Misplaced Pages

Hagia Sophia, Trabzon

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Macukali (talk | contribs) at 20:53, 19 April 2013. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Revision as of 20:53, 19 April 2013 by Macukali (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)

Template:Other uses2 41°00′12″N 39°41′46″E / 41.00333°N 39.69611°E / 41.00333; 39.69611

A view of the Hagia Sophia of Trabzon (today a museum) with its bell tower and the Black Sea coast in the background
Hagia Sophia Museum
Bell tower

The Church of Saint Sophia (Template:Lang-el, meaning "Holy Wisdom" Template:Lang-tr), now the Saint Sophia Museum, is a former Chalcedonian (Greek Orthodox) church located in the city of Trabzon in the north-eastern part of Turkey. It dates back to the thirteenth century when Trabzon was the capital of the Empire of Trebizond. It is located near the seashore and two miles west of the medieval town's limits. It is one of a few dozen Byzantine sites still existent in the area.

History

Hagia Sophia was built in Trebizond during the reign of Manuel I between 1238 and 1263. After Mehmed II conquered the city in 1461 the church was converted into a mosque and its frescos covered in whitewash. During World War I and for a brief period afterward, the city was occupied by the Russian military and used as a makeshift hospital and depot. Afterwards it was put back into use as a mosque, until 1964 when it was turned into a museum - which it remains to this day. From 1958 to 1964 the frescoes were uncovered and the church consolidated with the help of experts from Edinburgh University and the General Directorate of Foundations.

The Hagia Sophia church is an important example of late Byzantine architecture, being characterised by a high central dome and four large column arches supporting the weight of the dome and ceiling. Below the dome is an Opus sectile pavement of multicolored stones. The church was built with a cross-in-square plan, but with an exterior form that takes the shape of a cross thanks to prominent north and south porches. The structure is 22 metres long, 11.6 metres wide and 12.7 metres tall. The late 13th-century frescos, revealed during the Edinburgh University restoration, illustrate New Testament themes. External stone figurative reliefs and other ornamenting is in keeping with local traditions found in Georgia and Armenia. 24 metres to the west of the church is a tall bell tower, 40 metres high. It was built in 1427 and also contains frescoes.

Converted into a mosque today

Hagia Sophia museum today but it will be converted into a mosque according to the local Vakif Direction of Trabzon, which is the owner of the estate. The reconstruction works have already been started. The mufti of the Turkish province Trabzon, said that “the works for opening the Hagia Sophia mosque in the city to practice prayers again are going on,” and that “during the prayer the mural paintings will be covered by curtains. Some Turkish scholars and activists protest this event and started sign a petition campaign against transformation.

Gallery

  • Interior Interior
  • Frescoes Frescoes
  • Dome frescoes Dome frescoes
  • Floor Floor

Notes

  1. Eastmond, Anthony. "The Byzantine Empires in the Thirteenth Century" in Art and Identity in Thirteenth-Century Byzantium: Hagia Sophia and the Empire of Trebizond. Burlington, VT: Ashgate, 2004, p. 1.
  2. "Mosque%20conversion%20raises%20alarm"%20Art%20Newspaper Mosque conversion raises alarm
  3. Bartholomew I: Do not transform Hagia Sophia in Trabzon into a mosque
  4. World heritage Trabzon Hagia Sophia must be stayed as a Museum! Support us! sign the petition!

Further reading

  • Eastmond, Anthony. Art and Identity in Thirteenth-Century Byzantium: Hagia Sophia and the Empire of Trebizond. Burlington, VT: Ashgate, 2004.

External links

Turkey Museums in Turkey
Aegean region
Black Sea region
Central Anatolia region
Eastern Anatolia
Marmara region
For museums in Istanbul see Museums in Istanbul
Mediterranean region
Southeastern Anatolia region
Categories: