𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑴𝒐𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒄𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑯𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒂 𝑺𝒐𝒑𝒉𝒊𝒂, 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝑶𝒏𝒆.
The Hagia Sophia ~Holy Wisdom (of God) ~ is a religious building that has crowned the skyline of Istanbul - Turkey for almost 1,500 years. It is famous for its rich history and is considered an architectural masterpiece of architecture from the Eastern Roman Empire, known as Byzantine.
The Hagia Sophia was built during the 6th century. It is one of the few buildings that have served three different religions during its existence. It has been an Orthodox Christian church, a Catholic cathedral, and a mosque. Currently, it functions as a museum…
On 10 July 2020, the decision of the Turkish Council of Ministers to transform the Hagia Sophia into a museum was cancelled by the Council of State. And, despite secular and global criticism, Erdoğan signed a decree annulling the Hagia Sophia’s museum status, reverting it to a mosque…
Hagia Sophia is an Unesco World Heritage site.
Hagia Sophia Imperial Gate mosaic
The mosaic above the Imperial Door was created during the 10th century, and it portraits the Emperor and several religious figures over a golden background. It shows Emperor Leo VI with a halo around his head kneeling next to Christ, who is sitting on a throne, blessing with his right hand. The text on the left hand of Christ reads in Greek “Peace be with you. I am the light of the world” (John 14:27; 8:12). There are two medallions, one on each side, showing the Virgin Mary and the Archangel Gabriel.
The Empress Zoe mosaics (11th-century) in Hagia Sophia.
The Empress Zoe mosaic on the eastern wall of the southern gallery date from the 11th century. Christ Pantocrator, clad in the dark blue robe (as is the custom in Byzantine art), is seated in the middle against a golden background, giving His blessing with the right hand and holding the Bible in His left hand. On either side of His head are the nomina sacra IC and XC, meaning Iēsous Christos. He is flanked by Constantine IX Monomachus and Empress Zoe, both in ceremonial costumes. He is offering a purse, as a symbol of donation, he made to the church, while she is holding a scroll, symbol of the donations she made. The inscription over the head of the emperor says: “Constantine, pious emperor in Christ the God, king of the Romans, Monomachus”. The inscription over the head of the empress reads as follows: “Zoë, the very pious Augusta”. The previous heads have been scraped off and replaced by the three present ones. Perhaps the earlier mosaic showed her first husband Romanus III Argyrus or her second husband Michael IV. Another theory is that this mosaic was made for an earlier emperor and empress, with their heads changed into the present ones.
The Virgin and Child (Theotokos) mosaic, in the apse of Hagia Sophia.
The famous Virgin and Child mosaic in the apse was inaugurated in 867, the first to be installed after a prolonged period of iconoclasm (726-843) in the Eastern Church.
Southwestern entrance mosaic
The southwestern entrance mosaic, situated in the tympanum of the southwestern entrance, dates from the reign of Basil II. It was rediscovered during the restorations of 1849 by the Fossatis. The Virgin sits on a throne without a back, her feet resting on a pedestal, embellished with precious stones. The Christ Child sits on her lap, giving his blessing and holding a scroll in his left hand. On her left side stands emperor Constantine in ceremonial attire, presenting a model of the city to Mary. The inscription next to him says: “Great emperor Constantine of the Saints”. On her right side stands emperor Justinian I, offering a model of the Hagia Sophia. The medallions on both sides of the Virgin’s head carry the nomina sacra MP and ΘΥ, abbreviations of “Mētēr” and “Theou”, meaning “Mother of God”.
Comnenus mosaics, Hagia Sophia.
The Comnenus mosaic, also located on the eastern wall of the southern gallery, dates from 1122.
On the right side of Virgin Mary stands emperor John II Comnenus, represented in a garb embellished with precious stones. He holds a purse, symbol of an imperial donation to the church. Empress Irene stands on the left side of the Virgin, wearing ceremonial garments and offering a document. Their eldest son Alexius Comnenus is represented on an adjacent pilaster. He is shown as a beardless youth, probably representing his appearance at his coronation aged seventeen. In this panel, one can already see a difference with the Empress Zoe mosaic that is one century older. There is a more realistic expression in the portraits instead of an idealized representation. The Empress, Saint Irene (born Piroska), daughter of Ladislaus I of Hungary is shown with plaited blond hair, rosy cheeks, and grey eyes, revealing her Hungarian descent. The emperor is depicted in a dignified manner.
Portrait of Saint John Chrysostom of Antioch (Hagios Ioannis Chrysostomos).
Deësis mosaic (Judgment day)
The Deësis mosaic (Δέησις, “Entreaty”) probably dates from 1261. It was commissioned to mark the end of 57 years of Roman Catholic use and the return to the Eastern Orthodox faith. It is the third panel situated in the imperial enclosure of the upper galleries. It is widely considered the finest in Hagia Sophia, because of the softness of the features, the human expressions and the tones of the mosaic. The style is close to that of the Italian painters of the late 13th or early 14th century, such as Duccio. In this panel the Virgin Mary and John the Baptist (Ioannes Prodromos), both shown in three-quarters profile, are imploring the intercession of Christ Pantocrator for humanity on Judgment Day. The bottom part of this mosaic is badly deteriorated. This mosaic is considered as the beginning of a renaissance in Byzantine pictorial art.
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