#isidore of miletus

[jareckiworld]

Nikos Engonopoulos (1907-1985) — Anthemius of Tralles and Isidore of Miletus [oil on canvas, 1970]

[roman-catholic-mass-readings]

15th May >> Mass Readings (USA)

Wednesday, Seventh Week of Eastertide 

or

Saint Isidore the Farmer.

Wednesday, Seventh Week of Eastertide 

Liturgical Colour: White. Year: B(II).

First Reading Acts of the Apostles 20:28-38 I commend you to God who has the power to build you up and to give you an inheritance.

At Miletus, Paul spoke to the presbyters of the Church of Ephesus: “Keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, in which you tend the Church of God that he acquired with his own Blood. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come among you, and they will not spare the flock. And from your own group, men will come forward perverting the truth to draw the disciples away after them. So be vigilant and remember that for three years, night and day, I unceasingly admonished each of you with tears. And now I commend you to God and to that gracious word of his that can build you up and give you the inheritance among all who are consecrated. I have never wanted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. You know well that these very hands have served my needs and my companions. In every way I have shown you that by hard work of that sort we must help the weak, and keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus who himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” When he had finished speaking he knelt down and prayed with them all. They were all weeping loudly as they threw their arms around Paul and kissed him, for they were deeply distressed that he had said that they would never see his face again. Then they escorted him to the ship.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 68:29-30, 33-35a, 35bc-36ab

R/ Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth. or R/ Alleluia.

Show forth, O God, your power, the power, O God, with which you took our part; For your temple in Jerusalem let the kings bring you gifts.

R/ Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth. or R/ Alleluia.

You kingdoms of the earth, sing to God, chant praise to the Lord who rides on the heights of the ancient heavens. Behold, his voice resounds, the voice of power: “Confess the power of God!”

R/ Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth. or R/ Alleluia.

Over Israel is his majesty; his power is in the skies. Awesome in his sanctuary is God, the God of Israel; he gives power and strength to his people.

R/ Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth. or R/ Alleluia.

Gospel Acclamation cf. John 17:17b, 17a

Alleluia, alleluia. Your word, O Lord, is truth; consecrate us in the truth. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel John 17:11b-19 May they be one just as we are one.

Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, saying: “Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one. When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me, and I guarded them, and none of them was lost except the son of destruction, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you. I speak this in the world so that they may share my joy completely. I gave them your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the Evil One. They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world. And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth.”

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

-------------------------

Saint Isidore the Farmer 

(Liturgical Colour: White. Year: B(II))

(Readings for the memorial)

(There is a choice today between the readings for the ferial day (Wednesday) and those for the memorial. The ferial readings are recommended unless pastoral reasons suggest otherwise)

Either:

First Reading Acts of the Apostles 4:32-35 The community of believers was of one heart and mind.

The community of believers was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in common. With great power the Apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great favor was accorded them all. There was no needy person among them, for those who owned property or houses would sell them, bring the proceeds of the sale, and put them at the feet of the Apostles, and they were distributed to each according to need.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

OR: --------

First reading Revelation 3:14b, 20-22 I will dine with him and he with me.

The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the source of God’s creation, says this: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will enter his house and dine with him and he with me. I will give the victor the right to sit with me on my throne, as I myself first won the victory and sit with my Father on his throne. “Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

OR: --------

First reading Revelation 19:1, 5-9a Blessed are those who have been called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.

I, John, heard what sounded like the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying:“Alleluia!

Salvation, glory, and might belong to our God.”

A voice coming from the throne said:

“Praise our God, all you his servants, and you who revere him, small and great.”

Then I heard something like the sound of a great multitude or the sound of rushing water or mighty peals of thunder, as they said:“Alleluia!

The Lord has established his reign, our God, the almighty. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory. For the wedding day of the Lamb has come, his bride has made herself ready. She was allowed to wear a bright, clean linen garment.”

(The linen represents the righteous deeds of the holy ones.) Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who have been called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.”

OR: --------

First reading Revelation 21:5-7 To the thirsty I will give a gift from the spring of life-giving water.

The One who was seated on the throne said: “Behold, I make all things new.” Then he said, “Write these words down, for they are trustworthy and true.” He said to me, “They are accomplished. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give a gift from the spring of life-giving water. The victor will inherit these gifts, and I shall be his God, and he will be my son.”

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6

Blessed are they who hope in the Lord. or Blessed are they who delight in the law of the Lord. or The just will flourish like the palm tree in the garden of the Lord.

Blessed the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked Nor walks in the way of sinners, nor sits in the company of the insolent, But delights in the law of the LORD and meditates on his law day and night.

Blessed are they who hope in the Lord. or Blessed are they who delight in the law of the Lord. or The just will flourish like the palm tree in the garden of the Lord.

