Hagia Sophia Museum included in Istanbul attractions list which tourists look at first. And this cathedral is part of one of ready walking routes where you can walk on your own.

Hagia Sophia in Istanbul- it shrine of two religions: at first it was the chief Orthodox Cathedral(more than 1000 years), then the main mosque(almost 500 years old), and now a museum. The history of Hagia Sophia is sometimes very tragic, and the existing secrets are enough for more than one book. All this, as well as how to visit the museum on your own, will be discussed below.

A Brief History of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul

• Hagia Sophia built 15 centuries ago (532-537 years) by order of the Byzantine emperor Justinian (this emperor, oddly enough, came from peasants). He wanted the cathedral to be the main building of the capital (then Constantinople) and to emphasize the power of the empire. By the way, we would not see Hagia Sophia in Istanbul now if the Nika popular uprising had not happened. During this very bloody riot (on Hippodrome about 35 thousand citizens were killed) the church of the same name burned down, on the site of which the cathedral was built. Need to say that even earlier a church also stood here: it also burned down and was also called Hagia Sophia. Before that, there was a market place. In fact, the place where Hagia Sophia in Istanbul now stands is the very heart of ancient Constantinople and the entire Byzantine Empire.
• justinian wanted his creation to be truly grandiose. To expand the site for construction, he bought up nearby land plots and demolished the buildings that were on them. Emperor invited two best architects who showed themselves in the construction of the temple, now known as Small Hagia Sophia. It must be said that the "little Sophia" served as a prototype of the future "big" cathedral.

• The construction took 130 tons of gold, which was three ready budgets country! During almost 6 years worked here every day 10 000 builders. Marble of various types was brought from all over the empire. And they also brought parts of ancient buildings from everywhere, which were also used in construction. For example, from the city of Ephesus (from Temple of Artemis, who set fire to Herostratus to become famous) brought 8 columns of green marble, and from Rome- 8 columns from the Temple of the Sun. Also, the construction used very strong, but lightweight bricks made of material with islands of rhodes. Used in decoration ivory, silver and lots of gold. It is said that Justinian wanted to cover the entire interior with gold from floor to ceiling. However, astrologers persuaded him not to do this, predicting that after him there would be "weak rulers" who would destroy the cathedral when they plundered it.

• At the base of the cathedral is a rectangle 76x68 meters. The height of the dome reaches 56 meters, and its diameter is 30 meters. The thickness of the walls reaches in places up to 5 meters. For the strength of the masonry, the solution was added ash leaf extract.
• In the best of times, they "worked" in the cathedral 600 clergy.
• In 1204 Constantinople was captured by the Crusaders during the Fourth Crusade. This campaign, unfortunately, is a shameful stain in world history. Agree, it is very strange how it could happen that the participants of the crusade, the purpose of which was originally to go to Egypt for an alleged religious war against Muslims, captured and devastated a Christian city - the city of brothers in faith. Constantinople was completely sacked, and, of course, the Hagia Sophia suffered no less. The crusaders took with them all the jewels and sacred relics. It is considered that 90% Christian relics, which are now in Europe, were taken out during this campaign.

• Last Christian Service took place in the cathedral on the night of May 29, 1453. The emperor himself was present with his retinue.
• The next day, the cathedral was sacked by the Turks. who captured Constantinople under the leadership of Sultan Mehmed II the Conqueror (Fatih). Subsequently, the cathedral was converted into a mosque, with minarets attached to it. The mosaics inside the mosque were hidden under a layer of plaster - this saved them. The cathedral served as a mosque 500 years and became the prototype for many mosques in Istanbul, for example, for blue mosque, which is located nearby, and for Suleymaniye Mosque, which was built in market district.
• In 1935 By order of President Ataturk, the mosque was given the status of a museum. The plaster covering the mosaics has been removed. Now the museum is being actively restored.

Curious facts

• Hagia Sophia in Istanbul they did not name the martyr Hagia Sophia, although this also existed. In Greek sofia is wisdom. This is the Cathedral of the Wisdom of God. The wisdom of God is something like a conductor between the Lord and man.
• Istanbul's most important cat lives in the Cathedral named Glee. This cat behaves like a real owner in the cathedral and loves to sit at the Imperial place. He also became famous for being stroked by American President Barack Obama.
• Princess of the Old Russian state Olga was baptized in Hagia Sophia, presumably in 957. She was the first ruler of Russia to be baptized.
• Events took place in the Hagia Sophia who gave the beginning of the split of churches into two branches: Catholic and Orthodox. This happened in 1054, when during the service, the envoy of the Pope of Rome presented the Patriarch with a letter of exclusion. The patriarch thought for a couple of days and excommunicated the envoy of the Pope. Since this all started.

• Moscow - Third Rome. After the fall of Constantinople Second Rome) and after the main Orthodox church of Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque, the center of Orthodoxy actually disappeared in the world. It was obvious that the young principality of Moscow, which was gaining strength, became the successor of Orthodoxy, because there was no other Orthodox center. It was this idea that led to the fact that Moscow began to be called Third Rome.
• Shroud of Turin, according to one legend, was kept in Hagia Sophia and was stolen during the fourth crusade. According to legend, the body of Jesus Christ was wrapped in it. In 1898, an amateur photographer photographed the shroud and saw a human face on the negatives. Now the shroud is kept in one of the cathedrals of the city of Turin (Italy).
• In 2007 influential US politicians and businessmen led the movement to return the cathedral back to the church. So far they haven't achieved anything.

Mystery of Hagia Sophia

• "Weeping Column", the base of which is covered with copper plates. It is also called the column of St. Gregory. There is a small depression in the column, with which one superstition is associated. It is necessary to stick the thumb into the recess and scroll the palm three times in a circle, touching the copper sheets with it. If at the same time you feel moisture, then make a wish - it supposedly will come true. This belief has existed since the 13th century: even Anthony of Novgorod during his pilgrimage to Constantinople wrote that people come to the weeping column and "rub their fingers ... to heal diseases ...".
• A niche from which a slight noise is heard. According to the descriptions, it is located in the southern part of the cathedral. This phenomenon was associated with another legend. According to her, at the time when Constantinople fell under the onslaught of Turkish troops and they broke into the cathedral, a service was going on in it. The invaders were already ready to kill the priest who was reading the prayer, but at that moment the walls parted and hid the priest behind them. According to legend, the priest is still there and will appear again when the cathedral again becomes a Christian church.
• cold window- Another mystery of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. A cool breeze blows from this window, even when it's very hot outside. This window is located on the second floor (southern part of the cathedral) and overlooks blue mosque.

Secrets of the flooded dungeon of Hagia Sophia

In addition to the visible part of the cathedral, Hagia Sophia in Istanbul has more little-studied underground. From the chronicles it is known that in order to make a foundation, it was as if they dug a 70-meter pit. Also, various sources report that under Hagia Sophia there huge cisterns to store water and many tunnels. Apparently, the cistern should resemble a huge one, which is located not far from the cathedral.

