Hagia Sophia Religion

Laura Guley

APAH

Van Reeth

Period-5

Response 1: Throughout history, the Hagia Sophia has had many functions and uses. First built by Constantine the Great to use as a Christian church, the Hagia Sophia became a symbol of Christianity in the world. After the original building was destroyed, the Hagia Sophia was rebuilt and served as the cathedral or Bishop’s seat of the city. Later, the church was destroyed, rebuilt and redefined as a Mosque. After maintain the function of a Mosque for 500 years, Turkey became a secular nation, and The Hagia Sophia became a museum to both Christianity and Islam. The patron of the Hagia Sophia is Justinian I. When Justinian rebuilt the church, he wanted it to stand as a symbol that Christianity trumps paganism. The building was very large, grand, and used remnants from other temples, columns and stones throughout the empire such as a medallion with the face of Medusa embedded in the walls of the Hagia Sophia, and bronze doors dating back to the second century BCE. Justinian utilized

Salat requires ritual prayer five times a day towards Mecca. This prayer must occur at dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset and late evening. You cannot participate in the prayer if you haven’t hit puberty, if you are sick or you are menstruating. The Hajj is a pilgrimage to Mecca that is required of every Muslim to do once in their lifetime. This occurs in the last month of the year and must be carried out by all adult Muslims that are financially-able to make the trip, and can support their family while they are gone. Under Salat, Muslims must pray towards Mecca and the Kaaba because it is one of the holiest shrines in Islam and is the place where Muhammad was born. The Kaaba, thorught to be bult by Abraham, was originally built to be a shrine, but now stands as the unifying point for Muslims all around the world for worship and pilgrimage in the Islamic