He is like a tree planted near running water, That yields its fruit in due season, and whose leaves never fade. Whatever he does, prospers.

Blessed are they who hope in the Lord. or Blessed are they who delight in the law of the Lord. or The just will flourish like the palm tree in the garden of the Lord.

Not so, the wicked, not so; they are like chaff which the wind drives away. For the LORD watches over the way of the just, but the way of the wicked vanishes.

Blessed are they who hope in the Lord. or Blessed are they who delight in the law of the Lord. or The just will flourish like the palm tree in the garden of the Lord.

Gospel Acclamation Matthew 5:3

Alleluia, alleluia. Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Alleluia, alleluia.

Or: Matthew 5:6

Alleluia, alleluia. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Alleluia, alleluia.

Or: Matthew 5:8

Alleluia, alleluia. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Alleluia, alleluia.

Or: See Matthew 11:25

Alleluia, alleluia. Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom. Alleluia, alleluia.

Or: Matthew 11:28

Alleluia, alleluia. Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest, says the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia.

Or: Matthew 23:11, 12b

Alleluia, alleluia. The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever humbles himself will be exalted. Alleluia, alleluia.

Or: Luke 21:36

Alleluia, alleluia. Be vigilant at all times and pray that you may have the strength to stand before the Son of Man. Alleluia, alleluia.

Or: John 8:12

Alleluia, alleluia. I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life. Alleluia, alleluia.

Or: John 8:31b-32

Alleluia, alleluia. If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, says the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia.

Or: John 13:34

Alleluia, alleluia. I give you a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you. Alleluia, alleluia.

Or: John 14:23

Alleluia, alleluia. Whoever loves me will keep my word and my Father will love him and we will come to him. Alleluia, alleluia.

Or: John 15:4a, 5b

Alleluia, alleluia. Remain in me, as I remain in you, says the Lord; whoever remains in me will bear much fruit. Alleluia, alleluia.

Or: John 15:9b, 5b

Alleluia, alleluia. Remain in my love, says the Lord; whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Matthew 5:1-12a Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.”

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

[superiorcatholicinspiration]

Daily Mass: Paul's heartfelt exhortation. Catholic Inspiration

Photo by Johannes Plenio on Pexels.com As Paul prepares to depart from Miletus, he offers a heartfelt exhortation to the community, revealing his common sense, insight, and love. Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 7th Week of Easter (#299) *************** Catholic Inspiration Archives St. Isidore, pray for us!

[travellingcontent]

Discovering the Enchanting Hagia Sophia Dome: A Timeless Wonder

Hagia Sophia, meaning "Holy Wisdom" in Greek, was originally built as a Christian cathedral during the reign of Emperor Justinian I in the 6th century. The construction of the Hagia Sophia Dome began in 532 CE and was a feat of engineering brilliance. It took only five years to complete, a remarkable achievement considering its complexity.

The Marvelous Dome Architecture The Hagia Sophia Dome is a true marvel of architectural innovation. Designed by gifted architects Anthemius of Tralles and Isidore of Miletus, the dome's construction was groundbreaking. It features an ingenious pendentive construction—a triangular, curved segment that supports the dome's transition from its circular base to the square walls below.

The architects used a combination of bricks and lightweight mortar to reduce the overall weight on the pendentives, allowing the dome to soar to a height of approximately 55.6 meters (182 feet). The result is a breathtakingly beautiful and structurally sound dome that continues to inspire architects and engineers to this day.

A Tale of Symbolism and Transitions Over the centuries, the Hagia Sophia Dome has witnessed significant transitions and transformations. Originally a Christian cathedral, it hosted numerous religious ceremonies and imperial events. With the conquest of Constantinople by the Ottoman Empire in 1453, it was converted into a mosque, adorned with Islamic elements such as minarets, mihrabs, and calligraphy.

In 1935, under the administration of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Hagia Sophia was transformed into a museum, becoming a symbol of secularism and celebrating Turkey's diverse history and cultural heritage. This cultural treasure has served as a bridge between different cultures and religions, representing unity and understanding.

The Controversy Despite its historical significance, the Hagia Sophia Dome has been a subject of controversy in modern times. The debates revolve around its status as a museum, mosque, or interfaith space. While its past transitions are a testament to its ability to adapt and embrace change, the question of its current purpose sparks passionate discussions among various stakeholders.

Preserving the Treasure Recognizing its value as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Turkish government, along with international organizations, has devoted considerable efforts to preserve and restore the Hagia Sophia Dome. The goal is to ensure that this extraordinary monument stands tall for generations to come, enchanting visitors from all corners of the world.