Reach the flooded dungeon the Americans tried in 1945. To do this, they decided to pump water out of there. But no matter how hard they tried, the water level did not go down. As a result, the idea was abandoned after the pumps burned out.

More successful attempts were from Turkish researchers. But they immediately decided that they would not pump out water, but made several successful dives into the flooded underground part of the cathedral. The last descent took place in 2013. Some legends were confirmed, and some turned out to be just an exaggeration.

The submariners found places intended for burial. well researched 12 meter well at the main entrance. A in the well in the central part of the temple fragments of a very large lamp were found. The walls were found tight closed doors which they did not attempt to open. Perhaps behind these doors are large cisterns for collecting water, which travelers of the past wrote about. This is confirmed by scanning the floor of the cathedral for voids. This scan showed that under the floor there is huge empty spaces!

There was also a descent into dry stone tunnel. Coming from the corridor two moves: one to hippodrome square, the second - to Topkapi Palace. These corridors bifurcate, and some sleeves end in dead ends. But one of the arms has access to the courtyard of the Topkapi Palace.

• It's best to come either by the opening of the museum in the early morning, or closer to closing, in the evening, because there are a lot of visitors during the day. It is even better to visit the museum on weekdays, because on weekends, especially during the high season, it is simply not overcrowded. At the peak of the visit, the line at the ticket office is several tens of meters long - a common thing.
• After buying a ticket you have to go through a check: every tourist goes through a metal detector frame, and the backpack is checked, like at the airport, by X-ray.
• The interior has been under restoration for a long time.: part of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul from floor to ceiling is covered with scaffolding. This somewhat spoils the impression.

Inspection sequence

• Inspection starts from the first floor. First we enter through the big gate in the first porch, and then - into the second porch. (The vestibule is an extension to the temple). Before entering the cathedral, pay attention to the “pit” dug to the left of the entrance. These are traces of an older building that was here even before the construction of the cathedral.
• First porch. This extension is devoid of decoration - marble slabs have long been removed. On the left side of the porch are stone bowl for baptism (5) babies and a big screen showing a film about the history of Hagia Sophia (in English). There are chairs in front of the screen, you can sit and watch a movie. On the right side of the porch against the wall stands huge sarcophagus (4), in front of him bell (3), and then - gift shop.

• Second porch. This extension has retained the finish from the moment of construction - the ceiling is laid out golden mosaic, on the walls - marble with mirror pattern. On the left side of the second porch is located ladder (ramp) (2) to the second floor. This staircase has no steps. This was done on purpose, in order to make it easier to carry the Empress on a palanquin (special stretcher) to the second floor in imperial box. There is also such a staircase on the right side of the narthex, but it is closed. In the same place on the right side there is a gate through which you can exit into the courtyard to washing fountain (6). Above the gate that is called beautiful gate, one of the most famous mosaics of the cathedral, which depicts the builder of the temple, Emperor Justinian, the Mother of God on the throne and Emperor Constantine, the founder of the city. The mosaic is visible in the direction of movement from the courtyard to the cathedral, and not from the cathedral to the courtyard. Second mosaic is above imperial gate (9). It is called Jesus Pankrator. A detailed description of all the mosaics and information on where to find them, see below. Imperial Gate (9), according to legend, converted from Fragments of Noah's Ark. Previously, only the emperor himself could enter them, but now you can. Those close to the emperor entered the neighboring doors. Above the imperial gate on the second floor is located imperial box. More about him will be written below.

• Inner courtyard of the baptistery (baptistery). You can get there through the second vestibule (we go to its right side), then, immediately upon exiting, we go into the door on the left. In the courtyard is stone font, which was moved directly from the premises of the baptistery (baptistery). The font is large, with steps. In it, several people were baptized (converted) at once in adulthood. Later, when Orthodoxy was widespread enough, smaller fonts (for babies) were used for baptism. Look small font (5) can be on the left side of the first porch. At one time, the courtyard and the baptistery (baptistery) were used by the Turks to store oil for the lamps that illuminated the cathedral. Oil vessels placed along the walls of the courtyard of the baptistery.

• Baptistry (baptistery). Now it is the tomb of the sultans Mustafa I and Ibrahim I. From the courtyard of the baptistery (baptistery), through the glass door, you can see the baptismal itself, but you won’t be able to get there from the courtyard. You can visit the tomb for free, but for this you need to leave the territory of the Hagia Sophia Museum and approach the cathedral from its right (eastern) side. For more details, see Hagia Sophia tombs.

• The main area of ​​the cathedral. From the second porch through imperial gate (9) we enter the main space of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.
• Central part of the first floor. We go to the very center of the cathedral, under the dome. Let me remind you that the diameter of the dome - 30 meters, and the height is 56 meters. By the way, this dome was destroyed by an earthquake in 557, and then rebuilt. The dome is surrounded by 40 windows. Now a surah from the Koran is written on the dome, and earlier, during the time of Byzantium, there was an image of Jesus here.

• looking back on the imperial gate (9). See left and right two marble vases (11) brought from Pergamum. All space is illuminated low hanging chandeliers, which were added under the Ottomans. hanging at the top eight huge Islamic medallions(7.5 meters in diameter), on which the names of Allah, the Prophet Muhammad, the first caliphs Ali and Abu Bakr are written in Arabic letters. Without lowering our heads, we look above the medallions. There are depicted four six-winged seraphim. In Christianity, a seraphim is an angel closest to God. The length of these images is 11 meters. Now only one face of the seraphim is open, others are closed under the Ottomans with drawings of a polygonal star. Initially, faces were drawn in the form of an eagle and a lion, as well as the faces of angels.

• Now look ahead again and approach the fenced area. This place is called omfalion (12) and symbolizes "The center of the world", that is "Center of the World". In the central circle, there used to be the throne of the emperor, and in small circles, his entourage stood nearby. It was in this place that the coronation ceremony of emperors took place. There is a version that the location of the circles has a secret encrypted meaning. Next to the omphalion is a special elevation - something like a covered pavilion. This muezzin tribune (13). It is intended for the servant of the mosque, who calls to prayer from the minaret.
• Let's move forward. We see right above Mosaic of Virgin Mary and baby Jesus. See below for a detailed description of all the mosaics and information on where to find them in the cathedral. Under the mosaic is mihrab (15)- a decorated niche that shows the direction to Mecca. To the right of the mihrab is minbar (14)- a high tribune with steps, from where the imam reads a sermon.

• Left side of the first floor. On the left side is weeping column (10), the lower part of which is covered with copper plates. Make a cherished wish, stick your thumb into a small depression and scroll your palm three times in a circle, without lifting your palm from the surface of the copper sheets. It looks funny from the outside. According to legend, if you feel moisture, then your wish will allegedly come true. This belief is several centuries old.
• Right side of the first floor. Here it is library (17) of Sultan Mahmud I. Books were brought here during the reign of this sultan. Now they are on display in another museum, and one can only admire the patterned lattice of arched windows.

