals.

Ticket prices and how to purchase them

A regular full ticket costs about 12 euros or 14 dollars (40 TL).

There are no benefits for students.

Can go for free:

Turkish children under 18 years of age;
children of foreign citizens under 12 years of age;
citizens of the Republic of Turkey over 65 years of age;
disabled people and one accompanying person;
soldiers and sergeants;
COMOS, UNESCO, ICOM card holders;
students studying in Turkey on exchange programs (for example, Erasmus) upon presentation of a contract.

You can buy a ticket:

Entrance to the territory of the burial grounds of the sultans is free.

What to see nearby

Nearby, of course, there are a lot of interesting things - the Blue Mosque, the Topkapi Palace, the Archaeological Museum, the Museum of Islamic and Turkish Art, and much more.

But since this text is about the main attraction of Byzantine Orthodoxy, so as not to mix everything together, I will name only a couple of thematic places.

Cathedral of Saint Irene

Leaving Hagia Sophia, take a walk towards the Topkapi Palace, literally in a five-minute walk you will see another cathedral, which was recently opened to visitors.

This is one of the oldest churches in Constantinople - the Cathedral of Hagia Irene, which after the construction of Hagia Sophia was united with it.

Now restoration work is still underway there, and I personally really liked the idea of opening the cathedral-museum to the public at an early stage of its restoration.

Kuchuk Hagia Sophia (Little Hagia Sophia)

I have already written that five years before the construction of Hagia Sophia began, its architects Anthymius and Isidore built the Church of the Great Martyrs Sergius and Bacchus. Justinian loved him very much and invited the same architects to repeat his image on a larger scale, so the similarity of the cathedrals is not surprising.

During the period of Beyazid II, the Ottomans converted the Temple of Sergius and Bacchus into a mosque and gave it the name "Kucuk Hagia Sophia", which means "Little Hagia Sophia".

If you walk from the Hagia Sophia Museum towards the Blue Mosque, then move down towards the sea,

you will end up in a fairly quiet place. Personally, I really like it here.

Go into the yard and get to know its “inhabitants”.

And then go inside.

The mosaics are still covered with plaster, the interior decoration is a bit boring, there is nothing here that will take your breath away.

But I was curious to compare the cathedral with its “younger sister”, and the impressions were quite interesting. Come in and check it out, it won't take too long.

Mosaic Museum

And, if you want to complement the artistic image of ancient Constantinople, go to the Museum of Byzantine mosaics, which is located on the site of the former Great Palace of the Emperors, literally behind the Blue Mosque.

Magnificent Byzantine mosaics were discovered during excavations of the Great Imperial Palace, but that's another story...

After the museum

Personally, I don’t like to mix impressions and lump them into one pile, so after Hagia Sophia and nearby (primarily thematic) attractions, I recommend just taking a leisurely stroll.

If your “tour” ends at Kuchuk Hagia Sophia, then you can go down to the sea, walk along the embankment and look into one of the fish restaurants on the Kumkapi pier. It is very calm here, there are not many people, the food is always fresh and tasty, the service is very pleasant - no matter whether you order a full lunch or just drink a cup of coffee, you will be given the same decent attention. Prices are slightly lower than in the tourist center of the city.

If you stay near Hagia Sophia, then take a walk along the tram tracks towards Eminonu. Here you can look at the windows of small shops, and for 0.9 euros or 3 TL “win” ice cream (dondurma) from a cheerful seller

watch how Turkish women prepare manti and gozleme in the Han restaurant and the neighboring Ela Sofia.

Of course, you can taste them right there. We went to this restaurant out of curiosity. Tasty? Yes. Expensive? Yes.

It must be said that eating here on a budget will be more problematic than by the sea, so if you are hungry, but do not want to spend a lot of money and time, go to the Eminonu pier.

Fish lovers can try the famous “balyk ekmek” - fish in bread. A freshly caught sardine is fried in front of you and placed in crispy bread, generously adding green salad and onions for 0.9 euros (3 TL), and next to it you can buy a glass of pickled vegetables for the same price.

If you don’t eat fish, then the “meatball” (or “cutlet”?) favorite among Istanbul residents will suit you. Everything here is fast, tasty and inexpensive. Such establishments are called “köftecisi”, they are more expensive, such as the one in the photo below.

There are also simpler ones, mostly locals go there. The quality of food is equally good everywhere.

