Hagia Sophia
| Department | Archive |
|---|---|
| Collection | Byzantine Research Fund |
| Reference No. | BRF/02/08/01/002 |
| Level | Item |
| Place |
Sophia |
| Scope and Content | Close view. Creator unknown. |
| Further information | Hagia Sophia is one of the oldest and largest Bulgarian churches. The monument, which is built in cross-design, dates back to the Justinian period (mid- 6th c.). Between the 12th and the 14th c. it functioned as a cathedral, while in the 14th c. it gave its name to the city of Sofia. During the Ottoman occupation it was converted into a mosque. The church suffered severe damage by earthquakes and was restored only after 1900. |