• Second floor. Now it's time to go up to the second floor. Let's go into the second porch and by stairs (ramp) (2) we rise to the upper gallery. Once upon a time, the empress was carried here, raising her to the imperial box. Walk around the perimeter, look at the lower part of the cathedral from above. At the same time, look on the parapets (stone fences) for inscriptions made Scandinavian runes. Look for them on the parapets on the south side of the cathedral. Runes are the writing of the ancient Germans. These inscriptions were scratched out by the Varangian mercenaries, who served with the Byzantine emperor for hire.
• In the right (south) wing second floor, find an empty Tomb of Doge Enrico Dandolo- Ruler of Venice This is a niche in the floor, which is covered with a stone lid with the name of the Doge. In fact, the tomb is empty - there are no remains of the ruler of Venice in it. Enrico Dandolo was "famous" for the fact that at the age of 97, being almost blind, he captured Constantinople during the fourth crusade. Ironically, his tomb is located in the same cathedral, in the looting of which she personally took part. According to legend, Sultan Mehmed II the Conqueror (Fatih) ordered the bones of the former ruler of Venice to be taken out and thrown to be eaten by dogs.

• Opposite the tomb is a mosaic Last judgment. The other two mosaics are located on the far side of the south wing. And four more mosaics - in the northern part of the second floor. A detailed description of all the mosaics and information on where to find them in the cathedral, read below.
• It has often been mentioned here imperial box. It was on the second floor directly above imperial gate (9). In this box, during divine services, the Empress sat with her ladies-in-waiting. During the period of early Christianity, women and men were kept separate from each other in the cathedral.

Where to look for mosaics in the cathedral

The first mosaics appeared in the cathedral three centuries after its construction. Some are still well preserved and you can see them. By the way, in Istanbul there is a whole mosaic museum that were found at the excavation site Grand Palace(the palace itself is practically not preserved).

• Mosaic No. 1: Christ Pankrator(late 10th century). Located in the second porch above imperial gate (9). It's in western part of the cathedral. The mosaic depicts Christ sitting on a throne. In His hands He holds a book with the inscription: “Peace be with you. I am the light of the world." Emperor Leo VI bowed before Him. To the left of Jesus Christ is the Virgin Mary, to the right is the archangel Gabriel. The image symbolizes the eternal power that the Lord gave to the emperors. It is believed that Emperor Leo VI is on his knees because he asks for forgiveness for his fourth non-canonical marriage. Because of this, the patriarch did not let the emperor into the cathedral and did not begin to marry.
• Mosaic No. 2: Emperor Justinian, Mother of God, Emperor Constantine. It is located on the right side of the second narthex above the first gate to the courtyard. The mosaic is visible in the direction of movement from the courtyard to the cathedral, and not from the cathedral to the courtyard. On the mosaic on the left is Emperor Justinian (the builder of the cathedral). In his hands is the Hagia Sophia, which he presents to the Mother of God. In the middle - the Mother of God with a child in her arms, she sits on a throne. On the right is Emperor Constantine (the founder of the city). In his hands is Constantinople, which he presents to the Mother of God.

• Mosaic No. 3: Virgin Mary and baby Jesus(867). Located on the semi-dome above the mihrab on the east side of the temple. It is clearly visible from almost any part of the building - it is difficult not to notice it.
• Mosaic #4: The Last Judgment. Located on the second floor of the cathedral (southern part) opposite tombs of the ruler of Venice, Enrico Dandolo. The mosaic depicts Christ in the very center, the Mother of God on the left, and John the Baptist on the right. They ask Jesus Christ to save the human race. It is believed that part of the mosaic was destroyed by the crusaders.

• Mosaic No. 5: Emperor Constantine Monomakh, Christ and Empress Zoya(about 1044). Located on the second floor in the eastern part of the cathedral south gallery. Christ is depicted on the mosaic in the center, on the left - Konstantin Monomakh (Zoya's husband) presents Him with gifts (a bag of money), and on the right - Empress Zoya presents a deed of gift. During the reign of Zoya's stepson, the empress's face on the mosaic was chipped off. When Zoya again ascended the throne, the mosaic was restored. By the way, at first Zoe's second husband was depicted on the mosaic, but when she married Konstantin Monomakh for the third time, the face of the second husband was chipped off, replacing it with the face of the third husband.
• Mosaic No. 6: Emperor John Komnenos, Mother of God and Empress Irene(about 1120). Located next to mosaic number 5 on the second floor in the eastern part of the temple of the southern gallery. The mosaic on the left depicts Emperor John Komnenos, on the right - his wife Irina. In the middle is the Virgin. The emperor presents gifts (a bag of money), and the empress presents a deed of gift.

• Series of mosaics of bishops: John Chrysostom, Dionysius the Areopagite, Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, Ignatius the God-bearer (about 878). These mosaics are located in niches from the northern part of the temple. Consider them best from the south side of the second floor. You need to stand approximately in the center of the southern gallery.

Operating mode. Cost of visiting

• Working hours: from 09.00-19.00 (summer schedule, from April 15 to October 30), from 09.00-17.00 (winter schedule, from October 30 to April 15). The museum is closed on Mondays.
• Admission fee: 72 TL. You can pay with a bank card. Tickets stop selling one hour before closing. Children under seven years old are admitted free of charge. When visiting this museum, you can save money if you use.

How to get to the Hagia Sophia Museum in Istanbul

The most convenient way to get to Hagia Sophia in Istanbul is by light rail (see below). Istanbul transport) to Sultanahmet stop. Then 5 minutes walk through the Sultanahmet Park.

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But among them, the main place is occupied by the magnificent Hagia Sophia, which is also known as the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul or as the Hagia Sophia Mosque. Here is a sacred and prayerful place not only for Christians, but equally for Muslims. It is one of the most visited and famous historical monuments in the world. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The building of the great temple, built in a seismically dangerous zone, near a tectonic fault, withstood several strong earthquakes. It has endured several devastating fires and suffered the ravages of war. Many books have been written about the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, about its architecture, decoration, about the impression it makes on visitors, about its centuries-old history. Any advertising publication of Istanbul, as a rule, is accompanied by the image of Aya Sophia. And what is so special about it?

Who was Saint Sophia?

Many people think that the temple bears the name of a woman - after all, among the Christian saints there are several named Sophia, perhaps named after one of them? No, this is a wrong assumption! The name comes from the Greek word "sophia", meaning knowledge, wisdom, and not from any specific holy name Sophia. The full Greek name is the Temple of the Wisdom of God.

During its long, long life, Hagia Sophia in Istanbul had several different names - Hagia Sophia, the Great Church, Hagia Sophia.

Tiptoe into space at Hagia Sophia

With reverence we pass through the tourist entrance to the narthex of the church. Here, where once penitent sinners crowded, reference information now hangs, marble archaeological antiquities stand, traces of a golden mosaic are on the ceiling. But under the impatient beats of the heart, we move on. From here, 9 doors go to the main part of the temple, the central ones are the Imperial Gates. It is believed that they are made from the remains of Noah's ark.

