Hagia Sophia

It is a former mosque and now a museum found in Istanbul, Turkey which served as the Greek Patriarchal cathedral of Constantinople, except between 1204 and 1261, when it was converted to a Roman Catholic cathedral under the Latin Patriarch of Constantinople of the Western Crusader established Latin Empire. The building was a mosque from 29 May 1453 until 1931, when it was secularized. It was opened as a museum on 1 February 1935. The Church was dedicated to the Logos, the second person of the...Read Full Story

ISTANBUL ( Reuters ) - About 200 Greek Orthodox Christians want to travel to Istanbul to try to hold mass at the former basilica of Hagia Sophia , defying Turkish law that bars religious services in what is now a museum. A Turkish Foreign Ministry official said Ankara could stop the group from entering Turkey if they pose a security threat. Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan 's government has lifted curbs on Christian worship at other sites under a EU -inspired drive to improve human rights. It...Read Full Story

This picture was taken by a friend of mine last week,, and is used with his permission One of the great places to visit in Istanbul, Turkey, is the Hagia Sophia , a wonderful domed cathedral that has served more than one religion. It is Byzantine, and one of the beauties of antiquity. Hagia Sophia (from the Greek: Ἁγία Σοφία, "Holy Wisdom"; Latin: Sancta Sophia or Sancta Sapientia ; Turkish: Aya Sofya) is a former Orthodox patriarchal basilica, later a mosque, and now a museum in Istanbul...Read Full Story

Hagia Sophia of Constantinople is also known as the Church of Holy Wisdom. Hagia Sophia is a former church belonging to the Byzantine era. It served as an Ottoman mosque in the city of Istanbul. Hagia Sophia is presently a museum. It is considered as one of the fine monuments in the world. Presently, the original Hagia Sophia is completely destroyed. Constantine the Great undertook the construction of this monument in the fourth century. Constantine served as the first, Catholic emperor. He...Read Full Story

A brief background:  The original was built in 360 A.D., burned down twice and the current building was started in 532.  It was a mosque from 1452 to 1934 and opened as a museum in secular Istanbul, Turkey in 1935. Now the International Congregation of Agia Sophia, a US-based group founded in 2005 with the purpose of returning the building as a place of worship for all the world's Christians, is planning on holding a liturgy there on September 17, the Orthodox feast day for Saint Sophia...Read Full Story

As a person who believes very strongly in the right to private property and the right to worship, the issue of "the ground zero mosque" has been a difficult one for me. The simplest way to express my frustration is this; I hate it, but there's nothing we can do about it. Building a mega-mosque so close to the site where so many innocent people were killed for jihad is more than just insensitive, it is a ball of spit right in America's already black eye. We know why they want to build it, and...Read Full Story

Perhaps this is too hard a hill to climb for Turkey - upholding the human rights of all its citizens including those of its religious minorities. I don't think they understand - that they have to do these insignificant things to get into Europe! The verdict condemns the Turkish state for improperly taking over the orphanage of Buyukada, on the Marmara Sea. In its ruling is also extremely important for religious minorities on Turkish soil. Istanbul (AsiaNews) - With a unanimous verdict (7...Read Full Story

Istanbul, May 30 - Their impressive minarets and domes dominate the skyline of Istanbul and no tour to the ancient Turkish city is complete without a visit to its two most important landmarks - the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. The Hagia Sophia, built in the 6th century, functioned as a church for more than 900 years, till the Ottoman Turks converted it into a mosque in the 15th century and it remained so for almost 500 years. It was in 1935 that the farsighted first Turkish president and...Read Full Story

Ullmann 600621 Constantinople – Istanbuls Historical Heritage Manufactured to the Highest Quality Available. With True Enhanced Performance. Latest Technical Development. Founded as a Greek settlement on the Bosporus the city’s history is replete with significant political and cultural developments. The Hagia Sophia stems from the early Christian era the Middle Ages bequeathed us churches and monasteries rich in mosiacs as well as illuminated manuscripts and icons and the...Read Full Story

HAGIA SOPHIA: The Jewel of Christendom Amazon Instant Video ~ Dr. William J. Neidinger Download: $1.99 (Visit the Best Sellers in Special Interests list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.) Find the best price Click HereRead Full Story