If you are not hungry, Gulhane Park will be a wonderful end to your walk. The entrance (free) is located just behind the row of shops and cafes that you passed along the tram tracks.

or you can just take a walk, dream, absorb new impressions,

Rent a Car- also an aggregation of prices from all rental companies, all in one place, let's go!

Anything to add?

Friends, hello everyone!

The fact that the main attraction of Istanbul from the outside looks like a Turkish bath is not surprising. This version of Hagia Sophia (the namesake of St. Sophia's Cathedral in Kyiv) is at least 1,500 years old.

And during this time, how many collapses of the main dome and smaller ones there were during earthquakes, which resulted in countless restorations, even Wikipedia cannot count.

The Church of Constantinople was used for its intended purpose by both Christians: Orthodox and Catholics, and Muslims, adding minarets to it and covering Christian symbols with plaster.

Now, since 1935, we tourists have used it as an object of admiration. In 2015, Hagia Sophia Istanbul was recognized the most popular place to visit in Turkey .

Well, so that you don’t just bat your eyes inside and, God forbid, run around it in 15 minutes and disappear in a cloud of dust in the direction of the next attraction of Istanbul, I’ll tell you about the most basic moments of the history, the visit and what you should definitely focus your attention on glance during the excursion.

Go!

Digging into the past is usually a murky business. In 5 minutes you can read about the history of the creation of an object in an encyclopedia, but you still won’t really understand anything. And to trace the motivation of certain historical figures is an impossible task without proper research.

I won't go into details, I’ll just outline the outlines of events so that you understand what’s behind what and where the legs grow from. If you need more explicit passages, then there is plenty of this stuff on the Internet, as well as at lectures by “professional” guides in the Cathedral itself. As a last resort, you can take an audio guide. Fortunately, it’s even available in Russian.

So, there lived a king and he had two sons... No, we definitely won’t finish this by lunchtime.

Who is behind whom and historical justice

The kind of red brick building that we see today was founded by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, on the site of the 1st version of the cathedral from Emperor Constantine, which did not survive fires and uprisings.

Until 1520 - it was the most grandiose cathedral before construction Cathedral in Seville. They also apply for the role of those who took the palm St. Peter's Basilica in Rome And Florence Cathedral .

The first major turnaround in the history of the cathedral occurred in 1204, when for 55 years the Orthodox shrine became hostage to Catholicism, thanks to the efforts of the participants Fourth Crusade . The Venetian Doge Enrico Dandolo, who commanded the crusaders, was buried in the eastern wing of the cathedral. Today, a plaque remains from his grave. It is not known whether the burial has survived.

But the year 1261 put everything in its place and the church again went to the orthodox Christians until 1453, when the Ottoman Empire took power in Constantinople this time.

They say that Sultan Mehmet II, literally on the threshold of the shrine, made a choice between “razing it to the ground” and “adding 4 minarets” in favor of creation rather than destruction and allocated fabulous sums for restoration.

The bells were removed, the altar and iconostasis were abolished, the remains and holy relics were removed, and the ceilings were whitewashed with plaster.

Until 1616, the date of completion of the Blue Mosque of Sultan Ahmet (separate article), Hagia Sophia was the first mosque of the state.

It remained active until 1931 , when, by order of Ataturk, it was turned into a museum and after 4 years of restoration it became available for public visits.

Let's go inside

So, after your first misleading impression of the cathedral's exterior design, be prepared to open your mouth once you step inside. My initial impression was slightly dampened by the accumulation of forests on the left hand, but nevertheless, the spectacle is breathtaking.

The feeling is that fell into a parallel reality, an unearthly creation of space engineers, or at least a floating dome of unreal proportions.

The setting itself, a huge vaulted roof topped with dozens of windows in a circle and massive columns against the backdrop of an incredibly beautiful marble floor, make you forget about the everyday bustle for a moment, and also, at least here, turn off the effect of gravity in order to finally experience the feeling of flight!

For me, this was the only place where I was really ready to fall and hit the ground, recognizing the fact that only some angels could build such an unearthly structure.

In addition, according to historical calculations, it was here that the coronation of the Byzantine emperors took place, so the place clearly retained an atmosphere of pomp and grandeur. And the presence, almost in the center of the cathedral, of a place called "The center of the world" also requires respect.

Seen by everyone, regardless of age, salary, personal beliefs and attitude to religion. But to feel immersive, it is simply necessary that there be as few people in the cathedral as possible.

This is simply a must be! So don’t be lazy, at least come here early.

You can squeeze into the Blue Mosque or Topkapi Palace equally with an excited crowd smelling of shawarma and constantly clicking their cameras.