We freeze in order to feel: in the Byzantine era, only the emperor himself could pass through them, and now anyone who has paid 25 lire boldly passes ... But, if you do not rush and stand in this place for a while, you can see dark recesses on the marble floor slabs - these are trodden for centuries, the footprints of the guards who guarded the emperor during his prayer. How many people defended here for this visible stroke of time to appear ...

We pass into the nave under the mosaic depicting the emperor, who prostrated himself before Christ. On the sides of Christ are the Mother of God and the Archangel Gabriel. In the hands of Jesus the Gospel with the words “Peace be with you. I am the light of the world."

Hagia Sophia in Istanbul is stunning. A huge dome floats weightlessly over an arcade of windows. It is like a real golden sky… After a while you realize the size of the temple and its grandeur… And the feeling of peace and tranquility surrounds and absorbs you. Thin rays of light from the windows of high vaults fall on the majestic columns, unearthly eyes of angels and saints look attentively and sadly.

Around a crowd of people: women and men, old people and children ... What brought each of them here?

Near the entrance stands a quadrangular Weeping Column lined with ancient copper sheets, which is considered miraculous. A hole has been made in it, inside which moisture is felt. The copper surface around the peephole has been polished with millions of touches. If you make a wish and stick your thumb into the hole, and then manage to turn it 360 degrees, then, they say, the wish will come true. I also made a wish and turned ... No, my wish did not come true ...

Next to us, in line for a miracle, were the kids from the school field trip. Funny and curious, they twirled and looked at us with interest. Or maybe Katya?

Let's look into history

The exquisite combination of peach-colored domes and minarets of Hagia Sophia against the blue sky is a symbol of Istanbul. This is the only building in the world that served the needs of three different religions: it was a Catholic cathedral, a temple of Greek Orthodoxy and a mosque of Sunni Islam.

• In the 4th century, a cathedral was built on this site. But it was either destroyed or burned, so in 532-537 Emperor Justinian I rebuilt it. He created a true masterpiece of Byzantine architecture. The cathedral served as a Byzantine church for the next 900 years, here was the residence of the Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople, the place of imperial ceremonies and church councils. It is believed that Russia became Orthodox, not Catholic, under the impression of the grandeur of this building.
• On April 13, 1204, the crusaders subjected Constantinople to a merciless ruin. The knights ruthlessly robbed the Cathedral, tore off all the coatings of gold and silver, stole everything that represented at least some value. After that, the building was handed over to the Catholic priests. Hagia Sophia in Istanbul functioned as a Roman Catholic cathedral until Emperor Michael recaptured Constantinople with a strengthened Byzantine army in 1261. But priceless relics, such as the Shroud of Turin, the spear with which the Roman legionary pierced the side of Jesus, fragments of the Cross, and many others, have never returned.
• On May 29, 1453, the capital of the Byzantine Empire fell. In Constantinople, triumphant, the victorious Turks enter. From the ruler, the illustrious Sultan Mehmet, nicknamed the Conqueror, sees in the conquered city an incomparable miracle - Hagia Sophia and immediately turns it into his imperial Hagia Sophia. In this capacity, she has been serving Muslims for a very long time. The Turks carry out some transformations in it to remove Christian signs, build a beautiful marble mihrab and minbar inside, from which sermons are conducted, build amazing minarets, as if floating in the azure air of Istanbul.
• Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic that emerged after the fall of the Ottoman Empire, in 1934 turns Hagia Sophia into a museum. He says the ancient building "should become a monument to all civilization." Prayer rugs are removed, revealing a beautiful marble floor. A number of calligraphy panels are moved to other mosques, however, eight of them remain in place to this day. The mosaics are cleared from the layers of plaster covering them.

What to look for

In order to see, you need to know what to look at. Otherwise, you will either not pay attention to much or you will not really realize. And in order not to be excruciatingly painful later, you need to prepare, read and see. Well, what am I, they are not small. And in short, yes.

See architecture

Hagia Sophia in Istanbul is a domed basilica of 3 naves, the central one is wide and the other two are narrower. The most important thing is a grandiose dome 56 m high and 31 m in diameter, which rests on 4 arches from 4 pillars. This daunting design challenge was brilliantly solved by ingenious architects using many innovations. As a result, the square central space of the temple is crowned with a magnificent dome. Below it are forty arched windows. Two smaller semi-domes adjoin the dome from the west and east, and to each of them - three more, smaller, semi-domes.

The dimensions of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul are as follows:

• its length is 76 m,
• width - 69 m,
• and the height is 56 m

Hagia Sophia has two levels: a gallery is located above the lower floor. The first floor was intended for believers, in the center were the clergy and the emperor.

On the second floor there were galleries or choirs, they were intended for women during worship. In the center of the choirs, on the axis of the temple, there was a place where the empress sat during the service. From here, the temple is visible, as in the palm of your hand.

Interior

The interior of the Hagia Sophia has always been of rare beauty. During its erection, for decoration, white marble, like snow, was brought from Prokonez, malachite green was brought from Karitos, elegant red from Iasos, pink marble from Phrygia. The lower parts of the walls were covered with blue-green and pink marble, the floor was decorated with marble patterns of different colors. The surface of the altar, according to contemporaries, shimmered with 72 different colors and shades. The capitals of the columns were decorated with elegant carvings. The upper gallery was painted with frescoes and covered with mosaics with sacred images. And the dome was decorated with gilding and a mosaic with the face of Christ the Almighty.

Along the perimeter of the temple there were rows of icons, shrines, a shrine with relics. But that's all in the past. Now it's empty and bare. But the interior lining of the building with polychrome marble, green, white, porphyry, has come down to our time.

1. Byzantine mosaics

Hagia Sophia in Istanbul is now famous for its exquisite mosaics. The oldest mosaics are modest geometric and floral designs and date back to the reign of Justinian. Later - with images of Christ, saints, emperors and their families.

And above the altar there is an image of the Mother of God, holding the baby Christ on her knees ... At the entrance to the nave of the cathedral, my eyes stopped on a miraculous image, and then, when I wandered between the columns, I noticed that my gaze was drawn to her more than once, not twice.

And the most famous of the mosaics are on the top floor, in the galleries. In the southern gallery is the most-most of them - the Deesis mosaic. This word denotes in iconography a composition of three characters: in the middle is Christ, near him the Mother of God and John the Baptist in prayer poses. Here is another famous mosaic - the image of Christ Pantokrator in dark blue robes, his right hand is raised for blessing, and his left is holding the Gospel.

Right under the main dome of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, on triangular pandative sails, frescoed cherubs. Their Turks, unlike mosaics, did not cover them with plaster, but only covered their faces with overlays.

1. Calligraphy in Hagia Sophia Istanbul

In the museum, high above, there are 8 huge round shields, made either from camel or donkey skin. They have Arabic inscriptions of wondrous beauty. The names of Allah, his prophet, sayings from the Koran are written. The shields form an incredibly interesting contrast to the Christian mosaics.

1. Lamps and wrought iron chandeliers.

Chandeliers descend from the heights on cables, almost to the height of a person. This is one of the striking elements of the decoration of the temple: like droplets of radiant dew on a cobweb spread overhead. Incredibly beautiful.

