Saint Sophie Cathedral

Hagia Sophia in Istanbul is one of the main historical landmarks in Turkey.
Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it was built as an Orthodox cathedral, and later became a mosque.
The history of Hagia Sophia begins in 324. The Byzantine emperor Constantine decided to erect the first Orthodox church.
The construction of the Hagia Sophia was completed in 537 and consecrated by Patriarch Min. At that time, it was the largest Orthodox cathedral in the whole world.
In 1479 the city came under the control of the Ottoman Empire. This could not but affect the Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sophia, it became the Hagia Sophia mosque. Since that time, the sultans have performed prayers to Allah here. Four minarets were added, the altar was moved, Christian frescoes and mosaics were plastered over. The story of the Hagia Sophia, as a mosque, ends after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. In 1935, Hagia Sophia in Istanbul was given museum status.