A Timeless Wonder The Hagia Sophia Dome remains a timeless wonder, weaving together the threads of history, art, and architecture. Its breathtaking design and rich history offer a glimpse into the human spirit's creativity and perseverance. As you stand beneath its awe-inspiring dome, you can't help but be transported back in time, feeling the echoes of the past and the weight of history.

Visiting the Hagia Sophia Dome is an unforgettable experience, where you can immerse yourself in the cultural tapestry of Turkey and marvel at the brilliance of ancient architecture. Each intricate detail of the dome tells a story, and every corner holds secrets waiting to be discovered.

Whether you are an architecture enthusiast, a history buff, or simply a curious traveler, the Hagia Sophia Dome will leave an indelible mark on your soul. Its allure, beauty, and significance will continue to inspire generations, reminding us of the remarkable achievements of humanity and the importance of preserving our cultural heritage.

So, the next time you find yourself in Istanbul, don't miss the opportunity to experience the enchantment of the Hagia Sophia Dome—a timeless wonder that stands as a testament to the ingenuity and creativity of human civilization.

[uwmspeccoll]

Milestone Monday

On this day, December 27 in 537 C.E., the Church of Hagia Sofia was inaugurated by Emperor Justinian I and Menas the Patriarch of Constantinople after nearly six years of construction. To commemorate the occasion, we have several collotype plates from Saint Sophia in Istanbul: An Architectural Survey, a project sponsored by the Dean of M.I.T.’s School of Architecture and Vice President of the Byzantine Institute of America, William Emerson. These architectural drawings were printed by Meriden Gravure Company in Meriden, Connecticut and published in 1965 by the Dumbarton Oaks Center for Byzantine Studies. With a height of 91 cm, this book might just be the largest item in our collection!

Whether this book is the largest in the collection or not, we know for certain that the Hagia Sofia was the largest cathedral in the world and the center of the Eastern Orthodox church for nearly a millennium. Designed by mathematician Anthemius of Tralles and geometer and engineer Isidore of Miletus, the church is considered by many to be the epitome of Byzantine architecture. It was converted to a mosque by Mehmed the Conqueror after the 1453 Fall of Constantinople. In 1935 it was converted to a museum by the secular Republic of Turkey, and it was during this period that Byzantine architectural scholar Robert L. Van Nice underwent this architectural analysis of the building at Emerson’s invitation.

In 2020, the Turkish Council of State overturned the earlier decree establishing the building and grounds as a museum, and President Erdoğan ordered the site to be reclassified as a mosque, a decision that is not without controversy.

View more of our Milestone Monday posts here.

-Olivia, Special Collections Graduate Intern

[byzantio]

Αγία Σοφία, Hagia Sophia, Ayasofya, from the greek for Holy Wisdom. 

On this day, the bully of East Med has decided to prove to the rest of the world that monuments of this magnitude can be used as tools to push personal, hidden or other political agendas. 

Whatever the reason, monuments like Hagia Sophia #deserve better 

[ukdamo]

Today's Flickr photo with the most hits (after passing over some frequent repeats) is this shot of Hagia Sophia from the Imperial doorway.

Quite the entrance...

[delicatuscii-wasbella102]

“Hagia Sophia, officially the Holy Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, and formerly the Church of Hagia Sophia, is a Late Antique place of worship in Istanbul, designed by the Greek geometers Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralles.”

[gemsofgreece]

Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia, its original full name being Ναός της Αγίας του Θεού Σοφίας (Church of the Holy Wisdom of God) is a Greek Orthodox Church located in Istanbul, present day Turkey.

The church was completed in 537 by the orders of the Byzantine emperor Justinian I and it was the most precious and impressive landmark of Constantinople and the entirety of the Byzantine Empire. The basilica was designed by the Greek geometers Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralles. Upon setting his eyes on the completed church, it is said that Justinian cried out in Byzantine Greek “Νενίκηκά σέ, Σολομών!” (Neníkiká se, Solomón) which means “I have outdone thee, Solomon!” He was referring to Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem, whose majesty had been unparalleled according to the Hebrew Bible. Hagia Sophia remained the largest cathedral in the world for the next  thousand years. Hagia Sophia became the seat of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.

The basilica suffered a lot of damage due to earthquakes, fires and during the era of Byzantine Iconoclasm, when the use of religious images was prohibited. At that time, Emperor Leo the Isaurian (726) ordered the icons to be destroyed, a damage that Empress Irene of Athens (797 - 802) tried to reprieve as much as possible. The cathedral was repaired after each of its destructions.

