The Hagia Sophia is an architectural marvel and one of the most sacred places in two major world religions. Constructed under the orders of the Roman emperor Justinian I in 537 CE, Hagia Sophia, or a “Church of Divine Wisdom”, served as the world’s largest Christian cathedral for nearly a thousand years.
Located in the heart of the Byzantine Empire in Constantinople (now Istanbul), Hagia Sophia was the site of imperial coronations and the seat of the orthodox patriarch until the fall of the city to the Ottomans in 1453. Following the conquest, Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque, retaining its status until 1935, when it became a museum. Since 2020, Hagia Sophia is a mosque once again. Nonetheless, Hagia Sophia remains a remarkable building, a testament to Justinian’s ambition and legacy.
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