1. mihrab

Let me remind you that this is a rounded niche in the wall that marks the direction of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, there is the most sacred place in Islam. See, in Aya Sophia, she is a little off center? The fact is that the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul was built as a Christian temple, which are oriented to the east. And all mosques should be directed to the Kaaba in Mecca, that is, to the southeast of Istanbul, which is why in Hagia Sophia there was such a mismatch between the central part of the church building and the axial point of the mihrab. To the left of the mihrab is the Sultan's Lodge, to the right is the minbar, a place for preaching.

1. coronation site

It is believed that the square on the floor, made of colored marble, is the place where the Byzantine emperors were crowned.

Secrets of Hagia Sophia

If it continued to be a mosque, then there would be no question of investigating something in it, and even more so of excavating it. But, fortunately, the Hagia Sophia Mosque in Istanbul has been converted into a museum. And this means that scientists can freely explore it. Although not all rooms in it are open to ordinary people, scientists, of course, have studied each one, and scrupulously, down to the millimeter.

True, we must make a reservation - we are talking only about the above-ground part of the structure.

And, I must say that there are amazing stories about what is under the building. A certificate from the Spanish ambassador from 1403 has been preserved that below, under the Hagia Sophia, there is a giant cistern. And this is not the only evidence. This was repeated by various European travelers in later times. Scanning the temple confirmed the presence of large voids underneath. But it has not yet been possible to find an underground storage, the size of which should be surpassed.

The main thing

The world-famous Hagia Sophia in Istanbul has three main and unique features:

• First, he has a very respectable age. Hagia Sophia in Istanbul has been around for 1,500 years. From this time, it was used by Christians for 916 years, for 481 years it served as the Hagia Sophia Mosque, and now it is the most famous museum in Istanbul.
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The cathedral is located in the historical center of Istanbul in the Sultanahmet area. Today it is one of the symbols of the city and a museum.

Hagia Sophia is recognized as one of the greatest examples of Byzantine architecture that has survived to this day, which even sometimes called "the eighth wonder of the world."

According to the Russian scientist N.P. Kondakov, this temple "did more for the empire than many of its wars." The Church of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople became the pinnacle of Byzantine architecture and for many centuries determined the development of architecture in the countries of Western and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and the Caucasus.

The temple is one of the most ancient and majestic buildings belonging to the Christian religion. Hagia Sophia is considered the 4th museum in the world equal in scale to such masterpieces as the Church of St. Paul in London, San Pietro in Rome and the Houses in Milan.

The name Sophia is usually interpreted as "wisdom", although it has a much broader meaning. It can mean "mind", "knowledge", "skill", "talent", etc. Christ is often identified with Sophia in the sense of wisdom and reason. Thus, Sophia represents an aspect of Jesus as an image of Divine Wisdom.

Sophia is not only a spiritual category, but also a popular female name. It was worn by the Christian Saint Sophia, who lived in the 2nd century - her memory is celebrated on May 15th. The name Sofia is common in Greece, Romania and South Slavic countries. In Greece, there is also a male name Sophronios with a similar meaning - reasonable, wise.

Sophia - The Wisdom of God is dedicated to numerous Orthodox churches, among which the most famous is Hagia Sophia in Constantinople - the main temple of the Byzantine Empire.

Hagia Sophia

The lights were on, incomprehensible
The language sounded, the great sheikh read
Holy Quran - and the immense dome
Disappeared in gloomy darkness.

Throwing a curved saber over the crowd,
Sheikh raised his face, closed his eyes - and fear
Reigned in the crowd, and dead, blind
She lay on the carpets...
And in the morning the temple was bright. Everything was silent
In humble and sacred silence,
And the sun brightly illuminated the dome
In an unfathomable height.
And the doves in it, rhea, cooed,
And from above, from every window,
The expanse of heaven and the air called sweetly
To you, Love, to you, Spring!

Ivan Bunin

This is how the Byzantine writes about the temple chronicler Procopius: “This temple is a most wonderful sight ... It soars up to the very sky, standing out among other buildings, like a boat in the stormy waves of the open sea ... It is all full of sunlight, it seems as if it is the temple itself that radiates this light.”

FOR MORE THAN 1000 YEARS, SOPHIA CATHEDRAL IN CONSTANTINOPOLE REMAINED THE LARGEST TEMPLE IN THE CHRISTIAN WORLD (PRIOR TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF ST. PETER'S CATHEDRAL IN ROME).
Its height is 55 meters, the diameter of the dome is 31 meters, the length is 81 meters, and the width is 72 meters. If you look at the temple from a bird's eye view, you can see that it is a cross measuring 70x50.

The most spectacular part of the structure is its dome. In shape, it is close to a circle, with a diameter of almost 32 meters. For the first time, sails were used for its construction - curved triangular vaults. 4 supports support the dome, and it is formed by 40 arches with windows cut into them. The light entering these windows creates the illusion that the dome is floating in the air. The inner space of the temple is divided into 3 parts - naves, with the help of columns and pillars.

The experts conclude that the domed system of this ancient structure of such colossal proportions, which still amazes specialists and remains a real masterpiece of architectural thought. However, like the decoration of the cathedral itself. It has always been considered the most luxurious.

The interior decoration of the temple lasted for several centuries and was distinguished by special luxury - 107 columns of malachite (according to legend from the temple of Artemis in Ephesus) and Egyptian porphyry support the galleries surrounding the main nave. Mosaic on the golden floor. Mosaic completely covering the walls of the temple.

The central nave of the cathedral, the chancel and the main dome

Tradition tells that the builders of the Sophia Temple competed with their predecessors, who once created the legendary Solomon Temple in Jerusalem, and when the Hagia Sophia was completed on Christmas Day 537 and consecrated, Emperor Justinian exclaimed: “Solomon, I have surpassed You.”

An angel shows Justinian a model of the Hagia Sophia

Even for a modern person, the Hagia Sophia makes a great impression. What can we say about the people of the Middle Ages! That is why many legends were associated with this temple. In particular, it was said that the plan of the building was handed to Emperor Justinian by the angels themselves when he was sleeping.

The Hagia Sophia is about a thousand years old, as are the frescoes on its walls and ceilings. These frescoes depict contemporaries of biblical events that took place at the turn of the first millennium, 10 centuries ago. The Hagia Sophia has been reconstructed since 1934.

Above the entrance you will see the icon of Our Lady of Blachernae with angels, the exonarthex depicts the childhood of Christ.

Mosaic image of the Virgin in the apse

Emperors Constantine and Justinian in front of the Mother of God

Emperor Alexander

Archangel Gabriel (mosaic of the arch of vima)

John Chrysostom

Mihrab located in the apse

When Sultan Mehmed II captured Constantinople (1453), the temple was turned into a mosque. 4 minarets were added, the interior decoration was greatly changed, the frescoes were covered with plaster, the altar was moved. Sophia Cathedral was renamed the Hagia Sophia Mosque.