Intimacy is a must at Hagia Sophia. Otherwise nothing will happen. Sorry!

What to look for

Here, of course, I will only give guidelines. What to do next is up to you. Perhaps you will come here with an audio guide, tour guide or accompanied by Turkish acquaintances who will introduce you by the nose to the situation.

At the entrance

Having skipped five minutes of oblivion, it’s worth moving on to the details.

First of all, pay attention to the floor itself! What is this? Marble board? I don’t even know where to look for such excellent quality work. I would order it for my dacha.

The second detail that catches your eye is the finishing panels on both sides. Pay attention to the symmetrical design in the form of an open book.

Tour guides tell gullible tourists that these slabs were made by hand by craftsmen who managed to cut marble with hacksaws at 3 mm per day. Well, it’s just like slaves in loincloths, in teams with resilient buffaloes, dragged multi-ton blocks to impossible peaks.

The third stage of insight is the Corinthian columns . According to historians, they were brought to Constantinople from Baalbek, Lebanon. By the way, there is still room for study.

The material is simply incredible. You want to hug such a column more than the inhabitants of Siberia do with birch trees.

If I'm not mistaken, then exactly the same column - the Column of Constantine - stands in the square not far from the Grand Bazaar.

Lower gallery

If you lift your head up, you can see the remains of an ancient painting, as well as the Archangels Michael and Gabriel and Seraphim along with them on the arches of the dome.

Now walk a little to the right of the entrance and you will rest your gaze on such a miracle - an urn of spiritual cleansing.

I don’t know how in those days it was possible to make such a miracle from marble? If you say that this is all the work of the ancient Kulibin with a hammer and chisel, then I will answer “ you're lying " This is work with sandpaper at a minimum (were they there back then?), and maybe even lathe production in general.

By the way, in the northwestern part of the cathedral there is "Column of Wishes" . There is a special hole for a finger that needs to be inserted and rotated 360 degrees. If your finger does not fall off, then you will be happy and healthy))

We did not go to the column, since it was already occupied by a group of Chinese tourists. And this is a problem. Until all 30 people twist their arms, you won’t be able to photograph anything.

If you have finished admiring the play of light and colors, you can go to the second floor. From here the view will be even more breathtaking.

Upper gallery

A luxurious staircase leads to the second floor. Here you can admire the temple in relative silence and take great pictures.

But everything is hampered by various questions raining down on you from all sides. Here's who was able to sculpt such doors and how they were installed here. How do you think? How much do they weigh?

By the way, here is another riddle from the 1st floor. Check out these 1500-year-old wrought-iron doors with marble jambs.

This is what today's builders need to learn.

And here are the restored frescoes, demonstrating the scenes of the sacred scriptures and their main characters. It looks rich and solemn.

Inspecting the frescoes, and indeed the entire 2nd floor, is now an ambush. Here Turkish craftsmen installed handmade screens for restoration.

So now there is even less room to turn around. Keep this in mind when trying to get into the cathedral with a bunch of onlookers at the same time.

Every detail inside the temple, be it a column, a chandelier or some kind of pattern, everything is done with the highest professionalism and deserves, at a minimum, attention, and at the most, deification.

You can spend hours walking and admiring the interior decoration, but let me remind you that after 10 o’clock in the morning an organized attack by organized groups of tourists begins on the cathedral. You must hide before they appear, otherwise they will trample you!

On the territory of the cathedral

Once you find yourself on the temple grounds, I recommend immediately going inside to get acquainted with the main program of the visit. After your visit, you can stroll around the interior and see some more.

If you go around the museum on the right, you will come to mausoleums of the sultans . The place is interesting and rarely visited. Drop by at your leisure.

Also in the courtyard there are several sarcophagi, fallen columns and some fragments of architectural buildings. Pay attention to the columns, it seems that they are simply assembled from layers and glued together with an incomprehensible composition.

There is also a cafe, toilet and gift shop. By the way, prices in cafes at state museums (which you will visit on Museum Pass Istanbul) are identical. Here are the drink prices.

Don't forget that the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey is in the cafes and souvenir shops of museums for all museum card holders.

Where is the Hagia Sophia Church

Like the other two main attractions of Istanbul: and, the Cathedral is located in the central part of the old city on Sultanahmet Square.

This is something akin to Red Square in Moscow, so any passerby will help you get here.

For local orientation, I recommend the article. Well, in a nutshell, then you only need tram T1 and some strength in your legs to move between all of Istanbul's most popular attractions and your potential place of residence .

