Hagia+Sophia+(St.+Sophia)

History

 * ===It's name comes from the 6th- century: Hagia Sophia in Constantinople means: "Holy Wisdom" for an specific name, Sophia. It took ten decades to build it. ===
 * ===The Church was dedicated to the Logos ===
 * ===In 1453 Constantinople was conquered by the Ottoman Turks under sultan Mehmed II, who ordered the building converted into a mosque. ===
 * ===For almost 500 years it was the principal mosque of Istanbul. ===

Characteristics

 * ===Is famous for its massive dome. ===
 * ===Is considered the epitome of Byzantine Architecture. ===
 * ===The church contained a large collection of Holy relics. ===
 * ===Hagia Sophia is one of the greatest surviving examples of Byzantine Architecture. ===
 * ===Is richly decorated with mosaics. Other parts were decorated in a purely style with geometric patterns. ===

People and places

 * ===The current building was originally constructed as a church between 532 and 537 on the orders of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian and was the third Church of the Holy Wisdom to occupy the site, the previous two having been destroyed by rioters. It was designed by the Greek scientists Isidore of Miletus, a physicist, and Anthemius of Tralles, a mathematician. ===
 * ===The Church was dedicated to the Logos, the second person of the Holy Trinity, its dedication feast taking place on 25 December, the anniversary of the Birth of the incarnation of the Logos in Christ. ===

Renovations and changes

 * ===In 1453 Constantinople was conquered by the Ottoman Turks, it was converted into a mosque. ===
 * ===<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">The sacrificial vessels, bells, altar were removed and many mosaics were plastered over. ===
 * ===<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Islamic features- such as the mihrab, minbar and four minarets were added while in the possesion of the Ottomans. It remained a mosque until 1931 when it was closed to the public for four years. It was re-opened in 1935 as a museum by the Republic of Turkey. ===

<span style="color: #00a1ff; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Links
<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/saintcathedralinkiev <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">[|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hagia_Sophia#His] =<span style="color: #00a1ff; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Group members = <span style="color: #a200ff; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Julieta Cruz = =