Crkvu je izgradio Justinian 537. godine na mjestu stare crkve koju je podigao Konstantin I. Oštećena je u zemljotresu koji se desio u 8. vijeku a zatim je ubrzo obnovljena i dodatno ukrašena freskama i mozaicima. Duga je 100 a široka 32 metra. Nakon pada Konstantinopolja nije pretvorena u džamiju, kao što je to bio slučaj sa drugim crkvama, već je služila kao skladište oružja. Za vrijeme vladavine Sultana Ahmeta III preuređena je u muzej oružja. Jedina je vizantska crkva koja ima sačuvan atrij. Od 1980. godine koristi se kao koncertna dvorana za ljetni muzički festival. Otvorena je za javnost prilikom grupnih posjeta (minimalno 10 osoba).
The church was commissioned by Emperor Justinian in 537 AD to replace the old one commissioned by Emperor Constantine I. It was damaged in an earthquake in the 8th century AD and soon afterwards renewed and additionally decorated with frescos and mosaics. It is 100 meters long and 32 meters wide. After the fall of Constantinople, it was not transformed into a mosque, as was the case with other churches. Instead, it served as an arms depot. During the reign of Sultan Ahmet III, it was redecorated into an arms museum. It is the only Byzantine church with a preserved atrium. From 1980, it has been used as a concert hall for the summer music festival. It is open to public during group tours (minimum of 10 persons required).