See about Istanbul transport.

To help you get your bearings, here's a map Google maps .

How to get to Hagia Sophia

At first glance, there are no problems. I bought a ticket and go ahead and enjoy it. But still there are a couple of nuances.

The fact is that during the season, the queues at this most popular museum in Istanbul are frightening. There are 3 options to solve the problem:

come to the opening
buy a card Museum Pass Istanbul. For what? Reading
buy a ticket with a guide and access

But if you are still interested in excursions in Russian (and not a free interpretation from Turkish fellow citizens) from our compatriots, then I recommend watching Here.

Everything is official here and without the need to visit local carpet and jewelry shops after the excursion.

Information for visitors

Operating mode 09:00 – 17:00, and in the summer from April 15 to October 25 until 19:00. The ticket office and entrance to the museum close one hour before closing.

In the summer, the museum is open all days of the week, and in the winter, it is closed on Monday!

Price 72 liras for an adult ticket. Children under 8 years old are free, but only with a document confirming their age. An audio guide in 1 of 12 languages costs 45 liras.

If you are interested in not just a ticket, but a sightseeing tour of the cathedral included in it, then it’s better buy it here. But I’ll warn you right away - the tour is in English.

Personally, I recommend buying a card Musseum Pass Istanbul for 220 liras ( new price from July 1, 2019 instead of 185 liras), which is valid for 5 days. It’s very easy to get off the map by visiting only the Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace. In addition, you will go everywhere without a queue.

Hagia Sophia + Archaeological Museum - 92 liras.
Cathedral + museum + Topkapi Palace - 162 liras.

And the trick is not only in saving 10-15 liras, but in the fact that you can buy a ticket at the Archaeological Museum, where the queues are minimal and you can skip the queue to others.

Good to know

If you dropped into Istanbul for a minute while passing through, and an ambush awaits you at the entrance, then you have the opportunity to buy a ticket to the cathedral without queuing.

This service is possible if you buy a ticket at the booth window with the name Fast Track Ticket. It costs 105 liras and allows you to run past the crowds of annoying tourists without queuing with a smile.

You can buy such a ticket at the very entrance to the cathedral or a little further on the square next to the cafe Mihri .

So, my advice to you: come to the opening at 9 am and you won’t be afraid of the queues!

To purchase air tickets to Istanbul, order a transfer and select a hotel, go to the page. Everything's there))

Well, a short video about the benefits of the Museum Card!

Bright emotions and exciting trips!

Once the largest Christian cathedral in the world, then a mosque, and now a museum, Hagia Sophia is rightfully considered the largest pearl in the necklace of Istanbul attractions. Sometimes called the eighth wonder of the world, quite modest on the outside and dizzying on the inside, this monument of Byzantine architecture will not leave any person indifferent.

Hagia Sophia has a very complicated history: it was repeatedly destroyed, burned down or rebuilt. In the form that we see it today, Hagia Sophia (with minor changes) has stood since 537. The first Temple of Sophia was founded on the market square of Augustion at the beginning of the 4th century under Emperor Constantine I. However, there are discrepancies in the sources: it is believed that the “great church” was already completed by the son of Constantine I, Emperor Constantius II. In any case, that temple did not last even a century, burning down in 404. In its place, a new church was erected, which 11 years later also burned down completely. In the same year, a new basilica was erected, which eventually burned down in 532 during the Nika uprising, the largest revolt in the history of not only Constantinople, but the entire Byzantine Empire. It’s hard to imagine now, but the showdown between, so to speak, fan groups at the hippodrome grew into a large-scale uprising, accompanied by massacres, fires and the looting of the city. The rebels even managed to choose a new emperor. Justinian, who ruled in those years, was going to leave the city, but his wife declared that she would rather choose death than a shameful escape. Enlisting the support of the Armenian commander Narses, Justinian attacked the rioters gathered at the hippodrome for the coronation of their proclaimed emperor. About 35 thousand people died.

After suppressing the rebellion, Justinian ordered the construction of a temple in the same place, which would become a symbol of the greatness of Byzantium and surpass all the temples that existed at that time. To implement the grandiose idea, he attracted two famous architects, Anthemius of Tralles and Isidore of Miletus, who were distinguished by their unconventional and systematic approach to construction. The frequent territories adjacent to Augustion Square were purchased, and in a record 5 years, with the help of 10 thousand workers, the Cathedral of the Wisdom of God arose in Constantinople. After the capture of Constantinople by Sultan Mehmed Fatih, the cathedral was converted into a mosque. Hagia Sophia underwent reconstruction; 4 minarets were gradually erected, further supporting and strengthening the perimeter of the structure. In 1935, by order of Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic, Hagia Sophia was transformed into a museum, where for more than 80 years visitors have been admiring and admiring the mixture of different eras, Islamic and Christian symbols.

