Iznik Hagia Sophia (Orhan Mosque): Temple of Civilizations, where the 7th Council was held

The 1600-Year History of Iznik Hagia Sophia and the 7th Council

Rising in the heart of Iznik, the historical lake city of Bursa, at the intersection of the main streets coming from the four main gates, the Iznik Hagia Sophia Church (now known as the Orhan Mosque) was built in A.D. It is a monumental basilica built during the Roman Empire in the 4th century. The temple is the scene of one of the most critical turning points in the world's history of religions and art.

M.S. The 7th Congress convened in 787 to put an end to the bloody period of Iconoclasm, in which paintings and icons were banned and destroyed in Christianity. The Ecumenical Council (Second Council of Nicaea) was held in this temple with the participation of 350 bishops, by the order of Empress Irene. With the decisions taken in this assembly, icons and religious depictions were released again, and the theological foundations of today's Eastern and Western churches were laid in this hall.

The Conquest of Orhan Gazi and the Touch of Mimar Sinan

When the Ottoman sultan Orhan Gazi conquered Iznik in 1331, he converted Hagia Sophia into a mosque to give the city a temple of the sword as a symbol of the conquest. Minaret, mihrab and madrasah rooms were added to the building.

16. After a fire during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent in the 19th century, it was restored with great mastery by the chief Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan. Sinan strengthened the damaged structure of the basilica, renewed the arches and added the elegance of classical Ottoman architecture to the structure.

• Opus Sectile Floor Mosaics: The 1000-year-old rare 'opus sectile' floors, made by geometrically cutting and combining colored marbles on the floor of the temple, can be viewed under glass protection panels today.
• Wall Frescoes and Burial Chamber: Hz. Hz. on the north nave wall. The remains of the frescoes of Jesus and Mary and the ancient baptismal boat bear the traces of the Christian period.
• Marble Mihrab and Pulpit: The mihrab, a wonder of stone carving added during the Ottoman period, represents the identity of the mosque.

Where and How to Get to Iznik Hagia Sophia?

Hagia Sophia is located in İznik district center, Kılıçaslan District, at Dörtyol Square, where Atatürk Street and Kılıçaslan Street intersect.

• By Public Transportation: You can reach the district center in approximately 1 hour with the Iznik buses that depart from Bursa East Garage every half hour, and you can reach the mosque directly by walking 5 minutes from the garage.
• By Private Vehicle: From Bursa, you can enter the city through the historical city walls by driving along the shores of Lake Iznik at the Gemlik or Orhangazi junction on the Yalova highway.

Special Recommendations of Our Bursa Editor

• Iznik Tile Workshops: Visit the historical tile kilns operating in the streets around Hagia Sophia; Buy genuine Iznik quartz plates and tiles under UNESCO protection.
• Sunset by the Lake: After visiting Hagia Sophia, go down to the shores of Lake Iznik and watch the magnificent sunset over the lake by tasting the famous Iznik yellowfish (catch).