Key insights

• ⛪ Aya Irini, the oldest church of Constantinople, commissioned by Constantine and later became the location of the second ecumenical council
• 🔨 Underwent multiple reconstructions, with the domed roof built entirely of stone by Emperor Justinian
• 🏛️ Lost prominence to Aya Sophia, which was much larger and more splendid
• 🏰 After the Ottomans' conquest, the church was stripped of its adornments and used as the imperial armory
• 🕌 Aya Sophia was originally a Byzantine church before being converted into a mosque and later a museum
• 🏗️ The building has elements dating back to the 6th century Justinian-built core
• 🖼️ Islamic art avoids religious imagery of living things and focuses on geometric designs and Quranic texts
• 🇹🇷 President of Turkey ordered Aya Sophia to become an active mosque, sparking international condemnation

Q&A

• What religious significance does the adornment of Aya Sofya hold?

  Aya Sofya features religious art and Byzantine symbols depicting Emperor Leo VI, Jesus, Mary, and the Archangel Gabriel. The significance of the art illustrates the message of separating from the world to seek salvation through love. While religious art can elevate thoughts and emotions, it also has the potential to draw people away from true worship, emphasizing the call for Christians to be separate from the world and to seek salvation through love.

• When did the veneration of icons return to orthodoxy, and what impact did it have on the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant Reformation?

  The veneration of icons returned to orthodoxy after about 130 years of struggle in the early eighth century. The decision of the seventh ecumenical council stipulated a preference for two-dimensional art. Unlike the Roman Catholic Church, which did not go through the same iconoclasm, conflicts arose during the Protestant Reformation over the veneration of images.

• What was the historical debate surrounding the veneration of religious icons and statues?

  The debate centered around the veneration of religious icons and statues within the eastern clergy. The iconoclasts rejected image veneration based on the second commandment, while others, including monastic communities, defended it, distinguishing veneration from worship.

• What led to the recent international controversy surrounding Aya Sophia?

  The president of Turkey ordered Aya Sophia to become an active mosque, which sparked international condemnation. Restored icons and artwork are preserved during Muslim worship and unveiled for tourists. The artworks are from the 9th through 13th centuries due to the period of iconoclasm.

• How did Aya Sophia transition from a Byzantine church to a mosque and then a museum?

  Aya Sophia was originally a Byzantine church before being converted into a mosque and later a museum. The building has elements dating back to the 6th century Justinian-built core. Sultan Mehmed converted it into a mosque but preserved some Christian artworks. Islamic art avoids religious imagery of living things and focuses on geometric designs and Quranic texts. After the Ottoman Empire, the mosque was turned into a museum in the new secular Turkish republic.

• What is the historical significance of Aya Irini in Istanbul?

  Aya Irini is the oldest church of Constantinople, commissioned by Constantine and later became the location of the second ecumenical council. It underwent multiple reconstructions, with the domed roof built entirely of stone by Emperor Justinian. However, it lost prominence to Aya Sophia, which was much larger and more splendid. After the Ottomans' conquest, the church was stripped of its adornments and used as the imperial armory.

• 00:01 Exploring the early history of the Byzantine church in Istanbul, focusing on the Aya Irini and Aya Sophia. Aya Irini, the oldest church of Constantinople, played a significant role in the Byzantine Empire's development. The church underwent multiple reconstructions and lost prominence to Aya Sophia. After the Ottomans' conquest, the church was stripped of its adornments and used as the imperial armory.
• 02:18 The Aya Sophia, originally a Byzantine church, was converted into a mosque and later a museum. It retains both Christian and Islamic elements in its architecture and artwork.
• 04:48 The president of Turkey ordered Aya Sophia to be returned to an active mosque, angering Pope Francis and sparking international condemnation. Restored icons and artwork are being preserved during Muslim worship and unveiled for tourists. The artworks are from the 9th through 13th centuries due to the period of iconoclasm.
• 06:44 The debate centered around the veneration of religious icons and statues, with some opposing it based on the second commandment while others defended it. The iconoclasts rejected image veneration, citing the second commandment, while others, including monastic communities, defended it, distinguishing veneration from worship.
• 09:04 The iconoclasts removed imagery from churches in the early eighth century, but after 130 years, the veneration of icons returned to orthodoxy. The decision of the seventh ecumenical council stipulated a preference for two-dimensional art. The Roman Catholic Church did not go through the same iconoclasm, leading to conflicts during the Protestant Reformation.
• 11:22 The Aya Sofya is adorned with religious art and Byzantine symbolism, illustrating the significance of art in church and the message of separating from the world to seek salvation through love.