Istanbul temples. Istanbul - temples and chapels Orthodox Istanbul

Churches of Istanbul - preferably:

• Kym Church in Istanbul- full official name: Anglican Protestant Church in Beyoglu. It is located in Beyoglu and was built in the 19th century in memory of the British soldiers who died in the Russian-Turkish wars. The stones from which the church was built were brought from Fr. Malta.
• Holy Trinity Armenian Catholic Church in Istanbul- Located in the very center of St. Istiklal in Beyoglu. The small building still functions as a church.
• Armenian Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator in the Stambul- located in Karakoy and was built in 1965 on the site of a temple of the 15th century, destroyed during the expansion of Kemeralti Street.
• Armenian Church of Three Altars in Istanbul– a small church is located in Beyoglu, not far from the Galatasaray Lyceum. Built at the beginning of the 19th century.
• Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Istanbul- located in the Sisli district and was built in the middle of the 19th century. Its size is inferior only to the Cathedral of St. Antoine of Padua on the street. Istiklal.
• St Mary Draperi Latin Catholic Church in the Stambul- located in the heart of Beyoglu district on Istiklal street. It was built at the end of the 17th century.
• St. Panteleimon Russian Orthodox Church in Istanbul- located in the historical quarter of Karakoy on the sixth floor of a residential building built in the 19th century. The church and hotel were built for Russian pilgrims who were heading to the Holy Land via Istanbul.
• St. George's Church in Istanbul- is located on the territory of a complex of buildings belonging to the historical quarter of Fener on the banks of the Golden Horn. It was built in the 18th century and keeps iconic Orthodox relics.
• Church of St. Mary of Mongolia- located in the district of Fatih in the historic quarter of Fener. Founded in the 13th century, it is the only Orthodox church that, after the capture of Constantinople by the Ottomans, was not turned into a mosque.
• St Stephen's Church in Istanbul- also known as the Bulgarian Church in Istanbul. Located on the shores of the Golden Horn Bay in the Fatih district. Built in the Neo-Gothic and Baroque styles in the late 19th century, the church is known for being one of the few cast iron buildings in the world.

Hagia Sophia is one of the monumental monuments of history that managed to survive until the 21st century and at the same time not lose its former grandeur and energy, which is difficult to describe. Once the largest temple in Byzantium, later transformed into a mosque, today stands before us as the most original museum in Istanbul. This is one of the few complexes in the world where two religions are intertwined at once - Islam and Christianity.

Often the cathedral is called the eighth wonder of the world, and, of course, today it is one of them. The monument has a great historical value, so it was included in the UNESCO cultural heritage list. How did it happen that in one complex Christian mosaics coexist with Arabic script? The incredible story of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul will tell us about this.

Short story

It was not immediately possible to build the grandiose temple of Hagia Sophia and immortalize it in time. The first two churches erected on the site of the modern shrine stood for only a few decades, and both buildings were destroyed by large fires. The third cathedral began to be rebuilt in the 6th century during the reign of the Byzantine emperor Justinian I. More than 10 thousand people were involved in the construction of the structure, which made it possible to build a temple of such an incredible scale in just five years. Hagia Sophia in Constantinople for a whole millennium remained the main Christian church in the Byzantine Empire.

In 1453, Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror attacked the capital of Byzantium and subjugated it, but did not destroy the great cathedral. The Ottoman ruler was so impressed by the beauty and scale of the basilica that he decided to convert it into a mosque. So, minarets were added to the former church, it received a new name of Aya Sofya and for 500 years served as the main city mosque for the Ottomans. It is noteworthy that subsequently the Ottoman architects took as an example the Hagia Sophia in the construction of such eminent Islamic temples as Suleymaniye and the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. For a detailed description of the latter, see.

After the split of the Ottoman Empire and the coming to power of Ataturk, work began on the restoration of Christian mosaics and frescoes in Hagia Sofya, and in 1934 it was given the status of a museum and a monument of Byzantine architecture, which becomes a symbol of the coexistence of two great religions. Over the past two decades, many independent organizations in Turkey dealing with issues of historical heritage have repeatedly filed a lawsuit to return the status of a mosque to the museum. Today, it is forbidden to hold Muslim services within the walls of the complex, and many believers see this decision as an infringement of religious freedom. Nevertheless, the Turkish court remains relentless in its verdicts and continues to reject such claims.

