FEBRUARY 23

On this date in 532, yes almost 1500 years ago, Byzantine Emperor Justinian I ordered a church be built in Constantinople dedicated to the Holy Wisdom of God.  It was called the Hagia Sophia.  The Greek Orthodox Basilica was completed five years later.

It stood as the seat of the Eastern Orthodox Church for over 900 years.  In 1453, it was converted to a Muslim mosque when the country was conquered by invading Ottoman Turks.  It stood that way until 1931 and in 1935 was reopened as a museum by the Turkish government.

Constantinople is now called Istanbul. The walls of this beautiful building are covered with art dating from both the sixth and 15th centuries.  I'd love to visit the amazing building - they don't build 'em that way any more.

o.o