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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March 6th, 2010 at 1:20 am
orthodox or muslim, …
orthodox or muslim, whatever; its a museum now, there are some fools (like you) in turkey as well, they demand converting it into a mosque again, so what the hell? what makes Hagia Sophia beautiful is its architecture and history, not the fact that it was a church or a mosque in the past. But anyway one cannot persuade fixed racist minds, can he? Personally i want to see Hagia Sophia remaining as a musum, not a church or a mosque serving to retarded (yes in literal meaning: retarded) fanatics.
March 6th, 2010 at 1:20 am
IT IS INDEED an …
IT IS INDEED an orthodox cathedral and it was an orthodox cathedral since the 6th century. It doesn’t matter at all if some retarded brains thought they had the right to “convert” the cathedral into a mosque or a museum… They were just megalomaniac idiots, driven by racism and fanaticism!
March 6th, 2010 at 1:20 am
KONSTANTINOUPOLI is …
KONSTANTINOUPOLI is the capital of Greece – forever, until the end of days!!! That’s a great idea and no turkish occupation, even if it lasts for hundreds or thousands of years, will ever destroy this idea.
March 6th, 2010 at 1:20 am
@byxable
NOW what …
@byxable
NOW what do IIIII say?!!!!LOL. Did you smoke some hash before writing your comment?LOL. It’s completely unintelligble. WE damaged Agia Sophia?!!!!LOL. The crusades were carried out by Latin Catholics, not GREEK ORTHODOX; you IDIOT!!!!!LOL. “Only” 6 minarets?!!!!. What are you talking about?!!!!. minarets are an imposition on a ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN cathedral. Native Christians don’t have control of Agia Sophia; as they should. turkish muslims profit from it’s attraction..you LAZY COWARDS.
March 6th, 2010 at 1:20 am
@Vasilis719 You …
@Vasilis719 You yourself during a crusade that veriyordurnuz damage to the buildings. Nor should it? If he is able to stop this structure is still there and Fatih Sultan Mehmet ATATÜRK is so. I said fine structure. In the face of the structure of the world and it only has 6 minarets of mosques. Christians do not have a condition called a beğenmıyecem work. But you can not take us to our place here. Now, what do you say?
March 6th, 2010 at 1:20 am
of course …
of course Constantinople!!! Constantinople was founded by the Roman emperor Constantine the Great and it is christian city…
March 6th, 2010 at 1:20 am
how are they …
how are they retarted and racist they simply want there cathedral back is all it has nothing to do with racism or fanaticism
March 6th, 2010 at 1:20 am
@byxable
Just to …
@byxable
Just to show the world the stupidity of the turkish muslim mentality..you say “no CONSTANTINOPLE”; which IS the city’s name, named by it’s CREATORS..then you say “beautiful building” about an Orthodox Christian cathedral built by the people of CONSTANTINOPLE!!LOL..as if you can seperate between appreciating the beauty, and not giving credit to it’s creators!!LOL. The “beautiful music” is Orthodox Christian chant..which predates turks by 1,000 years in CONSTANTINOPLE..idiot..LOL.
March 6th, 2010 at 1:20 am
@fora
“Pathetic”? …
@fora
“Pathetic”?LOL. I’d say the very definition of “pathetic” is needing to live off another people’s accomplishments..LOL..like the turks using a Christian cathedral as a “symbol” of “turkishness”..LOL. THAT is TRULLY pathetic; not hoping civilization will be preferred of savagery..DUMBASS.
March 6th, 2010 at 1:20 am
@fuimaranwe
Gee, …
@fuimaranwe
Gee, what kind of a “fool” takes the building of ANOTHER religion and uses it for his own?LOL. ANSWER: The kind of loser than can’t build those kinds of buildings himself..LOL. Now, you want to claim the muslim turk has authority of OUR religion, and OUR accomplishments..yet you cry about fanatacism and racism; when the turkish government is doing EXACTLY what your complaining about. The “beautiful” music is sacred Orthodox Christian chant..which is what your preaching against!LOL.