Architecture and interior decoration

Hagia Sophia in Turkey is a rectangular basilica of classical form with three naves, to the western part of which are adjoined by two vestibules. The length of the temple is 100 meters, the width is 69.5 meters, the height of the dome is 55.6 meters, and its diameter is 31 meters. The main material in the construction of the building was marble, but light bricks made of clay and sand were also used. In front of the façade of Hagia Sophia, there is a courtyard, in the middle of which there is a fountain. And nine doors lead to the museum itself: in the old days, only the emperor himself could use the central one.

But no matter how majestic the church looks from the outside, the true masterpieces of architecture are contained in its interior decoration. The hall of the basilica consists of two galleries (upper and lower), made of marble, specially brought to Istanbul from Rome. The lower tier is decorated with 104 columns, and the upper tier - 64. It is almost impossible to find a section in the cathedral that has not been decorated. The interior features numerous frescoes, mosaics, silver and gold coatings, terracotta and ivory elements. There is a legend saying that Justinian originally planned to decorate the temple entirely of gold, but the soothsayers dissuaded him, predicting the times of beggars and greedy emperors who would not leave a trace of such a luxurious building.

Byzantine mosaics and frescoes are of particular value in the cathedral. They have survived quite well, largely due to the fact that the Ottomans who came to Constantinople simply plastered Christian images, thereby preventing their destruction. With the advent of the Turkish conquerors in the capital, the interior of the temple was supplemented by a mihrab (a Muslim likeness of an altar), a sultan's bed and a marble minbar (a pulpit in a mosque). Also, traditional Christian candles left the interior, which were replaced by chandeliers from lamps.

In the original performance, Aya Sofya in Istanbul was illuminated by 214 windows, but over time, due to additional buildings in the shrine, only 181 of them remained. In total, there are 361 doors in the cathedral, one hundred of which are covered with various symbols. Rumor has it that every time they are counted, there are new, previously unseen doors. Under the ground part of the structure, underground passages were found, flooded with groundwater. During one of the studies of such tunnels, scientists found a secret passage leading from the cathedral to another. Jewelry and human remains were also found here.

The decoration of the museum is so rich that it is almost impossible to describe it briefly, and not a single photo of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul can convey the grace, atmosphere and energy that are inherent in this place. Therefore, be sure to visit this unique historical monument and see for yourself its grandeur.

How to get there

Hagia Sophia is located on Saltanahmed Square, called Fatih. The distance from Ataturk Airport to the attraction is 20 km. If you plan to visit the temple immediately upon arrival in the city, then you can get to the place by taxi or by public transport, represented by the subway and tram.

You can get to the metro directly from the airport building, following the appropriate signs. You need to take the M1 line and get to Zeytinburnu station. The fare will be 2.6 tl. Upon exiting the subway, you will have to walk a little more than a kilometer to the east along Seyit Nizam Street, where the stop of the tram line T 1 Kabataş - Bağcılar is located (price per trip 1.95 tl). You need to get off at the Sultanahmet stop, and literally after 300 meters you will find yourself at the cathedral.

If you are going to the temple not from the airport, but from some other point in the city, then in this case you also need to get on the T 1 tram line and disembark at the Sultanahmet stop.

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Practical information

The exact address: Sultanahmet Meydanı, Fatih, İstanbul, Türkiye.

Opening hours: in the period from April 15 to October 30, the doors of the cathedral are open to the public from 09:00 to 19:00. The last ticket can be purchased no later than 18:00. From October 30 to April 15, the attraction is open from 09:00 to 17:00. Ticket offices are available until 16:00.

As of September 2018, the entrance fee to the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul is 40 tl. However, from October 1, 2018, the Turkish authorities are raising the cost of entrance tickets to more than 50 museums in the country, including Hagia Sophia. So, with the onset of the specified date, the price for entering the temple will be 60 tl. This increase is due to the difficult economic situation in Turkey, as well as a sharp depreciation of the Turkish lira against the dollar and the euro.

Blachernae Church is the most famous church in the history of Eastern Christianity. The church is known, first of all, for the ancient miraculous icon of the Mother of God, which, as some historical sources say, was written by the Evangelist Luke.

The construction of the church was started by Empress Pulcheria in 450. The place for the church was chosen for a reason, then this territory was famous for its healing springs. However, later the main attraction of the church was the Robe of the Theotokos, which was brought from the Holy Land in 473. Especially for the placement of the Robe of the Virgin, a special building was built next to the church. According to one version, the Evangelist Luke is the author of the Robe of the Virgin. Today, the icon, called Blachernae, is in the Tretyakov Gallery.

The Blachernae Church itself was destroyed in 1434. And only in 1867 a Greek church was erected in its place, which still operates today. The church is located in the northwestern district of the city, not far from the pier Ayvansaray.