Please note that to get inside, you will most likely have to stand in a long line, so I recommend arriving at least half an hour before opening. After purchasing a ticket worth 30 liras and a serious security check, you will find yourself through a courtyard into narthexes connected to each other by narrow arched vaults. Mosaic slabs with ornaments on the walls were brought after Hagia Sophia acquired the status of a mosque.

Narthexes were intended for preparations for the prayer ritual before proceeding to the main hall of the cathedral/mosque. The cross-shaped vaults look pretty worn out by time and dampness.

When you enter the main part through one of the 9 gates, your head is dizzy from the volume of the structure. After all, for more than 1000 years, the Cathedral of the Wisdom of God was the largest temple in the Christian world, until St. Peter's Cathedral was built in Rome.

Most of the cathedral's visitors walk with their heads up, looking at the huge dome and the juxtaposition of medallions with Arabic script depicting the Virgin Mary on the vaults.

Two niches with hemispherical vaults adjoin the central dome from the east and west. As in other mosques in Istanbul, looking for abstract and unusual combinations of vault surfaces has become one of the mandatory areas of photography.

It is worth mentioning the central dome (on the left). This unusual perspective, to be honest, is partly due to the restoration work being carried out in Hagia Sophia at the time of my visit. Impressive scaffolding rose to the very ceiling and climbed into the frame. However, we will dwell on the dome further below.

8 leather-covered discs with a diameter of 7.5 meters with golden Arabic script among the columns of the galleries of the second tier are one of the main shrines of Hagia Sophia.

They bear the names of Allah, the Prophet Muhammad and his grandchildren Hasan and Hussein, as well as the names of the four caliphs Ebu Bekr, Omar, Osman and Ali.

We go to the southeastern part farthest from the entrance, where the altar is located. To the right of the altar rises a minbar - a pulpit from which the imam reads sermons on Friday prayers.

The mihrab is supposed to be directed towards Mecca and the Kaaba.

The Sultan's elegant box is located on a raised platform to the left of the mihrab.

At the right, southern enfilade, behind a gilded fence, there is a library brought during the reign of Sultan Mahmud I in the 18th century.

The Hagia Sophia also hosted an exhibition of Arabic calligraphy. The subtlety of the lines is nothing short of admirable.

I didn’t take pictures of the “Weeping Column” because of the large crowd of tourists around it. There is a hole in the condensate-covered column into which you insert your thumb and make a full circle with your brush, after making a wish. They say your wish will definitely come true. But we'd better go higher. After all, you can get a full impression of the scale of the cathedral/mosque only by going up to the second-level galleries.

To decorate the cathedral, 12 types of marble were used; the best stone was brought from Sparta, Libya, Greece, and Egypt.

From the second tier you can get a better look at the vaults, half-vaults, niches and preserved or partially restored frescoes with paintings on them.

During the Ottoman Empire, Orthodox frescoes and mosaics in Hagia Sophia were immediately covered with plaster. And only after the transformation of the mosque/cathedral into a museum under Ataturk, restoration work began. It’s just interesting, did the sultans’ subjects also manage to get to the dome?

There are significantly fewer people on the upper tier, although I repeat, visiting the temple and not going up the ramp to the second floor is a real omission.

The galleries offer plenty to catch the eye and lens, from painted arched vaults and carved column capitals to unique frescoes and mosaics.

Emperor John II with his wife Irina and son Alexei, standing before the Mother of God.

Jesus Christ on the throne with the Gospel, next to Emperor Constantine IX with his wife Zoe.

Of greatest interest is the DeJesus mosaic, dating from the 13th century. Jesus Christ, surrounded by the Mother of God and John the Baptist, judges humanity for its sins.

From above one could see how tourist groups kept arriving and arriving, filling, it seemed, all the available space of the cathedral. But I couldn’t resist and, when I went down, I headed not towards the exit, but towards the center of the hall to take a few more pictures of the dome.

The dome, 31 meters in diameter and 55 meters high, is supported by four massive pillars ending in spherical triangles, pandatives, through which the weight of the massive dome is redistributed onto the half-vaults of the two adjacent naves. The pandatives contain images of winged cherubs.

The space under the dome is illuminated through 40 arched windows.

