Hagia Sophia, the Church of Holy Wisdom, known variously as Sancta Sophia in Latin or Ayasofya in Turkish, is an ancient cathedral of the Church of Constantinople located in modern day Istanbul, Turkey. It was converted to a mosque by the Turks, then a museum, then a mosque again in 2020. It is universally acknowledged as one of the great buildings of the world and a reference point in history of architecture. (The church is sometimes mistakenly called "Saint Sophia," as though it were named for a saint called Sophia.)

The first great church on the site was built by Constantius II, the son of Constantine the Greatand dedicated in 360. It was burned down during the Nika riots of 532. The building was rebuilt in its present form between 532 and 537 under the personal supervision of emperor Justinian the Great. 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 is believed to have said: “Solomon, I have surpassed you!"

The architects of the church were Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralles, professors of geometry at the University of Constantinople. Justinian's basilica was at once the culminating architectural achievement of late antiquity and the first masterpiece of Byzantine architecture. Its influence, both architecturally and liturgically, was widespread and enduring in the Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Muslim worlds alike. 

*SOURCE: orthodoxwiki.org: “Hagia Sophia”

• Watch this video on the famous Deësis mosaic that this week’s icon is a part of.

• Watch this fascinating video of the re-creation of what Byzantine chanting would have sounded like in the Hagia Sophia over 500 years ago (full album of Lost Voices of Hagia Sophia by Capella Romano, here).