[1912-1913] Balkan War Refugees and their Imprints of Time

The many refugees in the city trying to escape to safety, many of whom would be housed in the Little Hagia Sophia.

This map of Turkey and its surrounding regions depicts each of the conflicts that formed part of the First Balkan War. Note in particular the spot where the Turkish and Bulgarian armies met, just outside of Istanbul.

Housing refugees in order to provide them with better living conditions led to the literal imprinting of time in the church, contributing further to the church’s age-value.

In 1912, the Balkan League went to war against the Ottoman Empire, culminating into a Balkan victory. However, a coup d’état staged by the Young Turks in Constantinople reignited the conflict in the city (1). During this war, the war refugees were housed in the church. The process of housing refugees in the church led to wear and tear in the structure of the building, leaving literal imprints of time in the church.

Beyond the literal imprints, however, the space also became connected to history in the making - not just in this city but in the entire world, particularly with respect to the World War that resulted a few years later. Housing refugees of the war in the building left an imprint of conflict and the hardship it inflicted upon individuals. The site’s importance as a lieu de mémoire increased because of the layers of emotions it stood for. Whereas it had originally been intended as a site of intentional religious worship, the site now became a place where people were able to “establish a state of things” (Nora 19): a state of safety and comfort for refugees.