March 6th, 2010 at 1:20 am
lets just hope that …
lets just hope that in this war our Constantinople dont get destroyed by the vandalism of the USA.
March 6th, 2010 at 1:20 am
beautiful buildings …
beautiful buildings. What this music means ?
March 6th, 2010 at 1:20 am
NO Costantinople. …
NO Costantinople. Since 1453 İSTANBUL .
March 6th, 2010 at 1:20 am
it’s been 600 years …
it’s been 600 years and you are still dreaming…. how pathetic…….
March 6th, 2010 at 1:20 am
Turks converted it …
Turks converted it into a museum and there are some fools here who want to convert it into an orthodox cathedral again? Racism and fanaticism certainly creates retarded brains…Harms of the religion. The music is wonderful by the way…
March 6th, 2010 at 1:20 am
I am Turkish and I …
I am Turkish and I am not gonna brag about the greatness of our nation or our religion whatsoever and I have no negative feelings towards the Greeks or any other nation in that manner. As a Matter of fact’ I don`t even like our current government but the fact that some of you ignorant fcktards think that there is even a slight possibility to take Istanbul back shows how stupid you are. Just relax and come and visit Istanbul. You dot even need a visa…
March 6th, 2010 at 1:20 am
Also, if – by tyhe …
Also, if – by tyhe will of God – the Church of Holy Wisdom in Con/ple returns to functioning as an Orthodox Church, it will serve as the central cathedral (basillica) of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. In other words, it will be the main temple of the Church in Con/ple.
Hence, this means that the”Holy” Synod in Reseistance members will NOT even step foot in this church, neither clergy nor laity.They are heretics and disgraces.
Why do they make videos like this, tricking people into thinking the
March 6th, 2010 at 1:20 am
“Holy” Synod in …
“Holy” Synod in Resistance?
This group (of schismatists) is not part of the True and Only Church.
Just look at the name “…in Resistance”. I take they mean that they are “in resistance” to the Hierarchs of the Canonical Church. If they are against the Patriarchs and the Archbishops, they are against Christ’s very representatives!
May everyone come to realise that the “Holy” Synod in Resistance, and its faithful have no future. They need to return to the True Church.
March 6th, 2010 at 1:20 am
amazing video …
amazing video amazing hymn! GOD is great
δεηθωμεν ινα εισελεύσομεν εις τον οικον σου Κυριε…
March 6th, 2010 at 1:20 am
Dream it!
Dream it!
March 6th, 2010 at 1:20 am
@belagat49
Allah …
@belagat49
Allah rewards laziness and stupidity..AND barbarism?LOL. Hence the difference between civilized Christianity and bird brain mohamedism..LOL.
March 6th, 2010 at 1:20 am
what are you …
what are you talking about when did the christians ever convert any mosques in europe if anything it was the muslims converting churches into mosques when they invaded there werent any mosques in europe really
March 6th, 2010 at 1:20 am
Allah let you built …
Allah let you built it for US:D
March 6th, 2010 at 1:20 am
The Muslims tried …
The Muslims tried to build a dome bigger than Agia Sophia from the time of their occupation without luck, only collapse. The Muslims & like the apes in the “planet of the apes” movies with lies about how they had superior technology. Submit to the will of Allah & recognize that a Christian Church after 1500 years is still the biggest and most majestic than any mosque in Istanbul, and the world. Submit to the will of ALLAH. Agia Sophia = Holy Wisdom. Wake up & praise Allah for showing you the way
March 6th, 2010 at 1:20 am
@shafali22
LOL.. …
@shafali22
LOL..can you follow a timeline, you dipshit?!!. Christianity predates the small islamic community in eastern Europe by a thousand years. islam was IMPOSED on Europe. Furthermore, NO place in Europe would take a house imposed by violent mohammedism to use in a Christian service; and furthemore, look at the places of worship in Europe..their is NOTHING muslim/arabic about them; and besides southern Spain and a small part of eastern Europe, muslims were never part of Europe. Dumb ass.