After the Turkish conquest of Constantinople Sultan Mehmed Fatih in 1453, Aya Sofia was converted into a mosque. Sultan Mehmed II Fatih (the Conqueror) renovated the building and built one minaret. The frescoes and mosaics were covered with a layer of plaster and were only rediscovered during restoration work. In numerous reconstructions carried out during the Ottoman period, Hagia Sophia was significantly strengthened, including through stabilizing minarets. Subsequently, additional minarets appeared (there were only 4 of them), a library at the mosque, a madrasah at the mosque (a Muslim educational institution that acts as a secondary school) and shadyrvan (a place for ritual ablution before prayer).

Since 1935, by order of the founder of the Turkish Republic Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Hagia Sophia has become a museum, and the mosaics and frescoes smeared by the Ottomans were opened, but bewitching Islamic ornaments were left next to them. Therefore, now inside the museum you can observe an unimaginable mixture of Christian and Islamic symbols.

The Fall of Constantinople (painting by an unknown Venetian artist of the late 15th - early 16th century)

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Orthodox calendar

Mchch. 42 in Amoraea: Constantine, Aetius, Theophilus, Theodore, Melissen, Callistus, Vasoya and others with them (c. 845). Rev. Job, in the schema of Jesus, Anzersky (1720).

Finding the Holy Cross and nails of St. Queen Helen in Jerusalem (326). Prmchch. Conon and his son Conon (270-275). Rev. Arcadius of Cyprus (c. 361). Rev. Fridolin of Seckingen (540).

Icons of the Mother of God: Czestochowa, Shestokovskaya and "Blessed Sky".

@At the 6th hour: Is. XI, 10 - XII, 2. For eternity: Gen. VII, 11 - VIII, 3. Proverbs. X, 1– [email protected]

We congratulate birthday people on Angel Day!

Icon of the day

Icon of the Mother of God "Guarantee of sinners"

Celebration days: March 7, May 29

Icon of the Mother of God "Guarantee of sinners" named after the inscription preserved on the icon: "I am the guarantor of sinners to my Son ...".

For the first time, this image became famous for miracles in the Nikolaevsky Odrin monastery in the Oryol province in the middle of the 19th century. The ancient icon of the Mother of God "The guarantor of sinners" did not enjoy proper veneration due to its dilapidation and stood in the old chapel at the monastery gates. But in 1843, it was revealed to many residents in dreams that this icon was endowed, according to God's Providence, with miraculous power. The icon was solemnly transferred to the church. Believers began to flock to her and ask for the healing of their sorrows and illnesses. The first to be healed was a paralyzed boy whose mother fervently prayed in front of this shrine. The icon became especially famous during the cholera epidemic, when many terminally ill people who came to her with faith, she brought back to life.

A large three-altar church was built in the monastery in honor of the miraculous image. On the icon “Guide of sinners”, the Mother of God is depicted with the Infant on her left hand, Who holds Her right hand with both of His hands. The heads of the Mother of God and the Child are crowned with crowns.

In 1848, due to the diligence of the Muscovite Dimitry Boncheskul, a copy of this miraculous image was made and placed in his house. Soon he became famous for the outflow of healing world, which gave many people recovery from serious illnesses. This miraculous list was transferred to the church of St. Nicholas in Khamovniki, in which a chapel was built at the same time in honor of the icon of the Mother of God "The guarantor of sinners." In addition to March 7, the feast in honor of this icon takes place on May 29.

Troparion to the Most Holy Theotokos before the icon of Her "Guide of sinners"

Unfortunately disappearing, / sinners in the grief of hearts, they get comforted / and heavenly loving lights: / This gave Me a hand for them to hear Me take out. / The same, people, burdened with sins by many, / fall at the foot of the icon of Her, crying out with tears: / Intercessor of the world, sinful guarantor, / implore with Your motherly, delivering prayers of all will cover our sins with forgiveness / and open the bright doors of paradise to us, / / ​​You are the intercession and salvation of the Christian race.

Translation: Now all sadness is calming down and the fear of despair disappears, sinners receive comfort in the hardships of the heart and are lightly illuminated with Heavenly love, because today the Mother of God gives us a saving hand and from Her Most Pure Image tells us: “I am the Intercessor for all sinners before my Son, He vouched Me for them, who will always hear Me.” Therefore, people, burdened with many sins, fall at the foot of Her icon, crying out with tears: “Intercessor of the world and Intercessor for sinners, implore with your motherly prayers the Redeemer of all, so that with Divine forgiveness He will forgive our sins and open the bright doors of paradise to us. Because You are the protection and salvation of all Christians.

John troparion to the Most Holy Theotokos before the icon of Her "Guide of sinners"

To you, the ever-flowing source of mercy / and the guarantor of sinners, your unworthy servants, the Theotokos, / crouching, grieving, we cry out to You: / save us from troubles, Mistress, / / ​​and by your motherly intercession, ask us all for eternal salvation.

Translation: To You, the source of mercy, always flowing and Intercessor for sinners, Your unworthy servants, Mother of God, kneeling in sorrow, we cry out: “Save us from troubles, Mistress, and by Your motherly intercession, ask for eternal salvation for all of us.”

Kontakion to the Most Holy Theotokos before the icon of Her "Guide of Sinners"

An honest dwelling of the former / of the inexpressible nature of the Divine / above the word and more than the mind / and you are the guarantor of sinners, / you give grace and healing, / as the Mother of all the Kings: / pray to Your Son / / receive mercy on the Day of Judgment.

Translation: Being the revered dwelling of the inexpressible Divine nature, above words and more than the mind [higher than understanding] and sinful You are the Intercessor, You give grace and healing, as the Mother of the Reigning over all, pray to Your Son that we receive mercy on the Day of Judgment.

Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos before the icon of Her "Guide of sinners"

Oh, Blessed Lady, Defender of the Christian race, refuge and salvation of those who flow to You! Wem, VIRTINNUED VOM, IKO ZELE OF SIGHTING AND PROGRESS, RESIDITY PERSONSHIP, Born Fights from You Son of God: But Imaming Many Images Previously who who who victims of His landscurring: Mytari, the harbor and other sinners, guessing their sins, repentance for the sake of confession. You are, therefore, the images of my sinful souls pardoned by the eye, presenting also to the great mercy of God, one who received, looking, boldly, and as a sinner, resort with repentance to Your mercy. O All-merciful Lady, give me a helping hand and ask Your Son and God with your motherly and most holy prayers for forgiveness of my grave sin. I believe and confess that it is He who gave birth to Him, Your Son, is truly Christ, the Son of the Living God, Judge of the living and the dead, repaying anyone according to his deeds. I still believe and confess to you to be the true Mother of God, the source of mercy, the consolation of the weeping, the exaction of the lost, the strong and unceasing Intercessor to God, the deeply loving Christian race, and the guarantor of repentance. Truly, for there is no other help and cover for a person, is it possible for You, the Merciful Lady, and no one trusting in You being ashamed when, and begging God for You, no one was left behind. For the sake of praying for your unqualified goodness: the door of the Mercy doors of yours, lost and fallen in the teeming of the depth, do not rush to me, do not leave my sinning of my prayer, do not leave me by Okayannagago, IKO in the death of a malicious enemy of kidnapped me, but the mind of me is born from Thee, Thy merciful Son and God, may my great sins be forgiven, and deliver me from my harm: as if I, with all those who have received forgiveness, will sing and glorify the immeasurable mercy of God and Your shameless intercession for me in this life and in this infinity. Amen.

