The Church of Sergius and Bacchus (built by Justinian)

The Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus was built by Justinian while he was Ceasar to his uncle Justin. It's one of the most beautiful buildings in Istanbul, built a few years before the Hagia Sophia.

This video is part of a series - 'The History of Byzantium goes to Istanbul.' In 2018 the listeners of the podcast funded a Kickstarter to send me to Istanbul. I documented many of the surviving Byzantine sites and have made videos about them.

#constantinople #justinian #theodora #sergius #bacchus #istanbul #byzantium #byzantine

[koksalceylan]

Im Turkish and you doing great work, thanks 😊

[Theodoros_Kolokotronis]

Also known as “Little Hagia Sophia”, the unique Greek Orthodox Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus (Greek: Ἐκκλησία τῶν Ἁγίων Σεργίου καὶ Βάκχου ἐν τοῖς Ὁρμίσδου) was built between 532 and 536 AD.

Part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Byzantine Greek origin, this splendid Church is nonetheless one of the most important early Byzantine buildings in Constantinople.

[Jbdhbc]

Thank you Robin! I just wanted to say that listening/watching this while standing in the interior last year was mesmerising. I think I spent about two hours here taking in the words on the frieze, the detail of the acanthus leaves, and reflecting in silence. In those two hours, there were maybe 5 other tourists - and two that I spoke to were also very grateful for this video after I shared it with them! Thank you again - for introducing this humbled Aussie to such an overlooked marvel of architecture and influence. I have a wonderful memory here thanks to you! Ravenna calls next!

[JacquesMare]

Thank you Robin. Can't wait for the next episode of the podcast eventhough we're getting to the more depressing part of that history now: the slow, and protracted death of the empire.

Please keep on podcasting, I'll listen to anything you do, because you're so thorough and dedicated to your task that it is a joy to experience the journey through time with you.

Greetings from Pretoria, South Africa 🇿🇦

[DiomedesDioscuro]

This is pure delight! Thank you very much for all your work, we're enjoying it a lot!

[colinbrooks]

On my list for a future trip to Istanbul now!

[gregwilliams]

Fascinating. Thanks Robin. Have missed this church on previous visits to the city. Look forward to seeing it next time.

[HorukAI]

Thank you for all the years! Listening to your voice, narrative and research - being stuck in traffic was never so pleasurable :)

[jodyrewa]

Thank you Robin for showing us this beautiful place. A question: would visiting crusaders in later years worship here, and not Hagia Sophia, when in the city?

[lysanders]

Does anyone take issue, if not offense, seeing a monument of one civilization being appropriated by another, by no right other than conquest?

[RPe-jkdv]

are there mosaics hidden under the ottoman plaster?

[paulharvey]

Thank you for this helpful presentation. God bless you and family amen. I am looking for sensitive informed and generous appraisal of Mosque and Islamic decoration, art, and architecture to heighten appreciation by Christian visitors and build up “love for one another” between Islam and Christian — at a higher level of faith. To build a more advanced faith-space to share. Please help if you can. I can’t seem to find the information I need and discussion ends up always in hate-blame-hate vicious circle. I want to break this circle of hate.

[dragonmartijn]

Nice clip. It’s sad Justin was only thinking about himself and his fame. He should have built it without mentioning his and Theodora’s names. Only God can make it a truly devine place.

[koksalceylan]

The God who whant human blood as secrifice😮

[R.E.A.L.I.T.Y]

I wonder if the original mosaics survive beneath the bleak blank amnesia of the Islamic erasure.