THE GLORIOUS CHURCH OF HOLY WISDOM
The Cathedral of Holy Wisdom is the largest and most magnificent church in the walled city of Nicosia and the Frankish major construction on the island, with the design and decoration to reflect the history of medieval Cyprus. Contrary to common belief, the temple is dedicated to a Saint named Sophia, but the Holy Wisdom of God, which is dedicated and the church in Istanbul, Sofia, Kiev, Novgorod, Trebizond, the Nice, Thessaloniki and Strovolos.
In the space of Holy Wisdom was formerly Byzantine church, built on the site a Roman temple. After the arrival of Lusignan, in 1192, the exclusive use of the church acquired the Latin Church. In 1209, the Archbishop Thierry invited Alix de Champagne, later wife of King Henry I to deposit the cornerstone of the present church, built over the Byzantine. During the period 1217 - 1250 intensified efforts to secure financial resources for the construction of the church by Archbishop Eustorge de Montaigu. The artists who accompanied the French king Louis IX, during his visit between 1248 - 1249, seems also worked on the projects and the decoration of the church.
The church was damaged by earthquakes (1222, 1267, 1303) and the attack of the Lombards (1232). At Archbishop Ugo di Faciano (1251 - 1261), here began to worship the Greek Orthodox who follow the Latin standard, while officially designated as the cathedral in 1260 Bulla Cypria. Archbishop Giovanni del Conte (1312 - 1332) saw the final character of the Gothic church, with strong influences from the Notre Dame of Paris and the abbey of Pontigny, the imposing facade and roof, dark blue with stars. There are 5 churches: the double in the north chapel of St. Nicholas, while in the south chapel of the Ladies, St. Francis and St. Thomas Unmovable.
Coronation of kings
In 1324, the new king, Hugh IV, crowned in the cathedral of Holy Wisdom. Since then, Lusignans crowned kings of Cyprus to the Hagia Sophia and then kings of Jerusalem in the cathedral of St. Nicholas in Famagusta. The consecration of the temple took place on November 4, 1326. In 1347, Pope Clement IV issued polka dots for repair and completion of the temple, however, continued to gradually build without being completed, for more than a century. The Holy Wisdom was built entirely of sandstone of Pentadaktilos and used for decoration Pentelic marble from the city's oldest buildings.The elaborate sculptural decoration, the work of local artisans, showing church, biblical and royal figures. The whole building was the largest temple of the Latin Levant, measuring 66 m long x 24.5 m wide and 21 m in height. Based on 16 columns, four of which were transferred from Salamis.
The Holy Wisdom has witnessed historic moments in Nicosia in November 1330, when the people fled there to escape the sharp Pedieos great flood, in 1359, when the Greek Orthodox tried to set fire to the doors of Holy Wisdom, as the legate of Pope salvage the Greek Orthodox priests in the temple and tried to impose his allegiance to the Latin Church, in 1374, when the Genoese invaders burned and looted the Holy Wisdom, in 1396, when he was crowned king of Armenia here by James I, in 1426, when Mamluks of Egypt burned part of the Holy Wisdom, which was repaired but John II on his coronation in 1432, the 1491, 1547 and 1735, when part of the temple was damaged by earthquakes.
Additions and renovation
During the 14th century built in double-floored Chapter House (Meeting room of clergy) to the southeast of the church, which used the Latin priests for various concentrations them.The 15th century, southwest of Holy Wisdom was built the church of Panagia the Driver (Odigitria), who at the period of Latin was the Greek Orthodox cathedral, under Turkish rule became a market (the famous Betestan), while during the British rule was used as a warehouse for grain. To the north of Holy Wisdom was built on the Latin Archdiocese in 1250 and rebuilt in 1329, while the Ottoman conquerors rebuilt the upper floors for use as house of Archikades.
The 1564 - 1565 was a general restoration of the temple, while compared with occidental walls of Nicosia, was in the northern part of town, which was then divided by the river Pedieos whose rune overthrew the Venetians in 1567, with construction the Venetian Walls, Holy Wisdom was almost in the center. But the glamor did not last long after the July 22, 1570 came from the hills of Saint Marina, Saint George and Mania, the numerous and armor Ottoman army under the command of Piale Pasha. Despite the tough resistance of the defenders of the city, the Ottoman besiegers cut off the water of the moat, and approached the walls erected makeshift structures. At noon on September 9, 1570, a Turkish Bairaktaris (bearer) ascended the bastion Constantza (where they are now the municipal parking lot and pavilion "OCHI"), followed by many janissaries, the city was occupied! For the record, Bairaktaris killed on the spot by the defenders of the city and was erected in memory of the famous mosque Bairaktari (between the parking area, the pavilion Costantza and the pavilion OCHI).
Massacre and pillage
The conqueror of the city engaged in a merciless massacre, massacred those who find in their path and capturing many. The entire population af who had gathered in the cathedral of St. Sophia was slaughtered after the invaders were able to break the doors of mantalomenes. After 7 days of looting and 20.000 dead, began "othomanising" of the city. On Friday, August 15, 1570, the Lala Mustafa Pasha and prayed in the temple so they called Holy Wisdom mosque. The interior decoration was destroyed, seen as an affront to Islam, the interior was painted white and the medieval tombstones were used as a floor that was covered with a huge red carpet. In 1571 were added to the two unfinished towers twin minarets, height 49 m, while the courtyard fountain added a great catharsis. At the same time and added a michrap - index of Mecca - the location of the Chapel of St. Francis.
