12/9 pt 1: Aya Sofya (Hagia Sophia)

This was the only day on the whole trip that I wasn't wearing enough clothing. It was COLD inside these old mosque/churches. I've got lots of very short film clips for Aya Sofya (below). I also have a video blog entry overview of the whole day. Not sure if that is best viewed at the beginning or the end, so I'll post it in both places, as the day had several major components, and Aya Sofya is only part 1! I remember thinking that Aya Sofya wasn't quite as splendid as I had imagined it would be. Perhaps all the scaffolding in the middle, or the fact that it wasn't in use as worship space, as fellow-travelley Emilie has also proposed in her blog. Or maybe, too, it was the fact that my historical imagination is a bit... challenged. The size of the dome roof, built in the 7th century, remained the very largest until sometime in the 15th century, but since here we are in the 21st century, and I had the glorious chance to go to Italy last year, hey, I've seen some other domes that big. I think my favorite part may have been standing on the spot where the Empress would sit when she attended the services, and trying to imagine what that would have been like.

With my future in ministry (insha'Allah), I also appreciated with some irony the copious synod notes written on gigantic stone tablets. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXLNJ7zoNcQ

Sorry for the parts where the page gets messy. When I choose "preview" it looks nothing like what posts on the final page. A bit frustrating! But at least I can share my footage with you, dear reader!

Something else I enjoy about the video, is you can hear the silence, and the echoes, and the occasional voices in familiar and unfamiliar tongues. My favorite clips below are marked with an asterisk (*). Here's a summary of the day I made after sundown, or you can save it for after the feast at Asitane (several blog pages from now):
A seagull summary of the day (after napping) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EI8wzTEO-9Y

Perry keeps track of the pilgrims*: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUaKiKPX1q4
Group logistics at Ayasofya: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-r5FAStv1ss
Mike's photo of me on the stairs -- preacher, tourguide, goofball. As we say at SKSM, "it's a both/and!" outside ayasofya 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mG3_a_L8Ik
outside ayasofya 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k--RezvE5UI
12th century synod minutes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXLNJ7zoNcQ
I love the way that marble wears over the centuries. Those are stories I understand!
shiny wavy marble floor arasofya http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCLaSi1LtLs

imperial door http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCV3zc3532o
shams walks thru the imperial door as Darcy narrates* (thanks, Darce!)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-XpdQkJ7w8
interior ayasofya 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebXqyWy30-U
lacy columns, mary and baby jee http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MSL-z96gxE

stained glass* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlNPTNmxZkI
Gabriel* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvmhGH-JcW8
mimbar http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MkEUKlwX34
more meembar (that's just really fun to say!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuZ3NJIcg9Y&feature=channel_page

seraphim, I think http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BStcWeeXedc&feature=channel_page
Really large marble jar really old purple column http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oMuU2gTYTs&feature=channel_page
about the column; it narrates itself http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFn5tPVLWTE&feature=channel_page
matching jar on other side of room (carved from one block of marble!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdustNVVIYk&feature=channel_page
ubiquitous friendly strays http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oypwtRDU5U4&feature=channel_page
4 seraphim* These reminded me of all the images from Italy of the holy spirit as a bird with a similar glow at the center. The glow always calls to me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhnEgJphf00
Peace Mudra http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58pGCvv5f8w
wear and tear http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PP2GRg20F4
how we get to the next level* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoL9IufQ6_k
out the window up the walls http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eS9KJRJ7ITQ
interesting header and many patterns http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUyoaVTVkl
Arius Glenn and Athanasius Cassie come from synod* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MWgiZTWMy4
mosaic crumbling http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdOTo3n6iXA
more mosaics http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdFESb911cA
2nd cent BCE bronze door and more http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvqlsMOGPUo