Holy Church of Hagia Sophia — Attraction in Municipality of Thessaloniki

The cathedral and pilgrimage church of Agia Sophia (The Wisdom of God) is at the historical center of Thessaloniki, at the square with the same name, at the intersection Agia Sophia and Ermou streets. Dedicated to Wisdom and the Word of God is, together with the churches of Agios Dimitrios and Acheiropoietos, among the most important Early Christian monuments of Greece and of the Orthodox world in general.

Architecturally, the church belongs to the type of transitional cross-in-square church and is a development of a basilica with a dome.

There are remarkable mosaics surviving at the monuments, in the area of the altar and the dome, which date from there different periods and are excellent examples of Byzantine art:

The abstract decoration of the semi-cylindrical apse of the altar area (cross in glory, fire and geometrical shapes) belong in the first years of Iconoclasm (726-787), as testified by the inscriptions that mention the names of empress Irine of Athens and her son Constantine VI, who ruled jointly in the years 780-788. Here, we can discern the name of bishop Theophilos. The inscriptions are related to the visit of the emperors in Thessaloniki, just before the 7th Ecumenical Council in Nicaea in 787, which decided the end of Iconoclasm.

The majestic representation of the Ascension of Christ at the dome belongs to the second stage and more specifically in the end of the 9th century. It depicts Christ in the centre of a glory, supported by angels, while lower stand the figures of the apostles. Among them Virgin Mary, surrounded by two archangels pointing to the Divine Presence at the celestial dome.

The mosaic of the enthroned Virgin Mary holding baby Christ, at the conch of the apse, which replaced a cross, belongs to the third stage, and more specifically in the 11th-12th century.

At the narthex windows, there are parts of wall paintings of monk saints of the 11th century, among then Agia Theodora in Thessaloniki.

Evliya Celebi wrote about Agia Sophia in 1667: “It was imperative for Thessaloniki, an important administrative, economic and ecclesiastic centre of Byzantium, to have its own Agia Sophia (Holy Wisdom) equal to the church of Agia Sophia in Constantinople. The surviving church was built in the mid 7th century on the site of an Early Christian basilica, and it served as the city Cathedral.

The length of Thessaloniki’s Agia Sophia is one hundred and seventy-five paces. Its width, another hundred and twenty-five. The building is unique of its kind. On the left as you enter is there is a superb green pulpit – a rare work of art – is known to all travelers by land and sea as one of the most admirable monuments...

The Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom) in Thessaloniki, Greece, is one of the oldest churches in the city and a World Heritage Site on the UNESCO list. Since the 3rd century, there was a church in the location of the current Hagia Sophia. In the 8th century, the present structure was erected, based on the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople (present-day Istanbul, Turkey). In 1205, when the Fourth Crusade captured the city the church was converted into the cathedral of Thessaloniki, and remained the cathedral after the city was returned to the Byzantine Empire in 1246.When Thessaloniki was occupied by the Ottoman Sultan Murad II on 29 March 1430, the church was converted into a mosque. It was reconverted to a church upon the liberation of Thessaloniki in 1912.

Its ground plan is that of a domed Greek cross basilica. Together with the Gül and the Kalenderhane Mosques in Istanbul and the destroyed Church of the Dormition in Nicaea, it represents one of the main architectural examples of this type, typical of the Byzantine middle period.

In the Iconoclastic era, the apse of the church was embellished with plain gold mosaics with only one great cross, similarly to the Hagia Irene in Constantinople and the Church of the Dormition in Nicaea. The cross was substituted with the image of the Theotokos (God-bearer, or Mary) in 787-797 after the victory of the Iconodules. The mosaic in the dome now represents the Ascension with the inscription from Acts 1:11 "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven?" The dome is ringed by the figures of all Twelve Apostles, Mary and two angels.

Between 1907 and 1909 byzantine historian Charles Diehl restorated the whole building that underwent many damages during a fire in 1890. Much of the interior decoration was plastered over after the Great Thessaloniki Fire of 1917. The dome was not...

Beautiful and very impressive Byzantine church. We were pleasantly surprised and impressed by the beauty of St. Agia Sofia's Church. The Church of St. Sophia is located in the center of Solun, at the intersection of the street of the same name and the Ermu Street. It is dedicated to Jesus Christ, the Truth, the Word and Wisdom of God. This church is large and richly decorated. The church was built in the 7th century, on the ruins of a large, five-aisled basilica dating back to the 5th century AD. The atmosphere in the church is beautiful and pleasant. The interior is very beautiful and richly decorated. Mosaic, which is now in the dome of the church, represents the ascension of Jesus Christ with an inscription from work 1:11. "You men of Galilee who stand and look to heaven". In the dome there are also all 12 apostles, the Virgin as well as the two angels. Rich history and interesting architecture attracts a multitude...