In 1204, Constantinople was sacked by the Crusaders. According to Greek historian Niketas Choniates, the crusaders stripped Hagia Sophia of all its gold and silver ornaments and several furnishings. According to Arab historian Ali ibn al-Athir, the crusaders also massacred some of its clerics. During the Latin Occupation of Constantinople (1204-1261) Hagia Sophia functioned as a Roman Catholic Church but its extensive damage was not repaired until its return to Orthodox control.

On 29 May 1453, Constantinople fell to the attacking forces of the Ottoman Turks which marked the end of the Byzantine Empire and the beginning of a several centuries long enslavement of Greek and Slavic people. During the siege of the city, the women, children, elderly and sick seeked refuge inside Hagia Sophia. When the city fell, the Ottoman troops headed to pillage the Church first thing.The sick and elderly they found inside the Church were killed and the children and women were sold as slaves. When Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror came to see the church himself, he immediately ordered it to be converted into a mosque. Mehmed renovated Hagia Sophia and retained its name as Aya Sofya, which became the first imperial mosque in Constantinople, now called Istanbul.

During Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent’s reign (1520-1566), the gorgeous mosaics depicting Jesus, Mary and various Byzantine emperors were covered by whitewash and plaster, which was removed only in 1931.

Until the 20th century, Hagia Sophia had been renovated and modified many times, especially with the addition of structures of the Islamic faith. The most notable example of restoration was by Sultan Abdulmejid (1823 - 1861) who hired the Swiss-Italian architects Gaspare and Giuseppe Fossati for the job. The brothers worked on strengthening the structure in many ways and tried to prevent further damage to the Christian mosaics and decorations.

Gaspare Fossati's 1852 depiction of the Hagia Sophia, which he and his brother renovated. Lithograph by Louis Haghe

In 1931, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, first president of the Republic of Turkey, which is the natural successor of the Ottoman Empire, ordered that Hagia Sophia should be turned into a museum. He was thus trying to make Turkey a secular state and lead it to the path of a more contemporary and tolerant society. For the first time in centuries, the carpets were removed to reveal the marble floor decorations and the plaster was also removed, uncovering many of the worn mosaics. The state of the Church was deteriorating and its restoration was funded by WMF. It was finished in 2006. By 2014, Hagia Sophia was the second most visited museum in Turkey, with 3.3 million visitors annually. In 2006, the Turkish government permitted Christians and Muslims alike to pray in a small room but it was strictly prohibited in the rest of the building.

In 2007, Greek American and Turkish movements started campaigns so that Hagia Sophia would function as a church or a mosque respectively. Since the 2010s, several turkish campaigns and government officials demanded Hagia Sophia to be turned to a mosque again. When Pope Francis acknowledged the Armenian Genocide in 2015, which Turkey officially denies, the Mufti of Ankara threatened that the conversion of Hagia Sophia would be accelerated. In 2016 and ever since, muslim prayers have been held there by various groups but the Association for the Protection of Historic Monuments and the Environment filed a lawsuit and the court decided the monument should remain a museum.

Since 2018, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has expressed his intent to convert Hagia Sophia to a mosque, aiming to ensure the vote of the religious populace. He added that Atatürk’s move to make Hagia Sophia a museum was a “very big mistake”. Inside Hagia Sophia, he dedicated his prayer to all the souls who “left them this work of inheritance” and especially the conqueror of the Church and its city. In May 2020, Turkey celebrated the anniversary of the Fall of Constantinople with an Islamic prayer inside Hagia Sophia. Greece condemned that action and the Turkish goverment called that stance futile.

On 10 July 2020, and in the mid of tense relations of Turkey with many countries, including Greece, the Council of State with Erdogan’s influence decided the turn of Hagia Sophia to a mosque. The decision received secular and global criticism as well as requests to be undone. The decision is supported by the large majority of the politicians in Turkey and the largest part of the public. A few Turk scholars have denounced the decision. With a blatant indifference to the concerns, the Turkish president invited many foreign leaders to the opening of Hagia Sophia as a mosque, including some of those expressing concern and particularly Pope Francis.

On 22 July, the ancient marble floor was covered once again with carpets. The Christian mosaics will be once again hidden with curtains and lasers, with the promise that they won’t be further destroyed.

As Hagia Sophia is a UNESCO World Heritage Monument, this decision needed the official agreement of its committee. This step was ignored and UNESCO announced its deep regret for this decision.  The World Council of Churches, Pope Francis, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople and the Russian Orthodox Church’s Patriarch Kirill of Moscow have denounced the conversion. Josep Borrell, the EU’s high representative of the foreign affairs, Greek culture Minister Lina Mendoni, the spokesperson of the USA Morgan Ortagus, Jean-Yves Le Drian, the foreign minister of France, Vladimir Dzhabarov, deputy head of the foreign affairs committee of the Russian Federation Council have all criticised the move. The former deputy prime minister of Italy Mario Salvini led a protest against the decision, calling for all plans of a future accession of Turkey in the EU to be terminated once and for all. Greece and Cyprus called for EU sanctions on Turkey. A protest was held in East Jerusalem, Israel, during which a Turkish flag was burned and a Greek and a Greek Orthodox Church flag were displayed.

