Audio GuideLittle Hagia Sophia Mosque

In the heart of Istanbul stands Küçük Ayasofya Camii, or the Little Hagia Sophia, a building where ancient stone and whispered legend meet. Over one and a half millennia old, it was first built as a church in the mid-sixth century, during the reign of Emperor Justinian. Working with his Empress Theodora, Justinian dedicated the church to Saints Sergius and Bacchus—two local martyrs of the Roman army. Their story is deeply tied to the church’s founding. When Justinian, then a young man, was accused of plotting against the Roman throne, his life was saved after the saints reportedly appeared in a dream to the emperor and pleaded on his behalf. Out of gratitude, Justinian raised this church.

Poseidónas Greek

The structure’s bold dome rises above an octagonal base with thick stone pillars, a design that makes the interior feel both open and intimate. At the time, this was a marvel of Byzantine architecture, with patterns and building techniques that would later influence the city’s grander Hagia Sophia. Though the original walls shimmered with colorful mosaics and rich marble, much of that decoration was replaced or covered when the church became a mosque.

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In the late fifteen hundreds, after the Ottoman conquest, the church was transformed. An elegant minaret pierced the sky and the portico, or covered entrance, was added. Close by, visitors will find a madrasa, or religious school, with a lush garden courtyard, as well as the tomb of the mosque’s patron Hüseyin Ağa.

Over centuries, earthquakes shook its foundations and city developments, including a nearby railway, put the mosque at risk. Each time, careful restoration repaired the dome, minaret, and walls—helping keep centuries of history alive within its cool, shaded rooms. Today, the mosque’s whitewashed walls, subtle Arabic calligraphy, and filtered light create a peaceful but layered atmosphere, echoing both Byzantine and Ottoman artistry.

Küçük Ayasofya Camii stands as one of the oldest surviving Byzantine monuments in Istanbul and is now protected as part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It reminds visitors that Istanbul’s story is one of ongoing change—where empires rise, faiths merge, and each stone carries one thousand five hundred years of memory.