http://www.orthodoxphotos.com/history.shtml
Hagia Sophia (Άγια Σοφία in Greek), the Church of Holy Wisdom, known variously as Sancta Sophia in Latin, is an ancient cathedral of the Church of Constantinople located in modern-day Istanbul, Turkey. It was converted to a mosque by the Turks and is now used as a museum. It is universally acknowledged as one of the great buildings of the world and a reference point in history of architecture. (The church is sometimes mistakenly called “Saint Sophia,” as though it were named for a saint called Sophia.)
http://www.esphigmenou.com/
The first great church on the site was built by Constantius II, the son of Constantine the Great, but was burned down during the Nika riots of 532. The building was rebuilt in its present form between 532 and 537 under the personal supervision of emperor Justinian the Great. It is one of the greatest surviving examples of Byzantine architecture. Of great artistic value was its decorated interior with mosaics and marble pillars and coverings. The temple itself was so richly and artistically decorated that Justinian is believed to have said Νενίκηκά σε Σολομών: “Solomon, I have surpassed you!”
The architects of the church were Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralles, professors of geometry at the University of Constantinople. Justinian’s basilica was at once the culminating architectural achievement of late antiquity and the first masterpiece of Byzantine architecture. Its influence, both architecturally and liturgically, was widespread and enduring in the Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Muslim worlds alike.
For over 900 years the Hagia Sophia was the seat of the Patriarch of Constantinople and a principal setting for imperial ceremonies. It was converted to a mosque at the Fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks under Sultan Mehmet II in 1453. Since Islam considers the depiction of the human form to be blasphemous— that is, it is iconoclastic—Hagia Sophia’s iconographic mosaics were covered with plaster. For almost 500 years the principal mosque of Istanbul, Ayasofya, served as model for many of the Ottoman mosques of Constantinople such as the Shehzade Mosque, the Suleiman Mosque, and the Rustem Pasha Mosque.
In 1934, under Turkish president Kemal Atatürk, Hagia Sofia was secularized and turned into the Ayasofya Museum. Nevertheless, the mosaics remained largely plastered over, and the building was allowed to decay. A 1993 UNESCO mission to Turkey noted falling plaster, dirty marble facings, broken windows, decorative paintings damaged by moisture, and ill-maintained lead roofing. Cleaning, roofing and restoration have since been undertaken.
Although Turkey, and Istanbul in particular, are more secular than most Muslim countries, the status of Hagia Sophia remains a sensitive subject. The Islamic calligraphic displays suspended from the main dome remain in place. The mosaics are being gradually uncovered, including some visible from the ground floor.
AGAINST Ecumenism
http://www.orthodox.net/articles/against-ecumenism.html
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ESPHIGMENOU Monastery, from Holy mount Athos is still under severe persecution, for refusing ECUMENISM, but continue their daily prayer services.
Items under EMBARGO:
All food deliveries.
Medical Supplies.
Physician’s visits prohibited (monastery has diabetic monks and heart patients).
Fuel for heating, cooking etc.
http://www.esphigmenou.com/
The fathers of Esphigmenou struggle against the heresy of ecumenism which states that there is no one church which possesses the Truth. The Orthodox Church believes, as the monks of Esphigmenou Monastery believe, that the Church has never lost the Truth or its unity. The Nicene Creed states the Orthodox Church’s dogmatic basis, “I believe in one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. I believe in one baptism.” Ecumenism rejects these fundamental truths of the church by teaching that there are many churches and many baptisms.
The beliefs of ecumenism and the beliefs of Orthodoxy are mutually exclusive. You can either believe in the Creed or you can believe in ecumenism, not both. By embracing ecumenism Patriarch Bartholomew has embraced a belief in conflict with the teachings of the Orthodox Church.
“Our battle is for truth and the true orthodox way of life, which the patriarch is attempting to silence.” Abbot Methodios, AP/CNN.
http://www.esphigmenou.com/
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Duration : 0:4:15
Plastering—one of the oldest crafts in the building trades—remains popular due to the durability and relatively low cost of the material. Plasterers create decorative interior surfaces as well. One way that they do this is by pressing a brush or trowel firmly against a wet plaster surface and using a circular hand motion to create decorative swirls. Plasterers sometimes do more complex decorative and ornamental work that requires special skill and creativity. Stucco masons usually apply stucco—a mixture of Portland cement, lime, and sand—over cement, concrete, masonry or wire lath. Stucco may also be applied directly to a wire lath with a scratch coat, followed by a brown coat, and then a finish coat. Stucco masons may also embed marble or gravel chips into the finish coat to achieve a pebblelike, decorative finish.
Work done by Charly Medina (CAMO) in the area of San Diego, California, http://www.muralsandfaux.com
A humorous talk on safety for the decorative painter. Gear up! Faux finishing can be dangerous! Please, visit shopthecolorshop.com for more videos on faux finishing and decorative painting.
SWAHILI DEMONSTRATION
Kitchen Backsplash with onex (marble). Also, floor completed with ONEX.
http://www.abcservicessf.com/ in SAN FRANCISCO ENTIRE BAY AREA, CALIFORNIA, WEST COAST 
www.fauxfinished.com Professionally produced Faux Finish video from Alex of Alex’s Decorative Painting “The Faux Expert” www.fauxfinshed.com
DECORATIVE PLASTERING TEST FOOTAGE FOR UPCOMING DVD. FILMED AND PRODUCED BY CREATION-FX.COM http://www.Creation-FX.com
A Crafts Video Tutorial Brought To You By The Cloth Shop London, Marabu & Artist Resource