From the other side, Ersin Tatar, the prime minister of the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus”, congratulated the decision. This state is globally recognised only by Turkey, as the rest of the world acknowledges it as occupation of the northern part of Cyprus since the Turkish invasion in 1974. The foreign ministry of Iran, the Arab Maghreb Union, the grand Mufti of Oman and the Pakistani politician Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi supported the decision. The Muslim Judicial Council in South Africa celebrated by sacrificing a camel.  On the other hand, Shawki Allam, grand Mufti of Egypt, ruled that conversion of the Hagia Sophia to a mosque is "impermissible".

Hagia Sophia opened as a mosque for Friday prayers on 24 July amongst celebrations and even songs with lyrics such as “you were always ours and we’ll always be yours”. In Greece, bells tolled and flags flew at half-staff at hundreds of churches across the country in protest. It is the fourth Byzantine Greek church converted from museum to a mosque during Erdoğan's rule. 

And that is the story of Hagia Sophia.

*All information is from Wikipedia and various news sites.

[katerowanart]

Art History - Architecture and Patronage

Hagia Sofia - Built between 532 and 537

Hagia Sofia is a large architectural structure and place of worship situated in the city of Istanbul, and was originally designed by Emperor Constantine in the year 360 AD. However, the structure has been demolished and reconstructed many times throughout history, originally built to be served as a basilica for the Greek orthodox church. The most recent construction of the Hagia Sofia is still standing today, and was completed in the year 537, built within 6 years. Throughout its 1500-year existence, it has also served as a Catholic Cathedral and in 1453, it was converted into a mosque until up 1935. From 1935 until 2020, the Hagia Sofia operated as a museum and tourist attraction, however in 2013, Islamic religious leaders in Turkey sought to have the structure open once again as a mosque, so as of July 2020, the Hagia Sofia was reclassified as a mosque. The original Hagia Sofia, built in 360 AD, was built as a basilica for the Greek Orthodox Christian church, and featured a large wooden roof which stretched across the entirety of the structure. However, in 404 AD, the Hagia Sofia was burnt down as a result of political and religious riots. The second reconstruction was completed in the year 415 by Emperor Theodosius, who also designed it to have a wooden roof. The structure contained 5 naves and a monumental entrance which symbolised its power and wealth. However, the Hagia Sofia burnt down for a second time because of the Nika revolts. The third reconstruction which remains standing today was completed in the year 537, designed by architects Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralles.

The Byzantine architectural style of the Hagia Sofia is one that was popular under the rule of the Roman Emperor Justinian between the years 527 and 565. The decorative mosaics used throughout the interior of the structure, and the elaborate dome shapes on the exterior also reflects this time period. Its huge dome is said to have “changed the history of architecture” as it remained the world’s largest cathedral for almost 9000 years.

The design of the structure combines traditional elements of an orthodox church, with a huge 105-foot domed roof and two semidomes either side which indicates the different time periods in which elements of the Hagia Sofia was built in. Marble piers rise at either end to support the symbolic central dome structure. At its highest point, the dome reaches 180 feet into the air, which symbolises being closer to God. The supporting arches of the dome are covered in mosaics of 6 winged angles which are commonly known as hexapterygons. Mosaics used on the inside of the Hagia Sofia were mainly imperial portraits and images of Christ created by different Byzantine royal families. However, some mosaics created during the 10th century were portraits of the emperor and several religious figures surrounding that time period. The mosaics in the interior of the Hagia Sofia reflect the different time periods which the structure was built in, and the different purposes it has served throughout its existence. The marble slabs which lined the interior of the Hagia Sofia were designed to resemble running water, using slabs imported from Syria and North Africa. Having these materials imported from around the world could symbolise its worldwide importance as a place of worship.

Throughout history, the Hagia Sofia has served an important role in the culture and politics of Istanbul and became a place where new emperors crowded around a central church of faith. Its architectural features reflect its 1500-year lifespan, and symbolise the different time periods which it functioned in. The Hagia Sofia is one of the only structures to have served 3 different religions throughout its existence – an Orthodox Greek church, a catholic cathedral, and most recently a mosque.

[tukelman]

Hagia Sophia (Before transforming as a mosque, it can still visiting.)

History of Hagia Sophia (hagiasophiaturkey.com)

 The mystical city Istanbul hosted many civilizations since centuries, of which Byzantium and Ottoman Empires were both the most famous ones. The city today carries the characteristics of these two different cultures and surely Hagia Sophia is a perfect synthesis where one can observe both Ottoman and Byzantium effects under one great dome.