Church of Our Lady of Pammakarista

The Church of Our Lady of Pammakarista (or the Fethiye Mosque) is a significant monument of art, the mosaic panels of which, which have survived to this day, are inferior in beauty only to the mosaics in the Hagia Sophia Church and in the Kariye Museum.

The Church of Our Lady of Pammakarista is located in the Fatih district on a slope by the Halic Bay. Presumably it was built in the 12th century. The five-domed building is an example of late Byzantine architecture. And yet the exact date of the creation of this church is still unknown. After the fall of Constantinople in 1455, the throne of the Ecumenical Patriarchate was transferred here. However, the building served as a stronghold of the Christian religion only until 1590, when, by order of Sultan Mehmed Fatih (the Conqueror), it was rebuilt into a mosque. Thus, the Sultan noted the conquest of the Caucasus, which is reflected in the name - the Mosque of Conquest. The internal partitions of the temple were completely demolished, and the decoration was destroyed.

In the middle of the 19th century, the mosque was restored and served as a religious building until the 30s of the 20th century. In 1949, the pareklesia (the south aisle of the temple dedicated to Jesus Christ), located next to the mosque building, was restored by the American Institute of Byzantine Studies. While clearing the surfaces, the restorers discovered mosaics and frescoes of amazing beauty. After restoration, these premises function as a museum.

Church of Saint Mary Draperis

The Catholic Church has a strictly centralized organization. At the head of the Roman Church is the pope, which in Greek means "father". In Turkey, there are also Catholics, one of the Catholic churches is captured in the photo.

St. Anthony Catholic Church

The Italian Catholic Church of St. Anthony is the main and largest Catholic church in Istanbul. Services in the church are conducted by Italian priests. This church is an example of religious tolerance in Istanbul.

The Church of St. Anthony is located on Istiklal Avenue in the Beyoglu district. The church was built over 6 years, and opened to parishioners in 1912. The architect of the church was the Italian Giulio Mongeri. The building belongs to the neo-gothic architectural style. The outer facade of the church is built with red bricks, inside the walls are decorated with mosaic tiles. The ceiling of the church is painted with amazing frescoes depicting passages from the Holy Scriptures. The church is quite large, its dimensions are 20 by 50 m, and the width of the facade, which overlooks Istiklal Avenue, is 38 m.

Services at St. Anthony's Church are held in several languages, including Italian, English, and, of course, Turkish. Masses are held in the main part of the church. The Italian Catholic Church of St. Anthony is the most interesting sight of Istanbul.

Church of St. Stephen

The Church of St. Stephen, also called the "Bulgarian Church", is located on Mursel Pasha Street on the shore of the Golden Horn Bay. The building of the church, as well as the internal columns and mezzanines, is made of sheet iron. The iron was forged in Vienna in 1871 and brought to the Golden Horn by water. The design of the church is made in a mobile version, if necessary, it can be disassembled, transported to another place and assembled again.

The church is a creation of the famous architect of that time - Aznavour. It was built for the Bulgarian minority that broke away from the Greek Patriarchate and is still used by the same community. The garden contains the graves of the first Bulgarian Patriarchs. The church attracts visitors with a beautiful garden, immersed in greenery, and location on the shores of the Golden Horn Bay.

Museum of Mosaics in Chora Church

The Mosaic Museum in Chora Church is famous for its rich and rare collection of Byzantine frescoes and mosaics. The murals that are stored here are unparalleled among all Byzantine churches. In addition to mosaics and frescoes, marble slabs and stone carvings have been preserved in the church of Chora.

Chora Church was built in the 4th - 5th centuries. The ancient Greek "chō ra" and the Turkish word "kariye" translates as "suburb". The church is located in the Edirnekapi quarter, next to the gate of the same name. Over the centuries, the church has been destroyed and rebuilt many times. The building was completely rebuilt in the 11th century. and, accordingly, did not retain any features of the Byzantine style.

However, the building is remarkable not for its architecture at all: the main feature of the church is the mosaics and murals with which the temple was decorated from 1315 to 1321. It is believed that the murals have survived to our times because after the conquest of Constantinople, by order of Sultan Bayazid II, the church was rebuilt and turned into a mosque. Frescoes and mosaics at that time were simply hidden under a layer of plaster. During the restoration of the Chora Church in 1948, the murals were cleaned and restored.

Today Chora Church acts as a museum, services are not conducted here.

Sights of Istanbul

And I invite you to a small quarter of the Phanar region (Fener, on the Fatih Peninsula, coordinates 41°1′ 44.73″N , 28°57′ 6.56″E ) on the southern side of the Golden Horn Bay. Orthodox church in Istanbul we visited on our way to Dolmabahce Palace, this excursion was unplanned. There are 60 Orthodox churches in Istanbul, the main one is St. George the Victorious.

