The modern Writers among the _Greeks_ will have it, that the Church of St. _Sophia_ was first built by the Emperor _Constantius_, the Son of _Constantine the Great_, and arch’d at Top, not with Brick-work, but a wooden Roof. In the Time of _Theodosius_, when the second _Synod_ was held there, the _Arians_ rising in Sedition, burnt it. It was after rebuilt by _Theodosius the Great_, and beautified with Arches of a cylindrick Form. The same _Writer_ tells us, that it was burnt a second time in the Reign of _Justinian_; but _Sozomen_, an ancient and creditable Author, records it, that in the Time of _Theodosius the Less_, when there were warm Debates in the _great Church_, about expelling St. _Chrysostom_ the _Synod_, it was all on a sudden in a Blaze, those who adhered to him throwing Fire into it, with an Intention to burn down the Church, and to destroy all that were in it. _Procopius_ will have it, that it was first burnt down in the Reign of _Justinian_, who rebuilt it in the same Figure it stands at present; but he does not tell us, whether it stands on the same Spot of Ground or not; so that it remains doubtful from this Author, who is not so much to be depended upon, though he has a Catalogue of the Names of the Persons of whom _Justinian_ purchas’d the Houses where it stood before the Fire. An _Ancient Description of the City_, wrote before _Justinian_’s Time, seems to fix it in another Place; for the _great Church_ and the _old Church_, the Author places in the second _Ward_, the _Forum_ of _Augustus_ in the fourth, which I shall make appear stood near the Church of St. _Sophia_. _Zonaras_ says, that _Justinian_ built it much larger from the old Foundation; but ’tis much to be question’d, whether _Justinian_ purchas’d the neighbouring Houses for its Enlargement. As to the _Forum_ of _Augustus_, and the _great Church’s_ being placed in different _Wards_, we cannot from hence conclude, that they did not stand near one another. So that when _Justinian_ had enlarged and beautify’d it, and adorned it with a great Variety of Metal-work, when he had built the Walls and Roof with Brick, and to strengthen them the more, had cramp’d them in many Places with Iron-work, using no Rafters in the whole Fabrick for fear of Fire; although it has hitherto escaped the Flames, yet has it been often damaged and endanger’d by several Accidents, even from the Time of its Rebuilding. For the Eastern Arch before it was finish’d, bore with its Weight so hard upon the Pillars, that in all Probability it had fell, had not the Architect been very expeditious in finishing it; when bearing upon its own _Curvature_, it laid less heavy upon the Pillars which supported it. The two Northern and Southern _Arches_ bore so hard upon the Pillars and Foundation, that the Tops of the _Pillars_ began to fly; and had sunk, if the Workmen had not with the greatest Skill taken them down, and afterwards replaced them, when the Greenness and