Hagia Sophia (Aghia Sovya)
Hagia Sophia is the main attraction of the former Constantinople. It served as a model for many other buildings in the city. The cathedral was built in 360. In 404 it was destroyed and burned by a crowd protesting against the expulsion of Patriarch John Chrysostom, and it was restored in 415 under the reign of Theodosius. The cathedral was burned for the second time during the Nika uprising. Under Justinian it was restored again. After several earthquakes (553-557), the domes needed restoration, which was carried out in 563. In 1204, the church was plundered by the crusaders. In 1453, Sultan Mehmed II ordered the cathedral to be converted into a mosque.
Subsequent rulers slightly changed the interior of the cathedral, decorating it with a marble pulpit, choirs and the Sultan's box. And four minarets, supporting walls, mausoleums and fountains were built outside. In 1847-1849. Sultan Abdulme-Dzhid entrusted the restoration of the cathedral to Gaspar Fossati. In 1935, St. Sophia was declared a museum.
Previously, the main entrance was on the west side. The central gate through which the emperor and his retinue entered was called the Orea Porta. Later they were moved to the south side of the narthex. Entering the Orea Porta, you find yourself in a lobby decorated with mosaics from the time of Justinian. All wall paintings were destroyed by the iconoclasts (729-843). The ones we see today date from a later era. Above the exit to the porch you can see a beautiful mosaic from the 10th century. It depicts Mary with the baby Jesus, who receives gifts from two emperors: on the right, Constantine offers him a miniature city, and on the left, Justinian presents him with a miniature temple. Ten doors connect the vestibule to the central part of the temple. Above the "imperial portal" is a second mosaic depicting Christ enthroned.
Entering the main hall, one cannot help but admire the genius of the architects. They managed to create the impression that the central dome and two smaller domes decorating the basilica were floating above the temple. This impression is reinforced by the windows at the bottom of the central dome. Eight green medallions with the names of Allah, Muhammad, the first caliphs and imams, added by Fossati, do not really harmonize with the interior decor. Church columns are decorated with floral patterns reminiscent of lace. One of the eight columns, located in the northern wing, is considered miraculous. Here, according to legend, St. appeared. Georgy. A large mosaic depicting Mary and the Child symbolizes the victory of the iconoclasts over the iconoclasts. Frescoes of St. Ignat, St. John Chrysostom and St. Ignatius Theodoros.
In the eastern part of the church, fragments of images of angels dating back to the 14th century are still visible. In the galleries you will also see many interesting mosaics. The central gallery offers a magnificent view of the entire church. In the northern gallery there is a mosaic depicting Emperor Alexander, who reigned for only thirteen months. And on the southern gallery there is a portrait of Empress Zoe and her third husband (Constantine IX Monomakh). On the right is a mosaic portrait of Emperor John II Komnenos (1118-1143), his wife Irene and their son Alexius. In the courtyard on the left are the mausoleums of the sultans and princes.
Day off is Monday. Open from 9.30 to 16.30. Galleries are closed from 11.30 to 13.00.
Churches of Istanbul (Constantinople):
CHURCH OF ST. POLUECTA
At the intersection of Sehzadebasi Cad. and Ataturk Blvd. there are the ruins of one of the first churches of the time of Justinian, built in 527. After excavations carried out by Martin Harrison, these ruins allowed us to imagine the former grandeur and splendor of the basilica.
CHURCH OF ST. SERGIA AND BACHUS
This church was built in 527 under the reign of Justinian. It is also known as "Little St. Sophia". The architectural plan of the church is an octagon inscribed in a rectangle. Previously, the church was decorated with rich mosaics. Climbing up the stairs near the narthex, you can appreciate the general appearance of the building. In the 16th century the church was turned into a mosque. The eunuch Hussein Agha is buried in the garden. It was probably he who built Cardakli Hammam in 1503, which is located slightly north of the church itself.
CHURCH OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST
You can get to this church, located at the foot of the seventh hill in the Kocamustafa quarter, by walking along Samataya Cad. and turning left onto one of the first streets. This oldest church in Istanbul was founded by the Roman Studius in 462. 700 monks lived in the monastery, who created amazing icons, hymns and manuscripts. At the beginning of the 15th century. the university is located here. Unfortunately, after the earthquake in 1894, only the basilica remained. The church was converted into a mosque at the end of the 15th century. and is also known as Imrahor Cami.
CHURCH OF ST. IRINA (AGHIA IRINI)
Topkapi Sarayi Sultanahmet. One of the most ancient churches of Constantinople, located in one of the courtyards of the Topkapi Palace. Presumably built during the reign of Constantine. In 346, over 3,000 people were killed near the church due to religious differences. During the Nika uprising, the church was burned and then rebuilt under Justinian in 537. The earthquake of 740 significantly damaged the church. After the fall of the city, the church served as an arsenal for the Janissaries, and in the 19th century. - a warehouse of old things. This church is a classical basilica in the shape of a cross. The vestibule of the church is lined with mosaics from the time of Justinian. In the Church of St. Irene there is a sarcophagus in which, according to legend, the remains of Constantine rest.
CHURCH OF CHRIST THE SAVIOR
You can get there by metro connecting Aksaray with Edirnekapi. Open from Wednesday to Sunday from 9.30 to 16.30. If you like Byzantine art, we recommend visiting this church, now called Kariye Cami. You need to go to Edirnekapi and walk along Hocacakir Cad. Previously, the monastery where this church was located was outside the city walls. The church was built by the stepmother of Emperor Flexios I Komnenos.