Our friends have visited the cathedral before and highly recommended to look into the church of St. George (tour. Aya Yorgi ) , behind the walls of which valuable relics are stored. The church belongs to the Orthodox shrines of Constantinople.

From the Sultanahmet district to the Phanar district, we took a taxi, the service began at 10 am, so we decided to go broke a little to save time. The Cathedral of the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious is the residence of the Ecumenical and Constantinople Patriarch.

Phanar is the oldest district in Istanbul. Wealthy Greeks bought houses and land here in order to be closer to the patriarchal seat. Many of them serve the patriarchy for generations.

The Temple of St. George is located behind a high fence in the shadow of the beautiful minarets of Istanbul. The central gates of the temple are always closed and remind of a bygone history. In 1821, at the gates of the shrine, the execution of Patriarch George V was carried out, who was accused of involvement in the Greek uprising and hung right on the gates of the temple.

In appearance, a modest basilica bears little resemblance to a cathedral, but the whole perception changes as soon as you get into the walls of the current temple. The building itself is surrounded by small courtyards with elegant flower beds, administrative buildings, the residence of the patriarch and the library. Behind the temple is a bell tower.

During its history, the Orthodox church has experienced many fires and destruction. Initially, this place was a convent, and since 1601 the residence of the Patriarch of Constantinople.

We entered the temple when the service had already begun and spent about an hour there.

The first thing that catches your eye upon entering the church is the gold-covered iconostasis, mosaic icons and tall ivory candelabra - a generous decoration that is typical of Orthodox Christianity.

To the right of the iconostasis is a fragment of a marble flagellation pillar from Jerusalem, in which part of the ring is embedded. According to this ring, Jesus was chained during the scourging.

You can put your hand on the ring and pray.

Along the wall of the temple there are sarcophagi with the relics of the Holy Great Martyrs Queen Theophania, Solomonia and Euphemia. Containers with particles of the relics of Saints Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom are kept in the church.

In 1941, the church was badly damaged by fire. The renovated Orthodox Church of St. George the Victorious was opened after restoration in 1991.

In March 2014, on the Day of the Triumph of Orthodoxy, the Divine Liturgy was held in St. George's Church, which brought together numerous laity and clergy, representatives of the State Diplomatic Corps and statesmen. The solemn service was led by 13 patriarchs of the Orthodox churches of the world.

The liturgy was in several languages: Greek, Church Slavonic, Georgian, Serbian, Arabic, Romanian and Albanian. In truth, the feast of the Triumph of Orthodoxy took place in Istanbul.

I will not say, but there is a belief that the Church of St. George is a place of power, it is visited by women who cannot get pregnant, one of their parishioners told us about this. There are many examples when different legends are invented for PR, but often a woman who dreams of the happiness of motherhood believes in various superstitions.

Just like hundreds of years ago, the Orthodox residents of the city go to the temple, where the boundaries of time are smoothed out and minor singing returns to that world where they feel not only descendants, but also a true part of Great Byzantium.

Photography in the church of St. George is allowed.

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The church is open to the public every day from 8:30 to 16:00.

Emniyet-Fatih Metro Station

Thank you for attention!

Hagia Sophia Museum included in Istanbul attractions list which tourists look at first. And this cathedral is part of one of ready walking routes where you can walk on your own.

Hagia Sophia in Istanbul- This shrine of two religions: at first it was the chief Orthodox Cathedral(more than 1000 years), then the main mosque(almost 500 years old), and now a museum. The history of Hagia Sophia is sometimes very tragic, and the existing secrets are enough for more than one book. All this, as well as how to visit the museum on your own, will be discussed below.

• Hagia Sophia built 15 centuries ago (532-537 years) by order of the Byzantine emperor Justinian (this emperor, oddly enough, came from peasants). He wanted the cathedral to be the main building of the capital (then Constantinople) and to emphasize the power of the empire. By the way, we would not see Hagia Sophia in Istanbul now if the Nika popular uprising had not happened. During this very bloody riot (on Hippodrome about 35 thousand citizens were killed) the church of the same name burned down, on the site of which the cathedral was built. Need to say that even earlier a church also stood here: it also burned down and was also called Hagia Sophia. Before that, there was a market place. In fact, the place where Hagia Sophia in Istanbul now stands is the very heart of ancient Constantinople and the entire Byzantine Empire.
• justinian wanted his creation to be truly grandiose. To expand the site for construction, he bought up nearby land plots and demolished the buildings that were on them. Emperor invited two best architects who showed themselves in the construction of the temple, now known as Small Hagia Sophia. It must be said that the "little Sophia" served as a prototype of the future "big" cathedral.

