Küçük Ayasofya Mosque (Little Hagia Sophia Mosque)

Audio Narration

Construction Year:

527-536 (Church); 1497-1504 (Mosque)

Location:

Fatih, İstanbul

Ordered by:

Byzantine Emperor Justinian I and his wife Theodora (Church), during the reign of Bayezid II, Hüseyin Agha, Agha of Darüssaade (Conversion into a mosque)

Architect:

Unknown

- Changes after its construction
  • The Minor Hagia Sophia Mosque was converted into a mosque by Hüseyin Agha during the reign of Bayezid II in 1497 (it is also said to be 1504), and the narthex, minaret, mihrab, minbar and Muezzin’s Lodge were added.
  • The mosque, whose minaret was rebuilt by Grand Vizier Mustafa Pasha in 1750-51, was repaired by renewing its lead coating and plaster in 1836 and 1956.
  • The mosque, whose minaret was demolished down to its base in 1937, was rebuilt using cut stone in 1955.
- Prominent features
  • Formerly known as the Church of Agia Sergios and Bacchus.
  • With its eight-sided domed structure, it is one of the oldest Byzantine-era structures in Istanbul.
  • On its door, there is a 16th century woodwork example and inscriptions containing hadiths (Sayings of the Prophet Muhammad).
  • In its garden is the 24-room Huseyin Agha Madrasa, restored by the Yesevi Foundation.
  • The tomb of Huseyin Agha and the graves of Sheikh Hodja Kamil Effendi are located in the mosque courtyard.
  • The origin of the church’s dedication to St. Sergius and St. Bacchus is associated with the liberation of Justinian I.