Second Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos before the Icon of Her "Guide of Sinners"

My Most Blessed Queen, My Most Holy Hope, Guarantee of sinners! Behold, the poor sinner stands before Thee! Do not leave me, abandoned by all, do not forget me, forgotten by all, give me joy, ignorant of joy. Oh, my troubles and sorrows are heavy! Oh, my sins are immeasurable! Like the darkness of the night is my life. And there is not a single strong help in the sons of men. You are my only hope. You are my only Cover, Refuge and Affirmation. I pretend to be a gentle thread and pray for you: we are soothing about me, all-inclusive, spare with the soul of your son, the sickness of the Moj's multiple soul diseases, tighten the rage of hated and offended me, to stand the strength of my fading, updates, Yako, you don't let them weaken in doing the commandments of God. With heavenly fire, touch my troubled soul and fulfill the shameless faith, unfeigned love and known hopes. May I always sing and glorify Thee, Most Blessed Intercessor of the world, Our Cover and Guarantor of all of us sinners, and I worship Thy Son and our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, with His Beginning Father and the Life-giving Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.

Reading the Gospel Together with the Church

We are continuing our study of the Sacred Gospel History and in this program we will talk about the Child Jesus in the Jerusalem Temple, based on the text of the Gospel of Luke.

Gospel of Luke, chapter 2, verses 40–52.

2.40. The infant grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him.

2.41. Every year His parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover.

2.42. And when He was twelve years old, they also came, according to the custom, to Jerusalem for the feast.

2.43. When, after the end of the days of the feast, they returned, the Servant Jesus remained in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother did not notice it,

2.44. but they thought that He went with others. And having traveled a day's journey, they began to seek Him among relatives and acquaintances.

2.45. and not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for him.

2.46. Three days later they found Him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions;

2.47. all who heard him marveled at his understanding and his answers.

2.48. And when they saw Him, they marveled; and His Mother said to Him: Child! what have you done to us? Behold, Your father and I have been looking for You with great sorrow.

2.49. He said to them: Why did you have to look for me? or did you not know that I must be in that which belongs to my Father?

2.50. But they did not understand the words He spoke.

2.51. And he went with them and came to Nazareth; and was in subjection to them. And His Mother kept all these words in Her heart.

2.52. Jesus, however, grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

(Luke 2:40-52.)

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Orthodox educational courses

THE RETURN OF THE PRODIDS

P preparing her faithful children for the grace-filled time of Great Lent, the time of special spiritual exploits and repentance, the Church brings to our attention the parable of the prodigal son (see: Luke 15:11-32).

(MP3 file. Duration 9:19 min. Size 6.8 Mb)

Hieromonk Ignatius (Shestakov)

Preparation for the Sacrament of Holy Baptism

V section " Preparation for Baptism" site "Sunday school: online courses " Archpriest Andrey Fedosov, head of the department of education and catechesis of the Kinel Diocese, information has been collected that will be useful to those who are going to be baptized themselves, or who want to baptize their child or become a godparent.

R The section consists of five categorical conversations, which reveal the content of the Orthodox dogma within the framework of the Creed, explain the sequence and meaning of the rites performed at Baptism, and provide answers to common questions related to this Sacrament. Each conversation is accompanied by additional materials, links to sources, recommended literature and Internet resources.

O The lectures of the course are presented in the form of texts, audio files and videos.

Course Topics:

• Conversation #1 Preliminary Concepts
• Conversation #2 Sacred Bible Story
• Conversation No. 3 Church of Christ
• Conversation #4 Christian Morality
• Conversation No. 5 The Sacrament of Holy Baptism

Applications:

• Frequently asked Questions
• Orthodox saints

Reading the lives of the saints of Dmitry Rostov for every day

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Radio "Vera"

Radio VERA is a new radio station that talks about the eternal truths of the Orthodox faith.

TV channel Tsargrad: Orthodoxy

Pravoslavnaya Gazeta, Yekaterinburg

Pravoslavie.Ru - Encounter with Orthodoxy

• The miracle of St. Luke: the story of a classmate

  After a couple of days, I was appointed to take another test. And suddenly the result… No infection!

In my opinion, Hagia Sophia in Istanbul is one of the most interesting and colorful monuments in! Everything in it is amazing: both the internal appearance, and the fusion of two religions, and the richest history, and amazing energy. I confess that we left the museum very impressed.

It's hard to believe, but the temple hagia sophia(Cathedral of the Wisdom of God) was built in 6th century emperor Justinian. Moreover, this was already the third attempt to build an Orthodox church on this site.

Initially, there was a church from the time of Constantine the Great, from which not a stone remained after the bloody popular uprising. In the 5th century, Emperor Theodosius II erected a “second Sophia”, which today only a few fragments remind of. Oddly enough, but this version of Hagia Sophia was also destroyed as a result of the brutal Nika uprising in 532.

However, in just five years, Justinian rebuilt the temple. The new splendor of gold, silver, colored marble and ivory cost three (!) annual incomes of Byzantium of those times!

V middle of the 15th century Sultan conquered Constantinople Mehmed II. And then the Christian church turned into a Muslim mosque with four minarets. And Hagia Sophia gets a new name - Hagia Sophia. Priceless mosaics, faces of saints and frescoes are roughly covered with a thick layer of plaster. By the way, historians believe that only this saved works of art from destruction.

The Hagia Sophia became a museum relatively recently - in 1934. At the same time, Muslim worship services were stopped in it by order of the then President of Turkey, Kemal Ataturk. And thirty years ago Hagia Sophia, along with other monuments of the historical center of the city, was finally included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It is amazing how today the two world religions coexist peacefully under one roof:

When Hagia Sophia was recognized as a museum, ancient Orthodox frescoes began to be restored, clearing the walls of plaster.

Here you can see the process of restoration of frescoes:

2. Useful information

2.1. Where is

The temple-museum is located in the historical center, where most of the city's attractions are concentrated - in the Sultanahmet area. The cathedral is located directly opposite Sultanahmet Park, not far from and.

Location on the map:

2.2. How to get there

• By bus

Any bus heading towards Sultanahmet goes to the cathedral-museum. For example, you can leave the Taksim area by bus number T4.

• On the light rail

We need the T1 tram line. The nearest stop to the museum is called Sultanahmet ("Sultanahmet"). If, after getting off the tram, you face the Sea of ​​Marmara, then the Hagia Sophia will be located on the left.

• By taxi

In Istanbul, a taxi is quite expensive, but you can hail a taxi anywhere at any time. To minimize the risk of fraud, it is better to book a taxi at your hotel, specifying the cost in advance. You can also order private transfer in advance.

