Hagia Sophia Kebir Mosque Sheriff – Istanbul

Hagia Sophia-i Kebir Mosque is among the most important monuments in the history of world architecture that have survived until today. It has an important place in the art world with its architecture, magnificence, size and functionality.

This magnificent work is the largest church built by the Eastern Roman Empire in Istanbul and was built three times in the same place. When it was first built, it was called Megale Ekklesia (Great Church), and it was called Hagia Sophia (Sacred Wisdom) from the 5th century until the conquest of Istanbul. Megale Ekklesia, which was built by Emperor Konstantios in 360 and Emperor II. The church, which Theodosis rebuilt in 415, was destroyed in the popular uprisings.

Today's Hagia Sophia-i Kebir Mosque was built by Emperor Justinianos, two important architects of the time, Anthemios from Tralles (Aydın) and Isidoros from Miletos (Balat). It is understood from the records that one hundred architects working with two chief architects and one hundred workers under each architect completed the construction of the building in a short period of 5 years and 10 months. The building, which was open to worship as a church for 916 years, was converted into a mosque when Fatih Sultan Mehmed conquered Istanbul in 1453.