It is the most famous church that is remained from the Bizans Age in Constantinople. It was converted to a mosque after the conquest of Istanbul by Fatih Sultan Mehmed in 1453, it was used for this aim until being museum in 1935. A church had been built in the place of Ayasofya during the restoration of the city when it had been taken by Kostantinos the Great as the capital city of the Empire in 326 AD, the son of the emperor Kostantinos had restored this church in 360 AD, because it was badly damaged in an earthquake in addition it was not big enough. The church, which was called as Megale Ekklesia (Big Church) and supposed to have a basilica plan, took the name Hagia Sophia and called like this from the fifth century till today.

Some parts of the new building that had been built at the ages of II. Theodosios in 405 can be seen., instead of the church that had been burnt in the fire, which had occurred during the riot in 404. Some part of the column gallery and nartex walls, which are thought to adorn the west side of this building, appeared in the west courtyard of today’s Ayasofya during the excavation done in 1935.

Ayasofya could not be saved in the fire in 532. Two of important architects of the age, Anthemios of Aydın and Isidoros of Miletos, had taken the responsibility upon the order of the Justinianos about constructing a building, which would have not a second instance about being large and special in the same age, and these architects had begun to build a church that would have not been effected from any fire and every kind of material would have been used for excessively. The construction that had been completed on 27^th December, 537, was so fascinating that the Empire said “ I beat you, Soleman.” in a big opening ceremony.

Ayasofya overcame a lot of fire and earthquakes. Ayasofya was converted to a mosque by the command of Fatih Sultan Mehmed and first Friday ritual prayers of Islam was performed there after the conquest of Istanbul by Turks in 29^th May, 1453.While converting the church to a mosque the basic shape of the construction was protected, even the figured mosaics were not touched. They were covered with whitewash in the time of Kanuni. It is accepted that the supporting walls in the south-east and the brick minaret were done in the time of Fatih. In the time of Sultan Bajazed II, the thin minaret in the north-west, in the time of Sultan II. Selim two thick minarets were added by Mimar Sinan (Sinan the Architect) and supported by columns. The supporting columns and repairing done by Mimar Sinan provide the construction to reach today.

The co-facilities that was remained from the Byzantine times are, baptistery and goods storehouse. The baptistery was converted to turbe (mausoleum) of Sultan Mustafa and Ibrahim in the Ottoman period, The turbe (mausoleum) of Sultan Selim II was made by Mimar Sinan, the turbe of Murad III was made by Davut Aga. Beside these, the turbe of Sultan Mehmed III, a school, a sadirvan (fountain) that reveals the characteristics of Sultan Mahmud I period and imaret (hospice) are also placed in the facility.

Ayasofya had effected a lot of architects. It had a lot of restorations and repairs nearly in every monarch’s period. Ayasofya hides a history by its architectural and ornamental richness and its legends added more and more in every age.

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