| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
|---|---|
.jpg) The Hagia Sophia | |
| Location | Thessaloniki,Greece |
| Part of | Paleochristian and Byzantine monuments of Thessaloniki |
| Criteria | Cultural: (i), (ii), (iv) |
| Reference | 456-006 |
| Inscription | 1988 (12thSession) |
| Area | 0.82 ha (2.0 acres) |
| Coordinates | 40°37′58″N22°56′49″E / 40.63278°N 22.94694°E /40.63278; 22.94694 |
  Hagia Sophia, Thessaloniki Location of Hagia Sophia, Thessaloniki in Greece | |
TheHagia Sophia (Greek:Ἁγία Σοφία,Holy Wisdom) is a church located inThessaloniki,Greece. With its current structure dating from the 7th century, it is one of the oldest churches in the city still standing today. Because of its outstandingByzantine art and architecture, in addition to its importance in early Christianity, it is one ofseveral monuments in Thessaloniki listed as aUNESCOWorld Heritage Site in 1988.[1]
Since the 3rd century there has been a church in the location of the current Hagia Sophia. In 620, that church collapsed, most likely because of an earthquake.[2] Later in the 7th century, the present structure was erected, based on theHagia Sophia inConstantinople (present-dayIstanbul,Turkey). In 1205, when theFourth Crusade captured the city, the Hagia Sophia was converted into thecathedral of Thessaloniki, which lasted until 1224, the year when the battalions of theDespotate of Epirus, underTheodore Komnenos Doukas, liberated the city.[2] After the capture of Thessaloniki by the Ottoman SultanMurad II on 29 March 1430, the church was converted into amosque,[3] calledAyasofya Camii, keeping its old name.[4] It was reconverted to a church upon the liberation of Thessaloniki in 1912.
Its ground plan is that of adomedGreek crossbasilica. Together with theGül and theKalenderhane Mosques inIstanbul and the destroyed Church of theDormition inNicaea, it represents one of the main architectural examples of this type, typical of theByzantine middle period.[5]
In theIconoclastic era, theapse of the church was embellished with plain goldmosaics with only one great cross, similarly to theHagia Irene in Constantinople and the Church of the Dormition in Nicaea. The cross was substituted with the image of theTheotokos (God-bearer, or Mary) in 787-797 after the victory of theIconodules. The mosaic in the dome now represents theAscension with the inscription fromActs 1:11 "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven?". The dome is ringed by the figures of allTwelve Apostles,Mary and two angels.
Between 1907 and 1909 Byzantine historianCharles Diehl restored the whole building, which had experienced significant damage during a fire in 1890. Much of the interior decoration was plastered over after theGreat Thessaloniki Fire of 1917. The dome was not restored until 1980.
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Landmarks ofThessaloniki | ||
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| Macedonian period |
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| Roman period | ||
| Paleochristian and Byzantine | ||
| Ottoman period | ||
| Modern period | ||
| Jewish sites | ||
| Streets | ||
| Villas/Mansions | ||
| Gardens/Parks | ||
| Marinas |
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| Other | ||
| Museums | ||
| Events | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
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