• The construction took 130 tons of gold, which was three ready budgets countries! During almost 6 years worked here every day 10 000 builders. Marble of various types was brought from all over the empire. And they also brought parts of ancient buildings from everywhere, which were also used in construction. For example, from the city of Ephesus (from Temple of Artemis, who set fire to Herostratus to become famous) brought 8 columns of green marble, and from Rome- 8 columns from the Temple of the Sun. Also, the construction used very strong, but lightweight bricks made of material with islands of rhodes. Used in decoration ivory, silver and lots of gold. It is said that Justinian wanted to cover the entire interior with gold from floor to ceiling. However, astrologers persuaded him not to do this, predicting that after him there would be "weak rulers" who would destroy the cathedral when they plundered it.

• At the base of the cathedral is a rectangle 76x68 meters. The height of the dome reaches 56 meters, and its diameter is 30 meters. The thickness of the walls reaches in places up to 5 meters. For the strength of the masonry, the solution was added ash leaf extract.
• In the best of times, they "worked" in the cathedral 600 clergy.
• In 1204 Constantinople was captured by the Crusaders during the Fourth Crusade. This campaign, unfortunately, is a shameful stain in world history. Agree, it is very strange how it could happen that the participants of the crusade, the purpose of which was originally to go to Egypt for an alleged religious war against Muslims, captured and devastated a Christian city - the city of brothers in faith. Constantinople was completely sacked, and, of course, the Hagia Sophia suffered no less. The crusaders took with them all the jewels and sacred relics. It is believed that 90% Christian relics, which are now in Europe, were taken out during this campaign.

• Last Christian Service took place in the cathedral on the night of May 29, 1453. The emperor himself was present with his retinue.
• The next day, the cathedral was sacked by the Turks. who captured Constantinople under the leadership of Sultan Mehmed II the Conqueror (Fatih). Subsequently, the cathedral was converted into a mosque, with minarets attached to it. The mosaics inside the mosque were hidden under a layer of plaster - this saved them. The cathedral served as a mosque 500 years and became the prototype for many mosques in Istanbul, for example, for blue mosque, which is located nearby, and for Suleymaniye Mosque, which was built in market district.
• In 1935 By order of President Ataturk, the mosque was given the status of a museum. The plaster covering the mosaics has been removed. Now the museum is being actively restored.

Curious facts

• Hagia Sophia in Istanbul they did not name the martyr Hagia Sophia, although this also existed. In Greek sofia is wisdom. This is the Cathedral of the Wisdom of God. The wisdom of God is something like a conductor between the Lord and man.
• Istanbul's most important cat lives in the Cathedral named Glee. This cat behaves like a real owner in the cathedral and loves to sit at the Imperial place. He also became famous for being stroked by American President Barack Obama.
• Princess of the Old Russian state Olga was baptized in Hagia Sophia, presumably in 957. She was the first ruler of Russia to be baptized.
• Events took place in the Hagia Sophia who gave the beginning of the split of churches into two branches: Catholic and Orthodox. This happened in 1054, when during the service, the envoy of the Pope of Rome presented the Patriarch with a letter of exclusion. The patriarch thought for a couple of days and excommunicated the envoy of the Pope. Since this all started.

• Moscow - Third Rome. After the fall of Constantinople Second Rome) and after the main Orthodox church of Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque, the center of Orthodoxy actually disappeared in the world. It was obvious that the young principality of Moscow, which was gaining strength, became the successor of Orthodoxy, because there was no other Orthodox center. It was this idea that led to the fact that Moscow began to be called Third Rome.
• Shroud of Turin, according to one legend, was kept in Hagia Sophia and was stolen during the fourth crusade. According to legend, the body of Jesus Christ was wrapped in it. In 1898, an amateur photographer photographed the shroud and saw a human face on the negatives. Now the shroud is kept in one of the cathedrals of the city of Turin (Italy).
• In 2007 influential US politicians and businessmen led the movement to return the cathedral back to the church. So far they haven't achieved anything.

