This week in Christian history: Hagia Sophia consecrated; ‘O Holy Night’ becomes first song on radio

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, December 24, 2023

Hagia Sophia consecrated – Dec. 27, 537

Byzantine Emperor Justinian I (482-565), also called Justinian the Great or Flavius Anicius Justinianus, who is most known for his law system the Justinian Code. | Public Domain

This week marks the anniversary of when Hagia Sophia, the prominent early church Orthodox cathedral that was later turned into a mosque by the Ottoman Empire, was first consecrated.

Meaning “Holy Wisdom,” the cathedral was formally dedicated by Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, being the third church to occupy that particular tract of land in Constantinople, or modern-day Istanbul, Turkey.

“Solomon, I have outdone thee!” Justinian declared after the church was completed, alluding to the Temple of Solomon that was built in Jerusalem in ancient times.

“The vast, airy naos, or central basilica, with its technically complex system of vaults and semi-domes, culminates in a high central dome with a diameter of over 101 feet (31 meters) and a height of 160 feet (48.5 meters),” explained the Greek City Times.

“The interior of Hagia Sophia was paneled with costly colored marbles and ornamental stone inlays. Decorative marble columns were taken from ancient buildings and reused to support the interior arcades. Initially, the upper part of the building was minimally decorated in gold with a huge cross in a medallion at the summit of the dome.”