Notes: The Haiga Sophia, also known as the Saint Sophia was once an Orthodox Christian Church under Constantine who had it built and it was an important monument during the Byzantine Empire and later it became a Mosque after Ottoman Turks conquered the region. It was incredibly fascinating to see such exquisite design and the additions that were seamlessly made. I was often amused at the obvious influences by the Catholic on the Orthodox structure of the Church - but in all my observance during the self guided tour, I kept thinking, What actually happened here? Was there bloodshed? God, were you here? Perhaps strange to some, but it was an awe satisfying experience. Stained glass windows, Arabic script, alters and pathways - even burial sites. It was Holy ground that welcomed more than just one group of people. And though it is run as a tourist museum, it had an essence that reminded people - this was a place of worship and prayer, perserved for centuries. The European had been met with the Arabian - and the remnants to me, were quite extraordinary.
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