Like A Pearl
Little Hagia Sophia, the coastal complex of the great palace during the Byzantine Empire
It was rising on the shores of the Sea of Marmara as a rare Church of Bukoleon Palace.
Having a good navy, Byzantine was a city built on the sea and its people were always in touch with the sea.
Which was why the Emperor had a powerful navy.
This beachfront place where the emperor lived with his wife was very similar to Spilit Beach Palace in Croatia
It is because of his that her resembles the dome of Little Hagia Sophia, which is placed in the garden of his own palace with a magnificent Marmara Sea view, into an Oyster Shell.
This architectural building style has been used abundantly in fountains, madrasahs and domes of mosques, as it was the most influential in the 16th century and later, when the Mediterranean Sea was a Turkish Lake, where maritime was the most effective , in Ottoman Empire…
This is why the interior of Little Hagia Sophia is like A Pearl …
To examine the architects further, their engineers, Anthemius of Tralles and Isidorius of Miletos, are known as engineers-architects in Anatolia in the education system at that time.(Mechanicus )
With the Emperor Justinianus within the imperial borders
including famous Churches such as Hagia Sophia and Hagia Eirene
they brought dozens of works.
They were innovators, like their emperors, and they weren’t tired of trying.
a dome structure of the kind we are talking about,
İt was first tried in Churches in Little Hagia Sophia.
Even though it looks like Hagia Sophia when you look at the eye distance
when viewed from the air, it is exceptional due to its structure.
Before the emperor ascended the throne, He had the Church of St. Petrus and Pavlos built in the garden of Bucoleon Palace, this structure was damaged in later periods and could not reach today.
In those years, the names of people believed to have been killed for religion were given to Churches.
The names of Aziz Sergius and Bacchus, who shared the same fate with St.Petrus and Pavlus ( St.Peter and Paul ) in the early periods of Christianity, were also given to Little Hagia Sophia.
The fact that the visitors compared its to Hagia Sophia and the structure has the appearance of a small copy of Hagia Sophia caused its to be named as Little Hagia Sophia.
In most information and resources, in postcards and miniatures from previous periods
Its resemblance to Hagia Sophia is abundantly processed.
In the years when Little Hagia Sophia was built There was also a Kadırga Port in the region.
(AD 527-536 )
Little Hagia Sophia was located in the western corner of The Port.
To the east, it was adjacent to the Imperial Pier.
The Church was also adjacent to another Church from the wall.
This Church is the Church of St. Petrus and Pavlus, which we are talking about.
The church was later damaged and destroyed.
Likewise, it shares the same garden and courtyard,Hormisdas Palace,
which has been a monastery for monks for centuries, is not in place today.
The palace of the Prince of Sasanian Hormuz (Hormisdas), who chose the Christian faith and took refuge in Byzantium, was turned into a monastery in the following years.
Byzantine history has seen countless rebellions, earthquakes, wars and many natural disasters,
tens of these have not survived until today with these two structures.
However, Little Hagia Sophia has been standing for 1500 years and still welcomes Visitors.
” CEREMONY ,,
Emperors move from the Grand Palace to Bukoleon Palace, as described in the Book of Ceremonies
From here , they entered the Little Hagia Sophia from their own private department and greeted the people, elites, judiciary, soldiers and bureaucrats.
Imperial historian Prokopius included these visits in detail in his books.
Only the emperor or people of private position could use the imperial pier , we mentioned.
Naval or merchant ships are blessed before sailing, and they just sailor they would join the war.
Even though it is not always successful, it would not be unfounded to think that the same religious rituals took place during the return of the sailling.
Thus, the people could see the rulers and elites of the city in Little Hagia Sophia, come together with them, and they know their troubles or praises.
This is still the case today.
Since it is a place of worship, Turkish People can see the elite or famous people of Istanbul who will never see in the city while they are worshiping or while drinking tea in the garden of Little Hagia Sophia.
Writers, politicians, leading people of the city are stripped of all their qualities and than They are making silently visits and they leave from this lovely neighborhood which stayed in historical pictures.
The calm of the Little Hagia Sophia is admirable for all people , although it is curious to visit so many.
The reason for this is that while you want to reach Little Hagia Sophia, you will be immersed in the beauties of this old neighborhood of the city. History gushes from everywhere.And you lost…
Finally, you find yourself in the garden of Little Hagia Sophia.
Region people are very helpful and Turkish Hospitality continues with a certain honor.
Big and small touristic facilities in the region are an indication of this historical attraction.
The building functions as a Mosque for nearly 500 years.
It is open to visitors between 09.00-21.00 and visit is free of charge.
