Read

Listen

Listen to Ancient Music Revived by Technology

Published:
December 5, 2023
February 27, 2020
Listen to what music sounded like in the Hagia Sophia during the 6th century.|Listen to what music sounded like in the Hagia Sophia during the 6th century.

There are few things on this planet that are truly amazing, but the Hagia Sophia church building in Istanbul, Turkey would certainly fit in that category. 

When it was built in 537, it was the world’s largest building. The enormous dome of the church was an engineering marvel. The building changed the history of architecture — and the history of music. A century’s-worth of chant and song was written just to be performed there because of the church’s remarkable acoustics. 

For 1,000 years, Hagia Sophia (Greek for “Holy Wisdom”) was the home of the Greek Orthodox Church. It became a mosque in the 1400s and is now a museum and Turkey’s most-visited tourist attraction.

The communities of faith — both Christian and Islamic — who worshipped there are now gone, but technology is bringing their experience back to life. This story from NPR grabbed our attention this week: researchers from Stanford University collaborated with a choir to recreate the unique acoustic experience of what it would have sounded like to pray in this building 1,000 years ago.

Lent is a great time to step into a prayer practice. If that’s a stretch or a struggle, think about jump-starting your efforts by standing in the shoes of ancient Christians and imagining yourself in the stunning Hagia Sophia. Stream the music of the choir featured in this story, Capella Romana, and perhaps the sacred sound will lift your heart to God as it did for generations of Christians in Turkey — and for us!

Creators:
Grotto Shares
Published:
December 5, 2023
February 27, 2020
On a related note...
How I Found the Courage to Speak About God

How I Found the Courage to Speak About God

Krista Steele

Why It Was So Hard to Watch the Notre Dame Fire

Why It Was So Hard to Watch the Notre Dame Fire

Emily Mae Mentock

All She Ever Knew was Immense Love

All She Ever Knew was Immense Love

Michelle King

What a Martyred Priest Can Teach Us About Advent This Year

What a Martyred Priest Can Teach Us About Advent This Year

Elizabeth Hansen

How a Discernment Process Empowers Boldness

How a Discernment Process Empowers Boldness

Dan Masterton

5 Things Every Beginner Cook Needs to Know

5 Things Every Beginner Cook Needs to Know

Lauren Lawson

It’s Not Easy Being First — Here’s How to Take the Leap

It’s Not Easy Being First — Here’s How to Take the Leap

Molly Cruitt

Jesus’ Favorite Podcast EP 5: Singing The Gospel With Zach Gillis

Jesus’ Favorite Podcast EP 5: Singing The Gospel With Zach Gillis

Grotto, Ebony Moxey, Javi Zubizarreta

3 Pregnancy Loss Poems to Comfort Grieving Parents

3 Pregnancy Loss Poems to Comfort Grieving Parents

Grotto

What Is a Sacristy?

What Is a Sacristy?

Grotto

What Casual Hookups Reveal About Our Inner Longing

What Casual Hookups Reveal About Our Inner Longing

Olivia T. Taylor

4 Informal Ways to Pray (No Words Necessary)

4 Informal Ways to Pray (No Words Necessary)

Emily Mae Mentock

How This Ancient Meditation Practice Changes My Day

How This Ancient Meditation Practice Changes My Day

Mike Jordan Laskey

Why This Ex-Wall Street Journal Reporter Left His Dream Job

Why This Ex-Wall Street Journal Reporter Left His Dream Job

Mike Jordan Laskey

Volunteering at Code School Makes An Impact | Little Ways: Code

Volunteering at Code School Makes An Impact | Little Ways: Code

Grotto

Salesian Priests Give Hope to Victims of Sex Trafficking

Salesian Priests Give Hope to Victims of Sex Trafficking

Mary Rose Somarriba

This Young Student is Standing Up for Black Lives

This Young Student is Standing Up for Black Lives

Grotto

“Strength in Weakness”

“Strength in Weakness”

Lillie Rodgers

"Jacob's Song" by Brother Isaiah

"Jacob's Song" by Brother Isaiah

Grotto Shares

Volunteer Nurse Cares for Isolated Migrant Shepherds

Volunteer Nurse Cares for Isolated Migrant Shepherds

Grotto

newsletter

We’d love to be pals.

Sign up for our newsletter, and we’ll meet you in your inbox each week.