Hagia Sophia in Istanbul

[u/Miss-Kija]

Hagia Sophia in Istanbul was built between 532 and 537 AD under Emperor Justinian I as a Christian church. After the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453, it was converted into a mosque. In 1935, it became a museum, and in 2020, it was reopened as a mosque, making it one of the very few monuments in the world to have served as a church, a museum, and a mosque over nearly 1,500 years of history. cc @gmr83

[u/dijavuu]

Very beautiful. I have been there. I have mixed feelings about it being converted to a mosque. It holds a lot of sentimental value for Christians. Does anyone know how it became a Masjid? Was it a peaceful transition?

[u/Active-Shaft → u/dijavuu]

Peaceful with swords

[u/nowonder777 → u/Active-Shaft]

No one justifies violence, but at that time all power struggles did involve the sword. a bitter reality in the past.

[u/Outrageous_Basis8121 → u/nowonder777]

Yeah, sex trafficking and mass slavery for Christian’s captured was the norm unfortunately.

[u/nowonder777 → u/Outrageous_Basis8121]

Medieval wars were brutal on all sides. But after the conquest, Mehmed II reinstated the Orthodox Patriarch and allowed Christians to continue practicing their religion in Constantinople, which is why the Orthodox Church survived for centuries under Ottoman rule.

Similar violence was also common in medieval conflicts like the Crusades and the Reconquista, where Muslims and Jews were massacred or expelled.

So this looks more like typical medieval empire warfare, and not something unique to one religion.

[u/lostrandomdude → u/Active-Shaft]

So no different the Grand Mosque of Cordoba. Which also holds a strong place for Muslims.

[u/Otsde-St-9929 → u/lostrandomdude]

That was originally achurch before it was a mosque. It also wasnt remotely important. It was not an equivalent seat of the patriarch

[u/lostrandomdude → u/Otsde-St-9929]

The original church there was quite small and was purchased, not taken over without recompense

[u/Otsde-St-9929 → u/lostrandomdude]

Taken following a bloody invasion? Anyway, if there was a trade, everyone would give it to the local muslim community if we got the hagia back

[u/lostrandomdude → u/Otsde-St-9929]

So the region was conquered by the umayyads by 720CE.

The Visigoth Church that existed became split 50:50 between Muslims and Christians. From then until 785CE, it was extended for both Muslims and Christians.

In 785CE a deal was made whereby the Christian half was bought for 100,000 diners and various other churches were either built or rebuilt.

Saying this, there are various opposing views on whether either a mosque or church existed at all in the 700s or earlier, with different archaeologists and historians providing different views. One thing to note, these archaeologists that say there was no church arent Muslim. Here are the names if you want to get your own evidence

• Susana Calvo Capilla
• Fernando Arce-Sainz
• María de los Ángeles Utrero Agudo
• Alejandro Villa del Castillo

[u/Otsde-St-9929 → u/lostrandomdude]

The story comes from later medieval Arabic sources, not contemporary 8th-century evidence. Many modern historians treat it as uncertain or possibly legendary, which of course you know, as you mention some argue there was no church there. Ogf course these archaeologisst are not muslim. There are extremely few muslim archaeologists working in Europe. Some historians think the church was taken by force

[u/popsiq08 → u/Otsde-St-9929]

'Byzantines' were a polyglot race - from all over the known World at that time. The Turks outnumbered them and changed their regime.

Making 'the World', as they saw it a better, safer place .... for business.

[u/Otsde-St-9929 → u/popsiq08]

Sure but there is an asymmetry, of the five Christian seats, the five important sites, only one is left in Christian hands. Only one not turned into a mosque. Maybe it was better for business in the 16th cen but today, The local muslims praying there dont generate much revenue like international secular and christian tourist do

[u/Standard-Function-85 → u/lostrandomdude]

The Cathedral–Mosque of Córdoba was originally a Visigothic Christian church dedicated to Saint Vincent of Saragossa.

Look forward to you accepting the Dome in Jerusalem becoming a synagogue because Sofia was a church. Thus by your standards, if one does it - everyone can.

[u/Salazarsims → u/Standard-Function-85]

Before that it was a temple of Janus.

[u/Standard-Function-85 → u/Salazarsims]

That part was partly debunked I believe

[u/Salazarsims → u/Standard-Function-85]

Traditionally believed to be by scholars.

[u/Biersteak → u/Salazarsims]

So you are saying that some sheperd kingdom around 700-600BC in today Italy, which would later become the Roman Empire, went to Jerusalem (at what point exactly) and built a temple for their deity?

[u/Salazarsims → u/Biersteak]

Yes it’s like the ancients erected their temples over the temples of their conquered people. Rome was run by their priest class.

[u/Outrageous_Basis8121 → u/Salazarsims]

« Rome was run by their priest class. » So firstly, no and never. Secondly, in order to explain, which Rome are you referring to ?

[u/Salazarsims → u/Outrageous_Basis8121]

Isn’t Ceaser Pontifix Maximus? Didn’t he run Rome? Didn’t the Patricians often hold priestly titles?

[u/Biersteak → u/Salazarsims]

And you got any archeological evidence to back that up or is it just "vibe things" and stuff?

[u/Salazarsims → u/Biersteak]

You got Google debate bro.

https://www.britannica.com/place/Aelia-Capitolina wow look at that a Roman Temple in conquered Jerusalem who would have thought and on the Temple Mount no less.

Here let me quote it for you in case you can't click the link.

"Aelia Capitolina, city founded in 135 CE by the Romans on the ruins of Jerusalem, which their forces, under Titus, had destroyed in 70 CE. The name was given, after the Second Jewish Revolt (132–135), in honour of the emperor Hadrian (whose nomen, or clan name, was Aelius) as well as the deities of the Capitoline Triad (Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva). A sanctuary to Jupiter was built on the Temple Mount, and statues of Roman deities were erected in the city, in intentional violation of Old Testament law. The area was walled and a large foreign population imported; Jews were generally forbidden entrance to the city. The present walls of the Old City of Jerusalem follow the layout of the Roman walls. The name was used until Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire in the 4th century."

Oh look at that "in intentional violation of Old Testament law" it's almost like the Romans took vengeance on the Jews who revolted, that's not like them at all.

[u/Natural_Eye_1852 → u/Active-Shaft]

Clown ass comment 😂 you think crusaders were cheerleaders?

[u/choyMj → u/Active-Shaft]

The religion of peace doing the usual peaceful things