• On foot

Located in the historical center of the city - Sultanahmet. Therefore, it is most logical to stay in this area - so you can get around all the main attractions on foot, and at the same time take a walk around Istanbul.

• Book an excursion

Usually includes not only a visit to Hagia Sophia, but also the famous Blue Mosque and the Basilica Cistern.

You can book an excursion at your hotel, but it is much more interesting to go on an excursion from local residents. You can see what interesting excursions the locals conduct in Istanbul here.

Square in front of the entrance to Hagia Sophia:

2.3. Visit time

WITH April 15 to September 30 the museum is open to visitors from 09.00 to 19.00. In the "winter" time - from 09.00 to 17.00.

The museum is closed on Mondays Please keep this in mind when planning your schedule.

A reminder of what and what time it closes. The last visitor can enter the territory of the museum until 18.00, and climb to the upper gallery until 18.15:

2.4. Price

The price of the entrance ticket to the museum is 60 Turkish lira (for 2019).

Per 185 lire you can buy a museum card (Museum Pass Istanbul), which gives you the right to visit dozens of museums in Istanbul for free and without a queue for five days:

At two ticket offices you can buy an entrance ticket for cash (only Lira):

Ticket vending machines only accept bank cards. In addition to the entrance ticket to Hagia Sophia, you can also purchase a museum card here:

Please note that the machine only accepts chipped cards. I could not buy a ticket using my magnetic stripe card, I had to go to a long queue.

To save time and not stand in this queue, you can buy a ticket in advance online. True, it will cost a little more, but the transfer from the hotel is included:

2.5. Official site

Information on the official website is presented in English and Turkish http://ayasofyamuzesi.gov.tr.

3. Photo tour of the temple

The territory of Hagia Sophia can be divided into two parts: the museum itself and several rooms with the tombs of the sultans of Istanbul.

3.1. Territory with the tombs of the sultans

The territory with the tombs is located on the other side of the main entrance to Hagia Sophia, the entrance there is completely free, mostly locals come here:

A map will help you navigate:

Mausoleum of Sultan Mehmed III, his wife and children:

The family tomb of amazing beauty was built almost 400 years ago! Sultan Mehmed III is often referred to as Gazi (fighter for justice). According to contemporaries, he personally led the army on military campaigns, reviving a tradition that had been lost before.

The territory is well-groomed and pleasant, but apart from it there is nothing to see:

A crowd of tourists follows from the tombs to the temple, for this we go around the temple:

3.2. Temple-Museum Hagia Sophia

At the entrance, visitors can take an audio guide (available in Russian), the cost is 20 lire:

On the territory of the museum, we found a map of the location of attractions in the Sultanahmet area:

A small area near the temple is allocated for toilets and cafes:

Toilets - right, cafe - on the left, entrance to the cathedral - on the right:

Anyone who speaks English well can get around St. Sophia Cathedral without a guide, focusing on a convenient plan:

Signatures for the scheme:

The dimensions of the temple are amazing - its height is 55 meters, and the diameter of the dome exceeds 30 meters!

Pay attention to how tiny people seem against the background of this architectural complex:

And this is how Hagia Sophia looks close up, the building is very ancient:

For a thousand years, Hagia Sophia was considered the largest Christian church on the planet. Now Hagia Sophia is the fourth largest complex after St. Peter's in Rome, St. Paul's in London and the Nativity of the Virgin in Milan. But its dome, in terms of its size, remained the world record holder there!

From the back, the temple looks like this:

Fountain next to the temple (1740):

Ancient bell:

On some walls we noticed inscriptions in Church Slavonic:

We go to the temple-museum:

Inside the temple seems much larger than outside. An amazing feeling of space, light and lightness:

Even the photo shows that there are always a lot of tourists in Hagia Sophia:

It feels like the size of the Hagia Sophia is comparable to the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow:

The ceiling is decorated with surahs from the Koran:

Next to the suras is a fresco with the Mother of God (Islam and Christianity coexist peacefully under one roof, it's just incredible!):

View of the upper gallery on the second floor:

Although the scaffolding spoils the photo, it allows you to visually assess the height of the dome:

Place of coronation of Byzantine emperors:

The floor in this place is lined with several types of rare marble. It is forbidden for mere mortals to walk on it:

The "happy place" of the temple - here you can make a cherished wish:

This column of St. Gregory is sometimes called "weeping" (for some reason, moisture constantly condenses on it). To make the cherished dream come true, you need to stick your finger into the hole in the copper plate and scroll it inside 360º.

Those wishing to make a wish - the sea, still strange people:

Tourists are not allowed to enter certain rooms of the temple. The imam used to climb this staircase to read prayers:

On the ground floor is the ancient library of Sultan Mahmud I, built in 1739:

We rise to the second floor:

You can navigate by the signs:

The medieval corridor looks creepy:

The second floor meets tourists with souvenir shops:

Still, it is strange that in the center of Muslim Istanbul you can buy an Orthodox icon or an Easter egg:

The choice of icons is impressive:

View from the top gallery:

View from the window of Hagia Sophia on the tombs of the sultans:

The famous marble gates (VI century), they used to separate the main part of the temple from the private imperial rooms:

After the gate, you can see the most interesting ancient mosaics. It is forbidden to photograph them with a flash, they can be damaged:

Restored mosaics of the 13th century (Virgin Mary, Jesus Christ and John the Baptist):

It is believed that the entire lower part of the priceless mosaic was stolen for souvenirs by barbarian tourists.

This mosaic depicts the Virgin Mary and Emperor John II Komnenos with his wife and son. The emperor appeared on the mosaic not by chance - hundreds of years ago he donated an impressive amount of money for the construction of the temple:

The most famous mosaic of Hagia Sophia: Jesus Christ sitting on a throne with the Gospel:

On the 1st floor of the temple, you can read the history of the construction of Hagia Sophia, as well as look at ancient maps. For example, ancient Istanbul (and then Constantinople) looked like this:

Notice how many churches! Now, of course, the face of Istanbul has changed significantly.

Map during the Byzantine period. Three Romes at once: Moscow, Rome and Constantinople:

4. Conclusions

Hagia Sophia is an incredibly interesting and colorful place! Moreover, it is worth going there regardless of religion - the two world religions are so intertwined that now the temple in the first place is an unusual and unique museum of history. No wonder this temple is called the "visiting card of Istanbul." From its size, beauty and energy literally takes your breath away! I advise everyone to definitely go up to the second floor - there are the most interesting mosaics.

In time, visiting Hagia Sophia will take at least two hours. It is better to plan an excursion in the morning - by the middle of the day crowds of tourists crowd into the cathedral.

By the way, Hagia Sophia is one of the few places worth visiting with a guide (or at least with an audio guide). Excursions are held there all the time - so you can join a group and learn a bunch of interesting facts about the amazing history of the temple at any time. In extreme cases, take the lonely planet guide to Istanbul with you - it describes in sufficient detail about the temple, its history and architecture.

5. Video

And now I propose to look at Hagia Sophia with our eyes:

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