Converting to mosque
The entrance to Holy Wisdom forbidden to all Christians until the early 19th century. In 1873, east of the temple was constructed Aziziye port, with the monogram of Sultan Abdul Aziz, and in 1903 became a renovation of a Evkaf and maintenance between 1947 to 1951. Previously, the muezzin climbed the 170 steps each day of the minaret to call Muslims faithful to prayer five times a day until the 12 May 1949 the "Allah Akbar" was broadcast by loudspeakers. In 1954, 13 August, Mufti announced the name change of the shrine of "Holy Wisdom's mosque" to "Selimiye Mosque," in honor of Sultan Selim II (1566-1574), whose reign the Ottomans conquered Cyprus.
During the bloody events of the Turkish Cypriot rebellion 1963 - 1964, Holy Wisdom was found in the northern part of town, which was controlled by Turkish Cypriot extremists. With the Turkish invasion of July 20, 1974 was now under the temporary, illegal control of Ankara and since then groaning under the Attila and the two flags to "decorate" the entrance. Along with the tower Maglis (now Shacolas Tower), is still considered the tallest building in the capital and dominates the landscape of the semi-occupied Nicosia.
The tallest building in the walled city
The tallest building of the walled city of Nicosia is reported by all browsers and stands in the drawings and prints them. Located at the heart of Nicosia bazaar and being the largest and most important center of Muslim worship in Nicosia, around Hagia Sophia lived Ottoman Empire and the namesake parish was the largest of the parishes of the city. To the west of the church built a mentresse (theological school), which was rebuilt in 1829 as a library with its characteristic white domes, by order of Sultan Mahmud II.Further east is the Museum of Geoffrey, also known as Lapidary Museum (architectural museum), a charming 15th century building.
The above text belongs to Alexander - Michael Hadjilyras and republished from the first publication in "Protevoussa" magazine in November 2010.
Additions and renovation
During the 14th century built in double-floored Chapter House (Meeting room of clergy) to the southeast of the church, which used the Latin priests for various concentrations them.The 15th century, southwest of Holy Wisdom was built the church of Panagia the Driver (Odigitria), who at the period of Latin was the Greek Orthodox cathedral, under Turkish rule became a market (the famous Betestan), while during the British rule was used as a warehouse for grain. To the north of Holy Wisdom was built on the Latin Archdiocese in 1250 and rebuilt in 1329, while the Ottoman conquerors rebuilt the upper floors for use as house of Archikades.
The 1564 - 1565 was a general restoration of the temple, while compared with occidental walls of Nicosia, was in the northern part of town, which was then divided by the river Pedieos whose rune overthrew the Venetians in 1567, with construction the Venetian Walls, Holy Wisdom was almost in the center. But the glamor did not last long after the July 22, 1570 came from the hills of Saint Marina, Saint George and Mania, the numerous and armor Ottoman army under the command of Piale Pasha. Despite the tough resistance of the defenders of the city, the Ottoman besiegers cut off the water of the moat, and approached the walls erected makeshift structures. At noon on September 9, 1570, a Turkish Bairaktaris (bearer) ascended the bastion Constantza (where they are now the municipal parking lot and pavilion "OCHI"), followed by many janissaries, the city was occupied! For the record, Bairaktaris killed on the spot by the defenders of the city and was erected in memory of the famous mosque Bairaktari (between the parking area, the pavilion Costantza and the pavilion OCHI).
Massacre and pillage
The conqueror of the city engaged in a merciless massacre, massacred those who find in their path and capturing many. The entire population af who had gathered in the cathedral of St. Sophia was slaughtered after the invaders were able to break the doors of mantalomenes. After 7 days of looting and 20.000 dead, began "othomanising" of the city. On Friday, August 15, 1570, the Lala Mustafa Pasha and prayed in the temple so they called Holy Wisdom mosque. The interior decoration was destroyed, seen as an affront to Islam, the interior was painted white and the medieval tombstones were used as a floor that was covered with a huge red carpet. In 1571 were added to the two unfinished towers twin minarets, height 49 m, while the courtyard fountain added a great catharsis. At the same time and added a michrap - index of Mecca - the location of the Chapel of St. Francis.
Converting to mosque
The entrance to Holy Wisdom forbidden to all Christians until the early 19th century. In 1873, east of the temple was constructed Aziziye port, with the monogram of Sultan Abdul Aziz, and in 1903 became a renovation of a Evkaf and maintenance between 1947 to 1951. Previously, the muezzin climbed the 170 steps each day of the minaret to call Muslims faithful to prayer five times a day until the 12 May 1949 the "Allah Akbar" was broadcast by loudspeakers. In 1954, 13 August, Mufti announced the name change of the shrine of "Holy Wisdom's mosque" to "Selimiye Mosque," in honor of Sultan Selim II (1566-1574), whose reign the Ottomans conquered Cyprus.
During the bloody events of the Turkish Cypriot rebellion 1963 - 1964, Holy Wisdom was found in the northern part of town, which was controlled by Turkish Cypriot extremists. With the Turkish invasion of July 20, 1974 was now under the temporary, illegal control of Ankara and since then groaning under the Attila and the two flags to "decorate" the entrance. Along with the tower Maglis (now Shacolas Tower), is still considered the tallest building in the capital and dominates the landscape of the semi-occupied Nicosia.
The tallest building in the walled city
The tallest building of the walled city of Nicosia is reported by all browsers and stands in the drawings and prints them. Located at the heart of Nicosia bazaar and being the largest and most important center of Muslim worship in Nicosia, around Hagia Sophia lived Ottoman Empire and the namesake parish was the largest of the parishes of the city. To the west of the church built a mentresse (theological school), which was rebuilt in 1829 as a library with its characteristic white domes, by order of Sultan Mahmud II.Further east is the Museum of Geoffrey, also known as Lapidary Museum (architectural museum), a charming 15th century building.
The above text belongs to Alexander - Michael Hadjilyras and republished from the first publication in "Protevoussa" magazine in November 2010.
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