PANTOCRATOR MONASTERY
Near Ataturk bulv., in a small square, there is the ancient monastery of Pantokrator, which is now called Zeyrek Cami. The monastery, which was important in the Byzantine era, was surrounded by many rooms that no longer exist.
THEOTOKOS KYRIOTISSA
This church was converted into a mosque by Fatih and is now called Kalenderhane Cami. As archaeological excavations have shown, the church was built on the foundation of an older church. A fresco depicting scenes from the life of Francis of Assisi was found here. Another treasure of the church is the 7th century mosaic, which depicts the Presentation of the Lord. The mosaic dates from the pre-iconoclastic period.
CHURCH OF ST. MARY OF MONGOLSKAYA
In the Fener quarter, not far from the Patriarchate, there is the Church of the Virgin. According to legend, the church was founded by Princess Maria Paleologina, who married a Mongolian prince and lived for 14 years in Mongolia. After the death of her husband, Maria returned to her homeland, founded a monastery, where she spent the rest of her life. Inside is a delightful 11th-century mosaic icon depicting the Virgin Mary.
Patriarchy
In the heart of the Fener quarter since the beginning of the 17th century. is the World Patriarchate. This quarter, once home to wealthy Greeks, is now inhabited by the Muslim poor. The main entrance, Orta Kapi, is closed and never opens. It is painted black in memory of George V, who was executed here on April 22, 1821. In 1941, a fire destroyed the building, but it was later restored. The church, dating back to 1720, houses the ashes of St. Omonius, St. Te-ofana and St. Euphemia.
Hippodrome (At Meydani)
The Hippodrome, the heart of the former Constantinople, is a wide area located behind the seraglio and bounded by the outer walls of the Sultan Ahmet Mosque. This is a gathering place for the “blues” and “greens”, who subsequently launched the Nika uprising. Previously, the hippodrome was decorated with statues and could accommodate one hundred thousand spectators.
Today, only three monuments remain here. The first, made of pink granite, was created under the Egyptian pharaoh Thutmose III (1549-1503 BC) in honor of his victory in Syria. The broken obelisk was brought to Constantinople by Theodosia in the 4th century. and in 390 it was installed at the hippodrome. The marble pedestal on which it stands is decorated with bas-reliefs. The second monument is a bronze dragon column brought from the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. This column is the oldest monument of Hellenistic culture in Istanbul. The third monument is the Column of Constantine. Unfortunately, time has left an indelible mark on her. The column, created around the 4th century, was restored by Konstantin Porfirorodny.
Cistern (Yerebatan Saray)
Located on Yekebatan Cad., next to the Blue Mosque. Open daily, except Tuesday, from 10.00 to 19.00. The famous underground cistern was built in 532 by Justinian. Its length is 140 m and its width is 70 m. The ceiling is supported by 336 columns decorated with Corinthian capitals.
And then Constantinople was the no less brilliant capital of the Byzantine Empire.
Byzantium arose as a result of the division of the Roman Empire into two parts. The city on the Bosphorus, founded by Emperor Constantine, became the center of the new eastern state. Unlike the western part of the Roman Empire, its eastern part was always closer to Greek culture, and the main language here was also Greek.
Over time, Byzantine emperors favored orthodox Christianity in preference to Catholicism.
After this, there was almost nothing left that would connect the west and east of the Roman Empire.
It is now rarely remembered that the Byzantine Empire once extended across Anatolia and further to the southeast, despite the desperate resistance of the Arabs, who stubbornly moved north from their stronghold in the Saudi desert.
In 1071, after the battle of Manzikert, when the Byzantines were defeated by the Seljuk Turks, they began to be pushed back to Constantinople. But the blow from which Byzantium could not recover was dealt to it by the crusaders, who in 1204 captured and plundered the Byzantine capital, forcing the emperor to flee.
Two rival governments immediately showed up in Trabzon and Iznik. In 1261, the branch of government that was located in Iznik ousted the usurpers from Constantinople and returned it to the status of the Byzantine capital.
The 12th and 13th centuries saw the Renaissance of Byzantine culture. But the Ottomans did not sleep. In 1453, Sultan Mehmed II and his army managed to capture Constantinople. The last Byzantine emperor died fighting on the city walls. Constantinople was renamed Istanbul and became the capital of the Omani Empire.
Although the most famous monuments from the Byzantine Empire are in Istanbul, impressive buildings from the era also remain in Trabzon and Iznik. In Thrace, Byzantine churches similar to those that can be seen on the southern coast of the Sea of Marmara have been preserved.
In Cappadocia, at every step there are churches carved into the rocks and entire underground cities, reminiscent of those times when the inhabitants of the empire, often on the front line, were forced to hide from the soldiers.
So, the Top 10 most famous Byzantine monuments in Turkey:
1. Hagia Sophia (Aya Sophia), IstanbulIt is impossible to come to Istanbul without seeing the magnificent building built by Emperor Justinian in 536. The dome of the cathedral, which was designed by Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralles, was one of the wonders of the world of its time. Now that the scaffolding that had marred the interior of the cathedral for more than a decade has been removed, one can finally appreciate the grandiose expanse of this Byzantine church, first converted from a mosque and then into a museum.
Hagia Sophia played a big role in Turkish history. Many Ottoman sultans are buried on its territory. The mosaics of Hagia Sophia are one of the important components of its glory. The Upper Imperial Gallery, installed in the 13th century especially for the Empress and her retinue, is decorated with the most beautiful mosaics and marble figures.
