TURKEY. Istanbul. Hagia Sophia. 1983.

The church was begun in 326 during reign of Constantine the Great. In 415 the second part was built with a 5 nave Basilica, but it was later burnt down. In May 1453 Mehmed the Conqueror entered Constantinople and ordered the church to be converted into a Mosque, all furnishing removed, and plaster covered the precious mosaics. Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent declared it was inappropriate to have such decorations in a Moslem place of worship.