St. Sofia, Instanbul

Emperor Constantine was the first Christian Roman emperor. Istanbul was formerly known as Constantinople and St. Sofia was a cathedral. With the city falling into the hands of the Ottoman Turks the cathedral became a mosque. All Christian drawings were covered with plaster. Now the building is a museum and the removal of the plaster brought back fresh images of early Christian paintings. The stained glass panels remained intact following the orders of a sultan.

Saint Sophia a museum now.

Notice both Christian and Islamic decorations.

The largest Cathedral in Europe at one time.

Ceiling decoration.

Angulated to point to Mecca.

The Virgin Mary and Christ previously hidden by plaster.

Grandstand for the Sultan during prayers.

Some of these pillars may have been taken from the temple of Artemis in Ephesus.

An angel.

Christ and Emperor Constantine.