Mystery of Hagia Sophia

• "Weeping Column", the base of which is covered with copper plates. It is also called the column of St. Gregory. There is a small depression in the column, with which one superstition is associated. It is necessary to stick the thumb into the recess and scroll the palm three times in a circle, touching the copper sheets with it. If at the same time you feel moisture, then make a wish - it supposedly will come true. This belief has existed since the 13th century: even Anthony of Novgorod during his pilgrimage to Constantinople wrote that people come to the weeping column and "rub their fingers ... to heal diseases ...".
• A niche from which a slight noise is heard. According to the descriptions, it is located in the southern part of the cathedral. This phenomenon was associated with another legend. According to her, at the time when Constantinople fell under the onslaught of Turkish troops and they broke into the cathedral, a service was going on in it. The invaders were already ready to kill the priest who was reading the prayer, but at that moment the walls parted and hid the priest behind them. According to legend, the priest is still there and will appear again when the cathedral again becomes a Christian church.
• cold window- Another mystery of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. A cool breeze blows from this window, even when it's very hot outside. This window is located on the second floor (southern part of the cathedral) and overlooks blue mosque.

Secrets of the flooded dungeon of Hagia Sophia

In addition to the visible part of the cathedral, Hagia Sophia in Istanbul has more little-studied underground. From the chronicles it is known that in order to make a foundation, it was as if they dug a 70-meter pit. Also, various sources report that under Hagia Sophia there huge cisterns to store water and many tunnels. Apparently, the cistern should resemble a huge one, which is located not far from the cathedral.

Reach the flooded dungeon the Americans tried in 1945. To do this, they decided to pump water out of there. But no matter how hard they tried, the water level did not go down. As a result, the idea was abandoned after the pumps burned out.

More successful attempts were from Turkish researchers. But they immediately decided that they would not pump out water, but made several successful dives into the flooded underground part of the cathedral. The last descent took place in 2013. Some legends were confirmed, and some turned out to be just an exaggeration.

The submariners found places intended for burial. well researched 12 meter well at the main entrance. BUT in the well in the central part of the temple fragments of a very large lamp were found. The walls were found tight closed doors which they did not attempt to open. Perhaps behind these doors are large cisterns for collecting water, which travelers of the past wrote about. This is confirmed by scanning the floor of the cathedral for voids. This scan showed that under the floor there is huge empty spaces!

There was also a descent into dry stone tunnel. Coming from the corridor two moves: one to hippodrome square, the second - to Topkapi Palace. These corridors bifurcate, and some sleeves end in dead ends. But one of the arms has access to the courtyard of the Topkapi Palace.

• It's best to come either by the opening of the museum in the early morning, or closer to closing, in the evening, because there are a lot of visitors during the day. It is even better to visit the museum on weekdays, because on weekends, especially during the high season, it is simply not overcrowded. At the peak of the visit, the line at the ticket office is several tens of meters long - a common thing.
• After buying a ticket you have to go through a check: every tourist goes through a metal detector frame, and the backpack is checked, like at the airport, by X-ray.
• The interior has been under restoration for a long time.: part of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul from floor to ceiling is covered with scaffolding. This somewhat spoils the impression.

Inspection sequence

• Inspection starts from the first floor. First we enter through the big gate in the first porch, and then - into the second porch. (The vestibule is an extension to the temple). Before entering the cathedral, pay attention to the “pit” dug to the left of the entrance. These are traces of an older building that was here even before the construction of the cathedral.
• First porch. This extension is devoid of decoration - marble slabs have long been removed. On the left side of the porch are stone bowl for baptism (5) babies and a big screen showing a film about the history of Hagia Sophia (in English). There are chairs in front of the screen, you can sit and watch a movie. On the right side of the porch against the wall stands huge sarcophagus (4), in front of him bell (3), and then - gift shop.

• Second porch. This extension has retained the finish from the moment of construction - the ceiling is laid out golden mosaic, on the walls - marble with mirror pattern. On the left side of the second porch is located ladder (ramp) (2) to the second floor. This staircase has no steps. This was done on purpose, in order to make it easier to carry the Empress on a palanquin (special stretcher) to the second floor in imperial box. There is also such a staircase on the right side of the narthex, but it is closed. In the same place on the right side there is a gate through which you can exit into the courtyard to washing fountain (6). Above the gate that is called beautiful gate, one of the most famous mosaics of the cathedral, which depicts the builder of the temple, Emperor Justinian, the Mother of God on the throne and Emperor Constantine, the founder of the city. The mosaic is visible in the direction of movement from the courtyard to the cathedral, and not from the cathedral to the courtyard. Second mosaic is above imperial gate (9). It is called Jesus Pankrator. A detailed description of all the mosaics and information on where to find them, see below. Imperial Gate (9), according to legend, converted from Fragments of Noah's Ark. Previously, only the emperor himself could enter them, but now you can. Those close to the emperor entered the neighboring doors. Above the imperial gate on the second floor is located imperial box. More about him will be written below.