Church of Hagia Sophia, is a Late Antique  place of worship  in Istanbul, designed by  the Greek geometers Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralles. Built in 537 as the patriarchal cathedral of the imperial capital of Constantinople, it was the largest Christian church of the eastern Roman Empire (the Byzantine Empire) and the Eastern Orthodox Church, except during the Latin Empire from 1204 to 1261, when it became the city's Roman Catholic cathedral.  In 1453, after the Fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Empire, it was converted into a mosque. In 1935 the secular Turkish Republic established it as a museum. In 2020, it re-opened as a mosque.

[dcfsdfsd-blog1]

Although few details of his life are known, he is regarded as one of the leading scientists in classical antiquity. Among his advances in physics are the foundations of hydrostatics, statics and an explanation of the principle of the lever. He is credited with designing innovative machines, including siege engines and the screw pump that bears his name. Modern experiments have tested claims that Archimedes designed machines capable of lifting attacking ships out of the water and setting ships on fire using an array of mirrors.

Archimedes is generally considered to be the greatest mathematician of antiquity and one of the greatest of all time. He used the method of exhaustion to calculate the area under the arc of a parabola with the summation of an infinite series, and gave a remarkably accurate approximation of pi. He also defined the spiral bearing his name, formulae for the volumes of surfaces of revolution and an ingenious system for expressing very large numbers. Archimedes died during the Siege of Syracuse when he was killed by a Roman soldier despite orders that he should not be harmed. Cicero describes visiting the tomb of Archimedes, which was surmounted by a sphere inscribed within a cylinder. Archimedes had proven that the sphere has two thirds of the volume and surface area of the cylinder (including the bases of the latter), and regarded this as the greatest of his mathematical achievements. Unlike his inventions, the mathematical writings of Archimedes were little known in antiquity. Mathematicians from Alexandria read and quoted him, but the first comprehensive compilation was not made until c. 530 AD by Isidore of Miletus, while commentaries on the works of Archimedes written by Eutocius in the sixth century AD opened them to wider readership for the first time. The relatively few copies of Archimedes' written work that survived through the Middle Ages were an influential source of ideas for scientists during the Renaissance, while the discovery in 1906 of previously unknown works by Archimedes in the Archimedes Palimpsest has provided new insights into how he obtained mathematical results. Source: Wikipedia.org

[kupuporo-blog]

Although few details of his life are known, he is regarded as one of the leading scientists in classical antiquity. Among his advances in physics are the foundations of hydrostatics, statics and an explanation of the principle of the lever. He is credited with designing innovative machines, including siege engines and the screw pump that bears his name. Modern experiments have tested claims that Archimedes designed machines capable of lifting attacking ships out of the water and setting ships on fire using an array of mirrors.

Archimedes is generally considered to be the greatest mathematician of antiquity and one of the greatest of all time. He used the method of exhaustion to calculate the area under the arc of a parabola with the summation of an infinite series, and gave a remarkably accurate approximation of pi. He also defined the spiral bearing his name, formulae for the volumes of surfaces of revolution and an ingenious system for expressing very large numbers. Archimedes died during the Siege of Syracuse when he was killed by a Roman soldier despite orders that he should not be harmed. Cicero describes visiting the tomb of Archimedes, which was surmounted by a sphere inscribed within a cylinder. Archimedes had proven that the sphere has two thirds of the volume and surface area of the cylinder (including the bases of the latter), and regarded this as the greatest of his mathematical achievements. Unlike his inventions, the mathematical writings of Archimedes were little known in antiquity. Mathematicians from Alexandria read and quoted him, but the first comprehensive compilation was not made until c. 530 AD by Isidore of Miletus, while commentaries on the works of Archimedes written by Eutocius in the sixth century AD opened them to wider readership for the first time. The relatively few copies of Archimedes' written work that survived through the Middle Ages were an influential source of ideas for scientists during the Renaissance, while the discovery in 1906 of previously unknown works by Archimedes in the Archimedes Palimpsest has provided new insights into how he obtained mathematical results. Source: Wikipedia.org

[lostprofile]

KÜÇÜK AYASOFIA

Procopius gives a long, detailed account of two churches, built by Justinian during the reign of his uncle, Justin I, next to the Hormisdas palace in Constantinople:

His faith in the Apostles of Christ he displayed in the following manner. First he built a church of Peter and Paul, which had not previously existed in Byzantium, alongside the imperial residence which in former times was called by the name of Hormisdas. For he had contrived that this building, which was his private residence, should both seem to be a palace, and by the magnificence of its structure be as handsome as one; and when he became Emperor of the Romans he joined it to the Palace proper.