2. Chora (Kariye) Church, Istanbul
If Hagia Sophia is a monument from the heyday of the Byzantine Empire, then the Chora Church, no less beautiful, but much smaller in size, dates back to the Renaissance period of the 13th century. It is located near Edirnekapi and the city wall, which itself is a monument to Byzantine military engineering. Mosaics and frescoes decorate absolutely all the interior walls of the church.
The ceiling of the narthex, which depicts scenes from the Bible, glitters in gold, while the frescoes of the side chapel (Parecclesion) are done in the sober black and white tones of the saints' robes, and the soft bed tones used to depict some of life's most dramatic scenes. Jesus Christ.
3. Grand Palace Mosaic Museum, Istanbul
The Byzantine emperors lived in a vast complex of buildings collectively called the Great Palace. It occupied most of the territory between the districts of Sultanahmet and Cankurtaran. Several sections of the wall and corridor of the former palace have survived to this day. In some places, floor tiles with mosaics remain, depicting various aspects of daily life, from a monkey trying to catch a bird to a man milking a goat. The museum is currently closed for restoration, but it is promised to open in June.
In the late period of the Byzantine Empire, the emperors moved to the Blachernae Palace. Today, little remains of it - only underground dungeons, which are currently being restored. Nearby is the box of the Tekfur Palace, which may once have been part of the same complex.
4. Hagia Sophia (Aya Sophia), Trabzon
The breakaway Comnenian dynasty in Trabzon decorated the city with magnificent monuments from the late Byzantine period, several of which survive to this day. The most famous of them is the Hagia Sophia, built between 1238 and 1263. The cathedral stands alone on a hill, far from the bustling city center. The vibrant, colorful colors of the Hagia Sophia frescoes, which have been completely restored under the supervision of Byzantine art expert David Rice, are stunning.
Trabzon also preserves some other important Byzantine monuments, including the ruins of the imperial palace, which was located on the so-called "trapezus", a hill between two valleys, from which the city took its name.
Another monument is the Fatih Mosque, which was originally built as the Church of Panagia Chrisokepalos. Emperors were once crowned here. There is also an outwardly unremarkable church in Trabzon, which was once part of the Kaymakli monastery complex. Its construction dates back to 1424. For some time the building was used as a hay barn, where amazingly beautiful frescoes were hidden behind the hay. Today the building is privately owned, but the owners are usually willing to allow visitors in.
5. Sumela Monastery
In the heart of Anatolia, in Cappadocia, there are ancient troglodyte settlements. It is the best-preserved monument of rural life from the Byzantine era in Turkey. The most impressive are the rock-cut churches painted with frescoes. Most of them date back to the 9th–12th centuries. There are even columns in churches, although they serve mainly a decorative function.
Some of the rock churches are protected on the territory of the Goreme Open Air Museum. Two of them, the most interesting of all, are definitely worth seeing - these are the churches of Karanlyk and Tokaly.
During the era of the Byzantine Empire, many inhabitants of Cappadocia lived in houses that were carved out of caves. In the event of enemy attacks and other disasters, they took refuge in underground cities. These cities are labyrinths of rooms connected by tunnels. The underground cities of Cappadocia are up to ten floors deep into the earth. The most popular of them are the cities of Derinkuyu and Kaymakli. But there are many others that tourists rarely visit.
8. Hagia Sophia (Aya Sophia), Enez
Few foreign tourists make it to the town of Enez, which lies on the shores of the Gulf of Saros near the border with Greece. Meanwhile, here, right by the sea, lie the ruins of Hagia Sophia, built in the 6th century. AD Apparently it was an impressive structure. There is another much smaller church nearby.
9. Small Hagia Sophia, Wiese
Travelers heading to Edirne or Kıyıköy in Thrace can make a stop at Vize. The Church of Hagia Sophia, dating back to the 6th century, has recently been reconstructed here. Now the Gazi Suleymanpasa Mosque has been built in the church. Towers lost on the slopes of forested hills have also been preserved from Byzantine times. They were once part of the city wall.
10. St. Stephen's Church, Trilye
In the small town of Trilye (Zeytinbagi), located on the southern shore of the Sea of Marmara, traces of Greek culture are clearly felt, which is not surprising, given that the Greeks lived here until 1923. Of the three brick Byzantine churches that have survived to this day, the best preserved is the Church of St. Stephen, dating from the 8th century. True, it was rather clumsily converted into a mosque.
PrefaceBefore becoming the luxurious and brilliant home of the Ottoman sultans, Istanbul, and
then Constantinople, was no less brilliant capital of the Byzantine
empires.
Byzantium arose as a result of the division of the Roman Empire into two parts. City on the Bosphorus,
founded by Emperor Constantine, became the center of a new eastern state. IN
unlike the western part of the Roman Empire, its eastern part was always closer to
Greek culture, and the main language here was also Greek.
Over time, the Byzantine emperors gave preference to the orthodox
Christianity, preferring it to Catholicism.
built by Emperor Justinian in 536. The dome of the cathedral, which
designed by Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralles, was one of the miracles
light of his time. Now that the scaffolding that had been damaging it for more than a decade has been removed
interior of the cathedral, one can finally appreciate the grandiose expanse of this
converted first into a mosque and then into a museum of a Byzantine church.
Hagia Sophia played a big role in Turkish history. Many Ottoman
sultans are buried on its territory. The mosaics of Hagia Sophia are one of the most important
the ingredients of her glory. Upper Imperial Gallery, installed at 13
century especially for the Empress and her retinue, decorated with the most beautiful
mosaics and marble figures. If Hagia Sophia is a monument from the heyday of the Byzantine Empire, then
Chora Church, no less beautiful, but much smaller in size, belongs to
the Renaissance period of the 13th century. It is located near Edirnekapi and
the city wall, which itself is a monument to the Byzantine
military engineering art. Mosaics and frescoes decorate absolutely everything
interior walls of the church.
The ceiling of the narthex, where scenes from the Bible are depicted, glitters with gold, while
like the frescoes of the side chapel (Parecclesion) are executed in strict black and white
colors in which the robes of saints are painted, and soft bed colors that
used to depict some of life's most dramatic scenes
Jesus Christ. In the 5th century in Eastern Syria, near Aleppo, lived Saint Simeon, who discovered a special type of asceticism - standing
on the pillar. Renouncing the world in every possible way and caring about the mortification of the flesh, the monk was subjected to
countless temptations, partly described in Luis Buñuel’s film “Simeon the Hermit.”
Having spent several decades at an altitude of 16 meters, Simeon was honored by Christians from all over
world, including the Persians, Armenians and British.
Around that very pillar, which exists to this day (Byzantine miniaturists loved
depict Simeon's pillar in the form of a column with a capital completed by an elegant balustrade inside
which housed the saint himself; sometimes a ladder was attached to the column), in the 80–90s of the 5th century there was
a monastery complex was erected, the grandiose design of which was unmatched only by
among the imperial ensembles of late Rome.
The octagonal core of Kalat-Semana (translated from Arabic as “Simeon’s fortress”) is surrounded by three
sleeves. Together they form a spatial cross, almost the same as in the Church of the Holy Apostles
in Constantinople. Now the temple is in ruins, and this is exactly what it looked like immediately after construction.
unknown, but thanks to the testimony of Evagrius Scholasticus we know that the central core,
enclosing Simeon's pillar remained open.
Following Kalat-Seman, a whole architectural movement of the 5th–6th centuries arose, represented by
the churches of Simeon the Stylite the Younger on Divnaya Mount, John in Ephesus and the Prophets, Apostles
and Martyrs at Gerasa.
Modern Istanbul is full of attractions that ordinary tourists are completely unaware of. Moreover, even many experienced guides are not aware of some cultural monuments that have survived since Byzantine times. Meanwhile, a tour of the sights that have survived from the times of Constantinople can become the most exciting journey during your entire stay in the Turkish metropolis.
If you want to touch the secrets of the Byzantine Empire, appreciate its former greatness and enjoy the medieval spirit, be sure to go to the shores of the Bosphorus, to the unknown and vast Istanbul!
Today, we will try to imagine what the historical monuments of the Byzantine era looked like - some of them have survived to this day, others were destroyed over time and in their place we can only observe fragments of their former greatness.
Great Hippodrome of Constantinople (Hippodrome Square, Istanbul)
The Hippodrome of Constantinople was once one of the most magnificent buildings in the city. The construction of this object, which later turned into a grandiose cultural monument, began at the instigation of the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus. The year 203 is considered to be the start of construction. At that time the city still bore the proud name of Byzantium. The Hippodrome, which was also called the Great Circus, was the largest of its kind in Constantinople. By the way, there were five of them in total. Equestrian competitions, gladiator fights, and luxurious festivities were held here. The Hippodrome was the main political place - in its arena new emperors assumed their powers and old ones resigned, and death penalties were carried out. It was at the Hippodrome that the common people could become at least a small part of the capital’s social and political life.
Today there are not many reminders left of the Circus Maximus. These include the Serpentine Column, the obelisks of Theodosius and Egypt, as well as the vast square itself, called the Hippodrome (today -).
Hippodrome Square on the map:
Churches and monasteries of Constantinople
Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya Müzesi)
Hagia Sophia, reconstruction
It is rightly called the tourist pearl of Istanbul, preserved from the times of the Byzantine Empire. The construction of the shrine was initiated by Emperor Justinian, and already 5 years after laying the first stone, at the end of December 537, the Christian monastery was consecrated and opened to parishioners. The process of construction of the cathedral was led by Anthemius of Thrall and Isidora of Miletus. Over 10,000 people worked diligently under their leadership.
For almost a whole millennium, Hagia Sophia was the center of the Orthodox world for Christians. Many significant historical events took place in the cathedral. Here, rulers were crowned kings, military successes were celebrated, and dissidents periodically carried out barbaric raids, destroying precious mosaics. Hagia Sophia also survived the invasion of the Latin crusaders, who destroyed the altar and plundered the shrine. When Constantinople fell to the Ottomans, the cathedral was converted into a mosque.
In the 30s of the 20th century, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk decided to abolish the mosque, and in 1935 a museum complex was founded on its territory.
The cost of visiting the museum is 40 liras; admission is free if available.
Hagia Sophia on the map:
Church of Sergius and Bacchus (Küçük Ayasofya - Little Hagia Sophia)
Church of Sergius and Bacchus, Istanbul
If you walk south of Hagia Sophia, behind the Blue Mosque, you will come across a stunningly beautiful temple, which the Byzantines named in honor of Sergius and Bacchus. In those days, this place was home to many amazing palace complexes, characteristic of the rich architecture of Constantinople. Unfortunately, all the palaces have fallen into oblivion, and only the temple continues to stand peacefully in the place where it was once erected.
