عند ملتقى عالمين

HAGIA SOPHIA — Pocket Guide

From Trinity to Pure Oneness of God

Understanding The Islamic Perspective

First Edition, 2026

Osoul Center — www.osoulcenter.com

HAGIA SOPHIA

Published by: Ossoul Center, KSA

Copyright © Ossoul, 2026 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without a written permission from the author or the publisher.

Book and cover design: Taylor & Toglaw

Printed and bound in Kuwait by KHAT Press

Feedback and inquiries:

info@kim.org.tr

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First Edition, October, 2026

Brief Contents

Introduction

Standing at the threshold of East and West, Hagia Sophia has sheltered the prayers of two worlds and embraced the spirits of Christianity and Islam under a single dome.

To understand why Hagia Sophia exists, we must first look at the Roman Empire—not at its height of pagan glory, but during its radical transformation into a Christian state. At the heart of this era was a fierce struggle over the nature of the Divine. We explore the era of Arianism and the early non-Trinitarian debates, examining how the doctrine of the Trinity was eventually codified across the Empire. This sets the stage for the arrival of the Ottomans, who returned Hagia Sophia to a strictly monotheistic worship.

Today, Hagia Sophia remains a vivid and vital sanctuary. The cadence of the five daily prayers— before the first light of the sunrise to the evening stillness after the sunset—keeps the space in a state of constant devotion, and fully occupied by the remembrance of our Lord.

To grasp this living legacy, we explain the fundamental differences between Christian and

Islamic creeds. In addition, we explore how trinity was introduced to Christianity after the ascension of Jesus to the heavens. Ultimately, we look toward a shared horizon: The return of Jesus as a prophet and a messenger of God who will unite both faiths and all believers in God under the banner of monotheism. He will bring humanity to submit to One and Only One indivisible God, Allah the Creator and Lord of all beings.

Osoul Center

DEDICATION

To those in search of "The One" The Unique, the Peerless, the Eternal.

We dedicate this work to every visitor of Hagia Sophia who seeks to explore its history from before the birth of Jesus until the present day, as we look forward to the return of the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, to unite all believers in God upon pure Monotheism.

HAGIA SOPHIA — The Divine Wisdom

"Hagia" is a Greek word meaning holy or sacred. It is the feminine form of the Greek adjective hagios (holy or saint) and is most commonly used in the context of Hagia Sophia which translates to "Holy Wisdom". This is similar to other feminine nouns, such as Hagia Irene (Holy Peace).

In Greek, sophía (σοφία) literally means wisdom. The Holy Wisdom was considered a specific attribute of God.

This is not to be confused with Saint Sophia in Christian history (a widow who had three daughters). While many other churches are dedicated to her, the Great Church in Istanbul was specifically dedicated to the Divine Wisdom.

Note:

- The Statue of Liberty isn’t dedicated to a woman named Liberty; its dedicated to the concept of freedom.

- The Turkish name of Hagia Sophia is Ayasofya.

The Roman Empire: Rise to Fall

753 BCE — The Roman Kingdom was established in Rome.

27 BCE — It became a Roman Empire.

1 CE — Jesus was born.

Due to a calculation error when the AD calendar system was created in the 6th century, Jesus was actually born c. 6–4 BCE rather than 1 CE.

Summarized Visual Timeline

2205 years

395 CE — Split of the Roman Empire to Western part (predominantly Latin-speaking) and Eastern part (predominantly Greek-speaking).

476 CE — The fall of the Western Roman Empire (capital was Rome then Milan then Ravenna in modern day Italy).

570 CE — Muhammad was born (570 CE).

In the year 628–629 CE approx. Prophet Muhammad sent a letter to Heraclius, the Roman Emperor inviting him to Islam (pure monotheism).

1453 CE — The fall of the Eastern Roman Empire (capital was Constantinople).

Historical Transformations of Hagia Sophia

Constantine I (The Great): 306–337 CE. He moved the capital from Rome to the strategic city of Byzantium. Renamed Constantinople (330 CE).

A museum for 85 years.

A Mosque as from 2020 — until Now.

Hagia Sophia: Mirror of Empires

How the Rise and Fall of Empires Reshaped a House of Worship

Editorial image noteFull-page photograph of the interior of the Colosseum in Rome.