St.Sophia
The principal churches of Nicaea included the Cathedral of Haghia Sophia, originally a basilica with three aisles of the 5th c., that underwent repeated restoration until the 14th c.; and the Church of the Dormition of the Virgin, whose controversial chronology varies between the 6th-7th and the 8th-9th c., with the earlier more probable. The Turks turned it into a mosque and later the famous architect Sinan had some additional structures built around itOf notable interest were the rich mosaics of the cupola and the narthex, destroyed during the Graeco-Turkish War, known only from photographs and watercolors made at the beginning of this century.   Views from the outside. Click for bigger size images of the year 2001...     View from inside...including the Mosaics The representatives of Vatican and Fener Patriarchate came together in St.Sophia in 1987 to commemorate of 7th Council of Christianity which was held in the same place in the 24 th of September 787.  1200.th Anniversary of the 7th Council. 
TILES of IZNIK 
 
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