Externally, the temple is very similar to the same Hagia Sophia - a kind of smaller copy. The Turks call the shrine Küçük Ayasofya, which means “Little Hagia Sophia” in Russian. The shrine was built by order of the ruler Justinian, who promised to build it in memory of the Nika uprising, which became one of the saddest events in the history of the city. During the uprising of local residents, the emperor's troops brutally dealt with them, there were a lot of victims. The construction of the church was completed by 536. Sergius and Bacchus were very popular saints in those days, so it was decided to name the monastery after them. The beauty and monumentality of the interior amazes. Some innovative moves and ideas were applied in architecture. If you climb onto the platform, you can see a relief inscription in Greek that glorifies the good deeds of Justinian. This is no coincidence: after its opening, untold riches were stored in the church. The temple was one of the main territories where foreign ambassadors were received with honor. Popes stayed here during their visits to Constantinople.
Of course, the temple was converted into a mosque a long time ago, which is still in operation today. Therefore, if you get to church during a service, you will not be able to see everything you would like.
Church of Sergius and Bacchus on the map:
Lipsa Monastery (Lips Manastırı Kilisesi, Fenari Isa Mosque)
Lipsa Monastery, Istanbul
At the dawn of the 10th century, Konstantin Lips founded the beautiful Church of the Virgin. Today the structure has been converted into a Muslim shrine, but it was once the site of a vast monastic complex named after its founder.
Lipsa Monastery (Fenari Isa Mosque)
Konstantin Lips became famous in Constantinople precisely because he contributed to the restoration of the ancient monastery, and also built a church monastery there. Very little is known about the Byzantine dignitary himself, his life and work.
Outwardly it looks as if it consists of two churches fused into a single whole. The first to appear was the northern church, located at a distance from the avenue, and subsequently, already in the 8th century, a second church was built, at the behest of Empress Theodora from the Palaiologos dynasty. The pious woman revived the old monastery and wanted to add a southern church to it, named in honor of John the Baptist. This temple served as a tomb for members of the dynasty for many years. Theodora is buried in the same place, and with her her son, as well as the ruler Andronik II.
The monastery became a mosque in 1453, after the conquest of Constantinople by the Turks. The fate of the building cannot be called easy: the shrine often suffered from fires, robberies and destruction. Therefore, some of the rich decorations are irretrievably lost.
Lipsa Monastery on the map:
Church of St. Irene (Aya İrini kilisesi)
Church of St. Irene (Aya İrini kilisesi)
The oldest Christian monastery in Istanbul is the Church of St. Irene. This shrine was founded under Emperor Constantine. In the 4th century, the building was completely destroyed by fire, but ruler Justinian ordered the church to be rebuilt.
Initially, the construction of the church was intended as a dedication to the “Holy World”, and not to a saint named Irene. The first Christian building (basilica) appeared on this territory in the 4th century, and until then there was a temple dedicated to the ancient Greek goddess Aphrodite. For a long period of time, the church, named after St. Irene, was considered the central temple of Constantinople, but later this status passed to the new, more extensive and brighter Church of Hagia Sophia. It is known that in the early 80s of the 4th century, the Second Ecumenical Council was held in the Church of St. Irene, famous for the fact that it formed the doctrine of the Holy Trinity and anathematized a number of heresies.
Church of St. Irene on the map:
Church of St. Mary of Mongol (Meryem Ana Mogollar kilisesi)
Church of St. Mary of Mongol, engraving
This Greek Orthodox shrine, named after Panagia Mucholiotissa (or Mary of Mongol), is located some distance from traditional tourist trails and even the routes along which pilgrims usually travel.
Church of St. Mary of Mongol, Istanbul
Moreover, not far from the church there is a well-known and frequently visited monument of Byzantine architecture - the Temple of Our Lady of Pammakaristos (Fethiye Jami), in which you can still admire mosaic decorations from the 14th century. Rare tourists deprive this monastery of attention, but for some reason the Church of Mary of Mongol is forgotten.
It is noteworthy that the temple was never converted into a Muslim mosque. Today, like many centuries ago, Christian services are held there.
Church of Mary of Mongol on the map:
Monastery of Pantocrator (Zeyrek camii, Zeyrek Mosque)
Pantocrator Monastery, Istanbul
The extensive one, which includes three equal temples united with each other, is only slightly smaller in size than the famous Hagia Sophia. The unique building dates back to the 12th century. At this time, the Komnenos dynasty was in power.
Monastery of Pantocrator
The shrine was built for quite a long time, from 1118 to 1136. The initiator of the construction of the monastery was John the Second, as well as his wife, Empress Irina.
The northern church was built first and was named in honor of the Lord Pantocrator, the southern one - a little later (it bears the name Eleusse (Merciful Mother of God)). These two buildings are connected by the Chapel of the Archangel Michael. To build it, it was necessary to dismantle part of the external walls of existing churches.
The southern temple today serves as a mosque. The initiator of its construction was entirely Empress Irina. The second temple was built by her husband after the death of his beloved wife.
The third part of the monastery is named Iroon. The royal persons mentioned above were buried in it. Later, other emperors, such as John the Eighth and Manuel the Second, found their final refuge here.
Unfortunately, the shrine was barbarously plundered and destroyed during the crusade at the beginning of the 13th century.
When the Ottomans came to the city, they immediately turned the temple into a mosque. The monastery premises began to play the role of a madrasah. Mullah Zeyrek Mehmed Efendi taught at this school. Not only the mosque itself, but also the whole block was subsequently named after him.
Monastery of Pantocrator on the map:
Church of Our Lady of Blachernae ( Vlaherna Meryem Ana kilisesi)
Church of Our Lady of Blachernae, Istanbul
Almost on the Constantinople border, in the well-known region of Blachernae, there was once a Christian shrine named after the Blachernae Mother of God. This building was erected in the 5th century at the instigation of members of the ruling dynasty of Marcian and Pulcheria. The church became famous from the time when, in the mid-20s of the 7th century, the icon of the Mother of God became salvation for the city, which was being attacked by the Slavs. According to believers, it was the holy image that helped in the sinking of enemy ships.
The Byzantines treated the temple with great respect, but its fate turned out to be unenviable. The building often suffered from fires, and in the 15th century it was completely destroyed by fire. Through the efforts of the Greeks living in Istanbul, a new monastery, but smaller and more modest, was built on the site of an ancient luxurious church. Only a stone font with a spring reminds of the past of this place.
The Orthodox treated the temple with great respect, since the miraculous icon was kept there for many years. The image is not lost today, only it has now been transported to the Moscow Assumption Cathedral. Once upon a time, this icon was presented to Tsar Alexei in 1653 - this is what the clergyman Gabriel from the Jerusalem temple ordered to do.
Church of Our Lady of Blachernae on the map:
Monastery of Studios (Studios Monastery, Imrahor, Uşşaki Cami )
Monastery Studios, reconstruction
According to historical information, this monastery was founded by the Roman patrician Studion, who moved to the city in the mid-5th century, when Leo the First was emperor. The patrician first ordered the construction of a small church in honor of John the Baptist, around which a full-fledged monastery complex subsequently grew. When Constantinople fell under the yoke of Ottoman soldiers, the shrine was converted into a mosque. This was in charge of the stable (imrahor) of Padishah Bayezid II in 1486. The Muslim monastery was named Imrahor Ilyas Bey. A kind of calligraphy school was opened in the building.
Monastery Studios, Istanbul
In the early 80s of the 18th century, the mosque was severely destroyed by fire; some of the buildings were restored over the course of many years, but all efforts were nullified by the earthquake of 1894. The cultural monument suffered greatly, and to top it all off, the roof collapsed in 1908. Today, guests and residents of Istanbul have the opportunity to see only ruins, and only partially - the townspeople at one time dismantled most of the materials to repair their own homes. But still, among the ruins, elements of flooring made of marble, malachite and porphyry can be seen.
Studii Monastery on the map:
Kariye Museum (Church of Christ the Savior in Khora, Khora manastırı)
Kariye Museum, Istanbul
It was opened in the building of the ancient Church of Christ the Savior in Chora. Translated into Russian, the name of the museum means “suburb”. The shrine itself, which houses museum exhibits on its territory, dates back to 4-5 centuries. But the most significant and expensive thing in this building is not them, but the frescoes and mosaics that have survived to this day from the time of Emperor Andronicus II. These magnificent decorations appeared in the temple through the efforts of the first minister and chief imperial treasurer Theodore Metochites, who spent all his financial savings on such a good cause.
When Constantinople became Istanbul, the Ottoman Grand Vizier ordered the church to be converted into a mosque, which was given the name Kariye. And at the end of the 50s of the 20th century, museum halls were founded in it.
Kariye Museum on the map:
Fethiye Museum (Temple of Our Lady of Pammakaristos, Pammakaristos Manastırı)
The monastery of Panagia Pammakaristos was built during the reign of the imperial dynasties of Komnenos and Douk, that is, in the 11th-12th centuries. At that moment, a new trend in architecture was already visible - decorating not only the interior, but also the exterior of temples. A chapel decorated with mosaics was added to the ancient monastery in the 14th century. Some frescoes have survived to this day.
For a long time, the church served as the “home” for Christian patriarchy. According to historians, Sultan Mehmed II even came here. He spent hours talking with Patriarch Gennadios and gaining knowledge about Orthodox theology. When Padishah Murad the Third came to power in the 16th century, he managed to conquer Georgia and Azerbaijan. In honor of this event, it was decided to turn the temple into a Fethiye mosque (translated into Russian this word means “conquest”). The patriarchy was given another territory.
Fethiye Museum (Temple of Our Lady of Pammakarista)
The chapel underwent extensive restoration in 2005. On the main dome you can see the faces of Christ Pantocrator and 12 prophets. In the apse there are images of John the Baptist, the Virgin Mary and Christ the Blesser. The rooms containing mosaics serve as a museum. By the way, quite a lot of frescoes have been preserved - more of them can be seen only in the Kariye and Hagia Sophia museums.
The cost of a ticket to the museum is 5 liras, free with the Museum Card.
Fethiye Museum on the map:
Palaces and other monuments of the Byzantine era
Mosaic Museum (Büyük Saray Mozaikleri Müzesi, part of the large Imperial Palace)
Mosaic Museum, Istanbul
The building that today houses this unique museum complex is part of the peristyle of the large Imperial Palace. Mosaic paintings discovered in Istanbul are considered the most valuable finds that tell the story of the history of the entire Empire.
Mosaic canvas in the Mosaic Museum
Once upon a time, the palace structure was not just the home of the imperial dynasty. The most important ceremonial rites of both civil and religious significance were held here. When renovation work was carried out on the building in the early 30s of the 20th century, restorers came across elements of a mosaic floor covering. Then archaeologists got down to business. They established that the find was an ancient peristyle, the dimensions of which reached 2,000 square meters. km. Now a special mosaic museum has been founded on this square, where rare mosaic images from the 5th and 6th centuries are presented.