• Inner courtyard of the baptistery (baptistery). You can get there through the second vestibule (we go to its right side), then, immediately upon exiting, we go into the door on the left. In the courtyard is stone font, which was moved directly from the premises of the baptistery (baptistery). The font is large, with steps. In it, several people were baptized (converted) at once in adulthood. Later, when Orthodoxy was widespread enough, smaller fonts (for babies) were used for baptism. Look small font (5) can be on the left side of the first porch. At one time, the courtyard and the baptistery (baptistery) were used by the Turks to store oil for the lamps that illuminated the cathedral. Oil vessels placed along the walls of the courtyard of the baptistery.

• Baptistry (baptistery). Now it is the tomb of the sultans Mustafa I and Ibrahim I. From the courtyard of the baptistery (baptistery), through the glass door, you can see the baptismal itself, but you won’t be able to get there from the courtyard. You can visit the tomb for free, but for this you need to leave the territory of the Hagia Sophia Museum and approach the cathedral from its right (eastern) side. For more details, see Hagia Sophia tombs.

• The main area of ​​the cathedral. From the second porch through imperial gate (9) we enter the main space of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.
• Central part of the first floor. We go to the very center of the cathedral, under the dome. Let me remind you that the diameter of the dome - 30 meters, and the height is 56 meters. By the way, this dome was destroyed by an earthquake in 557, and then rebuilt. The dome is surrounded by 40 windows. Now a surah from the Koran is written on the dome, and earlier, during the time of Byzantium, there was an image of Jesus here.

• looking back on the imperial gate (9). See left and right two marble vases (11) brought from Pergamum. All space is illuminated low hanging chandeliers, which were added under the Ottomans. hanging at the top eight huge Islamic medallions(7.5 meters in diameter), on which the names of Allah, the Prophet Muhammad, the first caliphs Ali and Abu Bakr are written in Arabic letters. Without lowering our heads, we look above the medallions. There are depicted four six-winged seraphim. In Christianity, a seraphim is an angel closest to God. The length of these images is 11 meters. Now only one face of the seraphim is open, others are closed under the Ottomans with drawings of a polygonal star. Initially, faces were drawn in the form of an eagle and a lion, as well as the faces of angels.

• Now look ahead again and approach the fenced area. This place is called omfalion (12) and symbolizes "The center of the world", i.e "Center of the World". In the central circle, there used to be the throne of the emperor, and in small circles, his entourage stood nearby. It was in this place that the coronation ceremony of emperors took place. There is a version that the location of the circles has a secret encrypted meaning. Next to the omphalion is a special elevation - something like a covered pavilion. This is muezzin tribune (13). It is intended for the servant of the mosque, who calls to prayer from the minaret.
• Let's move forward. We see right above Mosaic of Virgin Mary and baby Jesus. See below for a detailed description of all the mosaics and information on where to find them in the cathedral. Under the mosaic is mihrab (15)- a decorated niche that shows the direction to Mecca. To the right of the mihrab is minbar (14)- a high tribune with steps, from where the imam reads a sermon.

• Left side of the first floor. On the left side is weeping column (10), the lower part of which is covered with copper plates. Make a cherished wish, stick your thumb into a small depression and scroll your palm three times in a circle, without lifting your palm from the surface of the copper sheets. It looks funny from the outside. According to legend, if you feel moisture, then your wish will allegedly come true. This belief is several centuries old.
• Right side of the first floor. Here it is library (17) of Sultan Mahmud I. Books were brought here during the reign of this sultan. Now they are on display in another museum, and one can only admire the patterned lattice of arched windows.

• Second floor. Now it's time to go up to the second floor. Let's go into the second porch and by stairs (ramp) (2) we rise to the upper gallery. Once upon a time, the empress was carried here, raising her to the imperial box. Walk around the perimeter, look at the lower part of the cathedral from above. At the same time, look on the parapets (stone fences) for inscriptions made Scandinavian runes. Look for them on the parapets on the south side of the cathedral. Runes are the writing of the ancient Germans. These inscriptions were scratched out by the Varangian mercenaries, who served with the Byzantine emperor for hire.
• In the right (south) wing second floor, find an empty Tomb of Doge Enrico Dandolo- Ruler of Venice This is a niche in the floor, which is covered with a stone lid with the name of the Doge. In fact, the tomb is empty - there are no remains of the ruler of Venice in it. Enrico Dandolo was "famous" for the fact that at the age of 97, being almost blind, he captured Constantinople during the fourth crusade. Ironically, his tomb is located in the same cathedral, in the looting of which she personally took part. According to legend, Sultan Mehmed II the Conqueror (Fatih) ordered the bones of the former ruler of Venice to be taken out and thrown to be eaten by dogs.

• Opposite the tomb is a mosaic Last judgment. The other two mosaics are located on the far side of the south wing. And four more mosaics - in the northern part of the second floor. A detailed description of all the mosaics and information on where to find them in the cathedral, read below.
• It has often been mentioned here imperial box. It was on the second floor directly above imperial gate (9). In this box, during divine services, the Empress sat with her ladies-in-waiting. During the period of early Christianity, women and men were kept separate from each other in the cathedral.

Where to look for mosaics in the cathedral

The first mosaics appeared in the cathedral three centuries after its construction. Some are still well preserved and you can see them. By the way, in Istanbul there is a whole mosaic museum that were found at the excavation site Grand Palace(the palace itself is practically not preserved).

• Mosaic No. 1: Christ Pankrator(late 10th century). Located in the second porch above imperial gate (9). It's in western part of the cathedral. The mosaic depicts Christ sitting on a throne. In His hands He holds a book with the inscription: “Peace be with you. I am the light of the world." Emperor Leo VI bowed before Him. To the left of Jesus Christ is the Virgin Mary, to the right is the archangel Gabriel. The image symbolizes the eternal power that the Lord gave to the emperors. It is believed that Emperor Leo VI is on his knees because he asks for forgiveness for his fourth non-canonical marriage. Because of this, the patriarch did not let the emperor into the cathedral and did not begin to marry.
• Mosaic No. 2: Emperor Justinian, Mother of God, Emperor Constantine. It is located on the right side of the second narthex above the first gate to the courtyard. The mosaic is visible in the direction of movement from the courtyard to the cathedral, and not from the cathedral to the courtyard. On the mosaic on the left is Emperor Justinian (the builder of the cathedral). In his hands is the Hagia Sophia, which he presents to the Mother of God. In the middle - the Mother of God with a child in her arms, she sits on a throne. On the right is Emperor Constantine (the founder of the city). In his hands is Constantinople, which he presents to the Mother of God.

• Mosaic No. 3: Virgin Mary and baby Jesus(867). Located on the semi-dome above the mihrab on the east side of the temple. It is clearly visible from almost any part of the building - it is difficult not to notice it.
• Mosaic #4: The Last Judgment. Located on the second floor of the cathedral (southern part) opposite tombs of the ruler of Venice, Enrico Dandolo. The mosaic depicts Christ in the very center, the Mother of God on the left, and John the Baptist on the right. They ask Jesus Christ to save the human race. It is believed that part of the mosaic was destroyed by the crusaders.

• Mosaic No. 5: Emperor Constantine Monomakh, Christ and Empress Zoya(about 1044). Located on the second floor in the eastern part of the cathedral south gallery. Christ is depicted on the mosaic in the center, on the left - Konstantin Monomakh (Zoya's husband) presents Him with gifts (a bag of money), and on the right - Empress Zoya presents a deed of gift. During the reign of Zoya's stepson, the empress's face on the mosaic was chipped off. When Zoya again ascended the throne, the mosaic was restored. By the way, at first Zoya's second husband was depicted on the mosaic, but when she married Konstantin Monomakh for the third time, the face of the second husband was chipped off, replacing it with the face of the third husband.
• Mosaic No. 6: Emperor John Komnenos, Mother of God and Empress Irene(about 1120). Located next to mosaic number 5 on the second floor in the eastern part of the temple of the southern gallery. The mosaic on the left depicts Emperor John Komnenos, on the right - his wife Irina. In the middle is the Virgin. The emperor presents gifts (a bag of money), and the empress presents a deed of gift.

• Series of mosaics of bishops: John Chrysostom, Dionysius the Areopagite, Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, Ignatius the God-bearer (about 878). These mosaics are located in niches from the northern part of the temple. Consider them best from the south side of the second floor. You need to stand approximately in the center of the southern gallery.

Operating mode. Cost of visiting

• Working hours: from 09.00-19.00 (summer schedule, from April 15 to October 30), from 09.00-17.00 (winter schedule, from October 30 to April 15). The museum is closed on Mondays.
• Admission fee: 72 TL. You can pay with a bank card. Tickets stop selling one hour before closing. Children under seven years old are admitted free of charge. When visiting this museum, you can save money if you use.

How to get to the Hagia Sophia Museum in Istanbul

The most convenient way to get to Hagia Sophia in Istanbul is by light rail (see below). Istanbul transport) to Sultanahmet stop. Then 5 minutes walk through the Sultanahmet Park.