HAGIA SOPHIA

Hagia Sophia, arguably the most important historical building in the history of Christianity, is actually the third church to bear that name on its present-day location. The original church was begun in the time of Constantine I, who founded and developed the city into the greatest metropolis of its time. Then it was remodeled during Theodesious II's reign, but was later destroyed during the Nika revolts of 532. Subsequently, it was the Emperor Justinian who employed the two greatest architects of the time - Anthemius of Tralles and Isidore of Miletus, for the construction of a church whose dimensions and grandeur were unprecedented in the world. It was converted into a mosque by Mehmet the Conqueror following his conquest of the city. It continued to serve as a pivotal religious building during the Ottoman centuries, but is now a museum.