The frescoes consist of miniature cubes made of glass, lime and terracotta. The size of one cube does not exceed 5 mm. Thus, in one sq. meter of coverage there are over 40,000 individual parts. The pictures are quite epic. There are peasants, hunters, shepherds, and various representatives of the fauna, as well as mythological subjects. Despite the passing of years, the drawings look bright and lively.
The cost of a ticket to the museum is 15 liras, with free admission.
Mosaic Museum on the map:
Column of Constantine ( Çemberlitas Sütunu)
Column of Constantine (Çemberlitaş Sütunu)
The famous Roman triumphal column of Istanbul is geographically located in the city square of Cemberlitas. The date of its foundation is considered to be 328, but the landmark was opened in a solemn ceremony only 2 years after its construction - May 11, 330. This significant date is the founding day of the glorious capital of the Byzantine Empire.
The main material used to construct the column was pink porphyry. The height of the structure is 34.8 meters.
To preserve the landmark in its original form and protect it from destruction, the column was fastened with strong metal hoops during the reign of Theodosius the Second. Initially, the column was crowned with a statue of the emperor, rising on special drums, but under the ruler Alexei I Komnenos, these parts were damaged by lightning - they were simply knocked down, but the base was not damaged.
Today, tourists and city residents have the opportunity to admire the 35-meter beauty, consisting of 6 cylinders held by iron hoops. The decorations for each of the cylinders are images of laurel wreaths. Legends have survived to this day, according to which, during the construction of the column, several religious relics were placed at its base, including a wooden statue of the goddess Athena, Noah’s ax, Moses’ staff, crumbs from the bread of Jesus Christ, etc.
Now the column of Constantine has been renamed in the Turkish manner, and it is called Cemberlitash (“Burnt Column”).
Column of Constantine on the map:
Ruins of Bukoleon Palace (Bukoleon Sarayı)
Palace of Vukoleon (Bukoleon), reconstruction
The palace building called Bukoleon was once part of the so-called Grand Palace. According to historical data, the construction of this architectural masterpiece was carried out during the reign of Theodosius II, that is, in the 5th century. The palace is located on the sea coast, a little south of the famous Hippodrome and east of the Temple of Sergius and Bacchus.
The restoration and expansion of the palace was later carried out by Emperor Theophilos. Under him, the building acquired a huge façade, which was erected above the walls facing the sea. At the end of the 60s of the 10th century, another ruler, Nikephoros the Second, ordered the construction of a contour wall. Bucoleon was the central palace complex until the 11th century. For a long time it was used for holding state meetings and religious meetings. The first persons of other states visited here, in particular the King of Jerusalem Amalric and the Sultan of Roma.
Subsequently, only ruins remained of the palace, but they were also destroyed in some places during the construction of railway tracks in 1873. From the surviving remains it is clear that the palace had a large balcony overlooking the sea coast, which could be reached through three entrances at once. Each door was trimmed with marble. This can still be seen today.
You can see the ruins remaining from the grandiose palace for free. You can get to the ruins by going down towards the embankment from Sultanahmet, to the Çatladıkapı transport stop.
Bucoleon Palace on the map:
Reservoirs of Constantinople
Valens Aqueduct (Bozdoğan Su Kemeri)
Valens Aqueduct (Bozdoğan Su Kemeri)
Construction of the Valens Aqueduct began during the reign of Constantine the Great. The undertakings of this emperor were continued by another head of state - Valens (364-378). The water supply project was finally completed in 378. The main material for the construction of the two-tier trestle structure was stone, which was separated and brought from the destroyed Chalcedonian wall. It is known that the city of the same name, in which the wall was located, during the period of the rebellious uprising against Emperor Valens 14, occupied the position of the enemy - the usurper and rebel Procopius.
When Constantinople submitted to the Ottomans, the Turks repaired the entire engineering water supply system related to the dilapidated aqueduct, and the “overpass” itself was also restored. How large the scale of the water supply system is has become clear relatively recently. In 2007, reconnaissance archaeologists identified as much as 650 km.
Valens Aqueduct on the map:
Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan sarnıcı)
Basilica Cistern, Istanbul
is a huge reservoir preserved from the times of the Byzantine Empire. This object received its name thanks to the basilica, which once stood on the site of the current Hagia Sophia. The infrastructure facility, which today is one of the main attractions, was erected under Constantine the Great, and reconstruction work and expansion was ordered by another ruler - Justinian. The dimensional parameters of the tank surprise even seasoned tourists. The length of the Basilica stretches for 145 meters, the width of the reservoir is about 65 meters. Rows of columns, of which there are 336 in total, literally “grew” into the ceiling covering. The height of each of them is 8 meters!
The walls of the tank are very thick (about 4 meters), they were laid out of brick, and the outside was covered with a special waterproof compound. According to experts, the Basilica can hold about 80,000 cubic meters of water.
Basilica Cistern on the map:
Theodosius Cistern (Şerefiye sarnıcı)
Theodosius Cistern (Sherefiye), Istanbul
Not far from the famous Istanbul Basilica Cistern there is a similar structure, which was opened to the public relatively recently, after a large-scale restoration.
Not all tourists coming to Istanbul have heard about the Theodosius Cistern, because it was discovered only in 2010. This unique historical landmark was found under the foundation of a huge mansion. The house was sent for demolition, and the cistern began to be put in order, repaired and improved. This painstaking work lasted a little less than 8 years. The dimensional parameters of Feodosia turned out to be comparable to the Basilica, but it was built, according to archaeologists, a whole century earlier - around the 4th century.
Today it is known that this reservoir was filled from a water pipeline laid from the Belgrade Forest. The cistern supplied fresh water to the Great Palace, including all its many fountains, as well as the famous baths of Zeuxippus.
