Hagia Sophia: 1,500 Years at the Center of History

Few buildings in human history have witnessed as much as the Hagia Sophia. Standing on the first hill of Istanbul's historic peninsula since the 6th century, it has served as the spiritual center of Eastern Christendom, the principal mosque of the Ottoman Empire, a secular museum of the modern Turkish Republic, and once again a functioning mosque. Its story is inseparable from the story of Istanbul itself.

Origins: The First and Second Churches

The site was originally home to a basilica commissioned by Emperor Constantine I around 360 AD. The first church was burned during a riot and replaced under Emperor Constantius. A second church, built by Theodosius II, was destroyed in the Nika Revolt of 532 AD.

Justinian's Masterpiece (537 AD)

Emperor Justinian I commissioned the current building in the immediate aftermath of the Nika Revolt. His architects, Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralles, completed the structure in just five years — a remarkable feat for any era.

The result was genuinely revolutionary. The building's massive dome, 31 meters in diameter and rising 55 meters above the floor, appeared to float thanks to a ring of 40 windows at its base that flood the interior with light. Upon entering the completed church, Justinian reportedly said: "Solomon, I have surpassed you."

For nearly a thousand years, the Hagia Sophia remained the largest cathedral in the world and the spiritual heart of Eastern Orthodox Christianity.

The Ottoman Conquest and Conversion (1453)

When Sultan Mehmed II conquered Constantinople on 29 May 1453, he rode directly to the Hagia Sophia. He ordered it converted to a mosque, and four minarets were added over subsequent decades. The Christian mosaics were plastered over or covered with calligraphic medallions, and mihrabs and minarets were installed.

The Hagia Sophia served as Istanbul's foremost imperial mosque for nearly 500 years, a symbol of Ottoman power and Islamic scholarship.

The Museum Era (1934–2020)

In 1934, as part of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's secularizing reforms, the Hagia Sophia was converted into a museum — a gesture intended to signal the new Republic's departure from Ottoman religious governance and to make the building accessible to all of humanity. The plastered-over mosaics were gradually revealed and restored, and the building became one of Turkey's most visited tourist attractions and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Return to Mosque (2020–Present)

In July 2020, the Turkish Council of State annulled the 1934 decree, and President Erdoğan signed an order returning the Hagia Sophia to mosque status. Prayers were resumed for the first time since 1934. The change sparked significant international debate, though the building remains open to visitors outside of prayer times.

What to See Inside

  • The central dome: The defining architectural achievement — look up immediately upon entering.
  • Byzantine mosaics: The Deësis mosaic on the upper gallery is considered one of the finest surviving examples of Byzantine art.
  • Ottoman additions: The enormous calligraphic medallions bearing the names of Allah, the Prophet, and the first four caliphs are a striking visual contrast to the Byzantine structure.
  • The Weeping Column: Also called the Column of Constantine or the Perspiring Column — visitors have inserted their thumbs into its copper casing for luck since Byzantine times.
  • Upper galleries: Climb to the upper level for aerial views of the interior and closer access to the mosaics.

Visiting Today

Entry to the Hagia Sophia is free, though you should dress modestly and remove shoes before entering the prayer areas. Arrive early in the morning to avoid crowds and to experience the extraordinary morning light inside.