There too he built another shrine to the famous Saints Sergius and Bacchus, and then also another shrine which stood at an angle to this one. These two churches do not face each other, but stand at an angle to one another, being at the same time joined to each other and rivalling each other; and they share the same entrances and are like each other in all respects, even to the open spaces by which they are surrounded; and each of them is found to be neither superior nor inferior to the other either in beauty or in size or in any other respect. Indeed each equally outshines the sun by the gleam of its stones, and each is equally adorned throughout with an abundance of gold and teems with offerings. In just one respect, however, they do differ. For the long axis of one of them is built straight, while in the other church the columns stand for the most part in a semi-circle. But whereas they possess a single colonnaded stoa, called a narthex because of its great length, for each one of their porches, they have their propylaea entirely in common, and they share a single court, and the same doors leading in from the court, and they are alike in that they belong to the Palace. These two churches are so admirable that they manifestly form an adornment of the whole city, and not merely of the Palace.

The church and monastery dedicated to the soldier-martyrs Sergios and Bacchos was founded by Justinian in 527 and populated with Monophysites, a heresy supported by Theodora. Due to its conversion into a mosque in the 16th century, the church survives today, largely intact. The basilican church was demolished in the early 20th century. Had Justinian built nothing else for the rest of his career, he would stil be remembered as a patron of important architecture on the strength of Hagios Sergios and Bacchos.

The plan of the church consists of a circle inscribed in a square inscribed in a rectangle, which correspond to a dome suspended over a nave flanked by aisles. The 8 piers and the 4 semi-circular niches placed in the corners of the nave form a second square, rotated 45° from the other The alternation of convex recesses and straight colonnades in the elevation effect the transition into the segmented dome. Although the church is rectangular in structure, it is perceived as a centrally-planned, circular building.

A tall gallery runs around the south, west, and north sides of the nave. An large, richly carved entablature, following the same course, carries an inscription:

Other sovereigns have honored dead men whose labor was unprofitable, but our sceptered Justinian, fostering piety, honors with a splendid abode the Servant of Christ, Begetter of all things, Sergius; whom not the burning breath of fire, nor the sword, nor any other constraint of torments disturbed; but who endured to be slain for the sake of Christ, the God, gaining by his blood heaven as his home. May he in all things guard the rule of the sleepless sovereign and increase the power of the God-crowned Theodora whose mind is adorned with piety, whose constant toil lies in unsparing efforts to nourish the destitute [translated from the Greek by Cyril Mango].

The designers of Hagios Sergius and Bacchus clearly conceived of the building in geometric and theoretical terms. The architects chosen by Justinian to design Hagia Sofia in the 530s, engineer Isidore of Miletus and geometer-mathematician Anthemius of Tralles, may well have been responsible for Hagios Sergius and Bacchus as well. Although Hagia Sofia is much larger and more elaborate, the two buildings share a core concept. The Turkish popular name for Hagios Sergius and Bacchus is Küçük Ayasofia, or “little Hagia Sofia.”

“Solomon, I have outdone thee," Justinian is supposed to have shouted upon the completion of the dome of Hagia Sofia in 538. This claim is not entirely true. As the patron of Hagios Sergios and Bacchos, Justinian had outdone himself.

More detailed information about Hagios Sergios and Bacchos here.

Original Greek Entablature Inscription:

1 Aλλοι μὲν βα]σιλῆες ἐτιμήσαντο θανόντας

ἀνέρας, ὧν ἀνόνητος ἔην πόνος· ἡμέτερος δὲ

εὐσεβίην σκηπτοῦχος Ἰουστινιανὸς ἀέξων

Σέργιον αἰγλήεντι δόμῳ θεράποντα γεραίρει

5 Χριστοῦ παγγενέταο· τὸν οὐ πυρὸς ἀτμὸς ἀνάπτων,

οὐ ξίφος, οὐχ ἑτέρη βασάνων ἐτάραξεν ἀνάγκη,

ἀλλὰ θεοῦ τέτληκεν ὑπὲρ Χριστοῖο δαμῆναι

αἵματι κερδαίνων δόμον οὐρανόν. ἀλλ᾽ ἐνὶ πᾶσιν

κοιρανίην βασιλῆος ἀκοιμήτοιο φυλάξοι

10 καὶ κράτος αὐξήσειε θεοστεφέος Θεοδώρης,

ἧς νόος εὐσεβίῃ φαιδρύνεται, ἧς πόνος ἀεὶ

ἀκτεάνων θρεπτῆρες ἀφειδέες εἰσὶν ἀγῶνες.