Theodosius Cistern on the map:
Philoxene tank (Binbirdirek sarnıcı)
Philoxena Cistern, Istanbul
- one of the most important reservoirs built during the reign of Constantine the First (324-337). In size, Philoxena was second only to the famous Basilica. It is located in a western direction from the city hippodrome. The capacity of the tank is amazing - initially it could store up to 325 cubic meters of water. The storage area is about 3700 sq.m.
The building has 3 tiers. True, there is no access to the first tier now, since it is completely flooded. The structure is made in the form of a huge hypostyle chamber supported by vaults.
In Turkish, the name of the tank sounds like “Binbirdirek”, which translated into Russian means “1001 column”. In fact, the colonnade in the reservoir consists of 224 parts, so the Turkish name is greatly exaggerated.
In the 12th century, Philoxena was recharged using the Valens aqueduct. The water supply was later upgraded so that the cistern could be filled from the Pera reservoir and also collected rainwater. Throughout the entire period of the Byzantine Empire, the reservoir regularly performed its functions, but in the 15th century it was abandoned. The Turks converted the cistern, which had fallen into disrepair, into a silk-dying workshop in the 16th century. Now a museum complex has been opened within the walls of this unique city attraction.
Philoxenus Cistern on the map:
City walls of Constantinople (Theodosian walls)
Walls of Constantinople
The fact that the walls of Constantinople have survived to this day is a great success, since in the mid-19th century there was a European tendency to destroy the so-called “medieval rudiments”, which were precisely such walls.
Walls of Constantinople
But the Ottomans decided not to follow the European fashion - Istanbul simply developed, gradually combining the old with the new into a single whole. Thus, today we have the opportunity to admire the seven-kilometer-long monument of Roman-Byzantine antiquity.
The walls around the city were once built by order of Emperor Theodosius II. The construction was supervised by the prefect of the East, Anthemius. The fortifications were stretched along the shore of the Sea of Marmara all the way to the Golden Horn Bay. They were built over five long years. There were 10 strong gates built into the walls, through each of which one could enter the city. Some have survived to this day.
On the southern side, the fortifications began from the Marble Tower. The walls went north to the Tekfur palace building, and there they connected with the walls of Blachernae.
Theodosian walls on the map:
It was used as a place for equestrian displays, gladiator fights, triumphal processions, public acts related to the transfer or abrogation of imperial power and the execution of the death penalty. It was a kind of center of social and political life of the common people of the capital. There you will see the German spring, the column of Constantine, the palace of Ibrahim Pasha.
2. Excursion to the Basilica Reservoir.
History underground - Basilica Reservoir.Basilica Reservoir, or as it is now known, Yerebatan Palace (Underground Palace), located southwest of Hagia Sophia, is considered one of the most impressive monuments in Istanbul. The huge underground reservoir was built by order of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I; Because of the countless columns rising from the water, the people called this place “Yerebatan Palace.” During the period of the Republic, the Basilica Reservoir, after restoration carried out by the Istanbul City Hall, was turned into a museum and open to tourists who do not leave the city without visiting this impressive ancient structure.
In 1985, the storage facility was closed for renovation, 50,000 tons of dirt were removed from it and excursion paths were built, and it was reopened in 1987. In May 1994, the Basilica Reservoir was again repaired and cleaned, and today continues its centuries-old history, and, as once upon a time, fish swim in it. Visitors to this unusual museum can watch fish swim among numerous columns, and, to the sounds of classical music heard under the ancient arches, go on a mental journey into the depths of centuries.
3. Excursion to the Church of Hagia Sophia.
Former Patriarchal Orthodox Cathedral, later a mosque, now a museum; a world-famous monument of Byzantine architecture, a symbol of the “golden age” of Byzantium. The official name of the monument today is the Hagia Sophia Museum (Turkish: Ayasofya Muzesi).During the Byzantine Empire, the cathedral was located in the center of Constantinople next to the imperial palace. Currently located in the historical center of Istanbul, Sultanahmet district. After the city was captured by the Ottomans, the St. Sophia Cathedral was converted into a mosque, and in 1935 it acquired the status of a museum. In 1985, St. Sophia Cathedral, among other monuments of the historical center of Istanbul, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
4. Excursion to the Chora Church.
The best preserved Byzantine church in Istanbul. Since 1948, it has been open to tourists as the Kariye Museum and is one of the Istanbul World Heritage Sites.The name comes from the fact that before Theodosius II built the current city walls, the church stood outside the walls of the imperial capital, south of the Golden Horn. The surviving building was built with the care of Maria Ducas, mother-in-law of Emperor Alexios Komnenos, in 1077-81. Half a century later, part of the vaults collapsed, probably due to an earthquake, and Alexei’s youngest son financed the restoration work.
The Chora Church was rebuilt again after the Palaiologos came to power, in 1315-21. The patron was the great logothete Theodore Metochites. He spent his last years in the monastery as an ordinary monk (his ktitor's portrait has been preserved). The mosaics and frescoes he commissioned are an unsurpassed artistic achievement of the Palaiologan Renaissance.
During the siege of Constantinople by the Turks in 1453, the icon of the Heavenly Intercessor of the city - the icon of Our Lady Hodegetria - was brought to the monastery. Half a century later, the Turks plastered over all the images from the Byzantine period in order to turn the church into the Kariye-Cami Mosque. Chora came back to life as an island of Byzantium in the middle of a modern Islamic city as a result of restoration work in 1948.
