Despite the fact that 571 years passed since Constantinople fell to the Ottoman army, there is so much that remains from the glorious Byzantine Empire that you can still see today.
CHURCH OF SAINTS SERGIUS AND BACCHUS
Little Hagia Sophia used to be the Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus. Built in 536 during the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian the Great, perhaps it’s one of the oldest Byzantine structures in modern day Istanbul. Hagia Sophia and Hagia Eirene were both also built at the same time, a fact that points at the might of the Empire reflected in construction of these magnificent religious structures.
They dedicated this church to Roman soldiers Sergius and Bacchus who died during the reign of the Roman Emperor Maximian around 300.
The Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus functioned as a Christian Orthodox religious temple for nearly 1500 years, until its conversion into a mosque.
LITTLE HAGIA SOPHIA
The Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus became Little Hagia Sophia in 1513. They call it Küçük Ayasofya Camii in Turkish which, in reality, is the only association with Hagia Sophia.
So, it continued to exist as a Christian Orthodox church for 60 years after the conquest of Constantinople in 1453.
The Chief Black Eunuch at the Topkapi Palace, Hüseyin Ağa, transformed the church into a mosque.
The position of the Chief Black Eunuch, Kızlar Ağa in Turkish, was the third ranking within the Ottoman hierarchy after the Sultan and Grand Vizier. They were in charge of the harem and the link between the Sultan and his Grand Vizier or Valide Sultan.
This brief description clarifies why the Chief Black Eunuch presided over the transformation of the Christian church into an Islamic mosque. He had the necessary wealth and power.
Little Hagia Sophia is a beautiful mosque. But this means that, apart from the structure, there is nothing else that you can see from the Byzantine era. There are no frescoes or mosaics, or richly decorated floors.
ENDANGERED LITTLE HAGIA SOPHIA
Moreover, the mosque is included in the World Monuments Watch List of endangered monuments because of its diminishing static integrity. They built a road and rail immediately behind the mosque. In the process, they destroyed a part of the complex. Apparently, every time when a tram passes by, vibrations affect the structure.
Ironically, in any other city this nearly 1500 years old building would be the prime treasure and one of the most important tourist attractions. In Istanbul, its lost in the vast Byzantine and Ottoman heritage.
However, this doesn’t reduce its value and importance for the world heritage. So, if you go to Istanbul, make an effort and go to see Little Hagia Sophia. You will be amazed.
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