However, these and other windows in the cathedral are not enough, so massive chandeliers hang from the ceiling, through which you can also catch non-trivial angles.

A visit to Hagia Sophia is definitely worth it due to the uniqueness of the structure, which has been both a cathedral and a mosque in its history, and is now open to everyone as a museum. Where else can you see such a mixture of Christianity and Islam? All religions initially teach the same thing, but are intended for different peoples. Hagia Sophia can serve as a symbol of such unity.

Continuing the raid through the most important attractions of Istanbul and crossing the square, you can find yourself in the main mosque of the city, the Blue. The story will go further about her. Keep it locked!

Short description

Where the Golden Horn meets the Sea of Marmara, the Church of the Wisdom of God, known as Hagia Sophia in Greek and Hagia Sophia in Turkish, rises in the historical center of Istanbul.

Topped with a pair of huge minarets, Hagia Sophia from the outside resembles an Islamic temple, but upon entering inside, it is easy to guess the decoration of the once Orthodox church. The first temple in honor of Hagia Sophia was built back in 326 under Emperor Constantine.

General view of the cathedral

The church was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt until Emperor Justinian I set out to erect a building that was to become a symbol of the greatness of Byzantium and outshine with its beauty not only the pagan sanctuaries of Rome, but also the famous Temple of Jerusalem.

In 537, during the consecration of Hagia Sophia, Justinian walked around it and exclaimed: “I have surpassed you, oh great Solomon!” . According to eyewitnesses, the Church of Hagia Sophia “reigned over the city like a ship over the waves of the sea.” Thanks to the light streaming from the windows, it seemed as if “the dome of Sophia was suspended from the heavens by a golden chain.”

View of the cathedral from the south

The interior of the temple was framed by galleries of malachite and porphyry columns. The floor was covered with an intricate pattern of colored marbles. The iconostasis was supported by silver columns with gold capitals. According to legend, Emperor Justinian even wanted to line the walls of the cathedral with slabs of forged gold, but astrologers predicted that at the end of the centuries greedy kings would come who would want to take possession of all the treasures of the temple and dismantle it to the ground.

Hagia Sophia - the royal temple of Orthodoxy

For more than 1000 years, Hagia Sophia in Constantinople remained the largest temple in the entire Orthodox world. Many significant events are associated with it. On July 16, 1054, within the walls of the St. Sophia Cathedral, the personal representative of Pope Leo IX - Cardinal Humbert and the Patriarch of Constantinople - Michael Kirularius anathematized each other (excommunication), which caused a church schism into Orthodox and Catholics.

According to the Tale of Bygone Years, it was in the Hagia Sophia that Prince Vladimir’s ambassadors became acquainted with the Orthodox religion. Shocked by the beauty of the service, they advised Vladimir to convert Rus' to the Christian faith.

View of the cathedral in night illumination

Hagia Sophia - mosque of the conquering sultan

In 1453, Sultan Mehmed II conquered Constantinople and converted the Hagia Sophia into the Hagia Sophia Mosque, adding four minarets. On one of the marble slabs of the temple, to the right of the pulpit intended for reading sermons, there is a drawing resembling a hand. According to legend, this is the handprint of Mehmed II, who rode into the Church of Hagia Sophia on horseback over the corpses of murdered Christians. The horse, frightened by so many dead bodies, reared up. Mehmed leaned on the wall to avoid falling, but his hand was covered in blood and a print remained.

View of the cathedral vaults

Hagia Sophia is a prime example of a mixture of cultures

The Turks covered the Byzantine mosaics with lime, and on the walls they hung shields made of camel skin, with suras from the Koran written in gold. In 1935, President of the Turkish Republic Ataturk founded a museum in Hagia Sophia, and the mosaics were cleared. To this day, images of Christian saints and Arabic script coexist in the temple. Even runic inscriptions made by the Varangians on the marble parapets were found in the St. Sophia Cathedral. Since Orthodox churches are built with the altar facing east, the Turks had to place a mihrab (prayer niche) in the southeast corner of the cathedral in order to face the Kaaba in Mecca during prayer.

Cathedral interior

Because of this restructuring, worshipers are forced to sit at an angle relative to the main direction of the building. Under the arches of the ancient cathedral, you can make a wish by standing in line at the “Weeping Column”. According to legend, its magical properties were discovered when Emperor Justinian, accidentally leaning against it, got rid of a painful headache. Miracles still happen today, you just need to put your hand on the hole in the column and turn it clockwise, and your wish will definitely come true.