[geocursedtraveler]

Today I shall take you to a beautiful place full of history. Take my hand and let’s go in the heart of Istanbul.

In front of us stands Hagia Sophia, an old symbol of religion and what man can built for religion and to show of his power. You can see how big is and beautiful she is . While we step inside  you can see the beautiful dome, with nice inscriptions from Koran, the beautiful colors, the large space and light that is inside her.

If you look on the ceilings you can see the gold mosaics with texts from Koran.  The beautiful dome, the  great aches that sustains the dome,   you can see the beautiful marble walls, the beautiful columns, the beauty of their carving, the upper part looks almost like lace.The big beautiful marble columns brought from Egypt.

Hagia Sophia  is old and wise her walls have seen  many things. Hagia was built in Emperor  Justian I times,  on 27 December 537 she was first inaugurated with pomp. Emperor Justinian I, chose  as architects  for his majestic building, two Greek scientist  Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralles, to build such a big and beautiful building wasn’t an easy task, there were more than ten thousand people hired to work to build it. The marble columns were brought from all over the Empire. Hagia Sophia was build as an orthodox Church, having the rectangular shape of a basilica the symbolize the piety for the Emperor   but also he round shape of  a dome, that symbolize the power. One of the challengers of the architects was to build a dome on a rectangular base, something that wasn’t done before, The architects used large arches to  sustain the domes. Even so 20 years after inauguration her beautiful dome collapsed.  The dome was rebuild by the nephew of Isidore,  he will use this time windows to make the dome lighter an to create more light. At that time Hagia Sophia had her walls decorated with Byzantines mosaic paintings representing the saints.

Hagia Sophia survived many earthquakes and many  power shifts. In 1204  the crusades will come and sack the city and lute treasurers from Hagia Sophia and transform her  for a time into  catholic church . Two hundred years later  another power will rise the Ottoman Empire. In 1453 the city will be conquered and Hagia Sophia will be transformed from a church to mosque  in just 3 days , the beautiful mosaics depicting saints were replaced with mosaics with words from Koran,  a mimbar and mihrab was added, later will be added large discs with calligraphy from Koran plastered over the Christians mosaics , outside will be placed minarets.

Like this a Christian symbol  that lasted almost a 1000 year was transformed in a Islamic symbol.   After  almost 500 years, in 1935 Sophia will become an museum, now when you enter you can see on the left side the Christians symbol that long ago were plastered with Koran symbols and on the right  also  the Koran words symbol of Islam.  The walls of Sophia endured many shift powers, earthquakes and was witness to more than one millennium of history. Is also one of the greatest architectonic jewelry  that  talks about how good the architects and the materials they used were and how good their science was.

I hope you enjoyed our walk through Hagia Sophia and her long history.

Here you can watch a video about the Hagia Sophia history and also how strong this beautiful building is .https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlkkLNd4P44

The pictures are not mine they are gather from all around the internet!

The place between religions and science- Hagia Sophia Today I shall take you to a beautiful place full of history. Take my hand and let's go in the heart of Istanbul.

[luvimedu-blog]

Although few details of his life are known, he is regarded as one of the leading scientists in classical antiquity. Among his advances in physics are the foundations of hydrostatics, statics and an explanation of the principle of the lever. He is credited with designing innovative machines, including siege engines and the screw pump that bears his name. Modern experiments have tested claims that Archimedes designed machines capable of lifting attacking ships out of the water and setting ships on fire using an array of mirrors. Archimedes is generally considered to be the greatest mathematician of antiquity and one of the greatest of all time. He used the method of exhaustion to calculate the area under the arc of a parabola with the summation of an infinite series, and gave a remarkably accurate approximation of pi. He also defined the spiral bearing his name, formulae for the volumes of surfaces of revolution and an ingenious system for expressing very large numbers. Archimedes died during the Siege of Syracuse when he was killed by a Roman soldier despite orders that he should not be harmed. Cicero describes visiting the tomb of Archimedes, which was surmounted by a sphere inscribed within a cylinder. Archimedes had proven that the sphere has two thirds of the volume and surface area of the cylinder (including the bases of the latter), and regarded this as the greatest of his mathematical achievements. Unlike his inventions, the mathematical writings of Archimedes were little known in antiquity. Mathematicians from Alexandria read and quoted him, but the first comprehensive compilation was not made until c. 530 AD by Isidore of Miletus, while commentaries on the works of Archimedes written by Eutocius in the sixth century AD opened them to wider readership for the first time. The relatively few copies of Archimedes' written work that survived through the Middle Ages were an influential source of ideas for scientists during the Renaissance, while the discovery in 1906 of previously unknown works by Archimedes in the Archimedes Palimpsest has provided new insights into how he obtained mathematical results. Source: Wikipedia.org