[L.M.H.]

I have always been deeply saddened by the loss of so many treasures of Christian art, especially mosaics, by the desecration of Hagia Sophia.

Hagia Sofia is an especially sad case, because most of the destruction was done by fellow Christians during the Fourth Crusade (sack of Constantinople).

[colorado tanker]

The Venetians carted off a bunch of loot, but it was the Turks who removed the bells, altar, iconostasis and sacrificial vessels and plastered over many of the mosaics.