HAGIA SOPHIA• The largest, most important and still most famousByzantine church, is the Hagia Sophia ofConstantinople, dedicated to the holy wisdom (hagia sophia) of God.• It was built in 532-537 CE during the reignof Justinian I (r. 527-565 CE) on the site of twomore modest versions dating back to the 4thcentury CE. The building is unique and was nevermatched in either size or design by any subsequentByzantine building• Its basic rectangular shape measures 74.6 x 69.7 m(245 x 229 ft). Its huge domed ceiling is 55 m abovethe floor and rests on four massive arches with foursupporting pendentives.