The first three churches of Constantinople, Hagia Eirene, Hagia Sophia and the Church of the Holy Apostles have not survived in their original form. Therefore, our knowledge of the early Byzantine Churches in Istanbul consists of what we know about the early Christian churches. The first churches of Christianity were inspired by the Basilica, an ancient Roman … [Read more...] about The Story of Byzantine Churches in Istanbul
Byzantine
Church of the Monastery of Christ Pantocrator
Church of the Monastery of Christ Pantocrator is located in Fatih district of Istanbul. The building, which attracts attention with its grandeur when looking at the Historical Peninsula from the Golden Horn, serves as the Zeyrek Mosque today. The Pantocrator Monastery was built in the late Byzantine period, and its church was the third most important religious building in … [Read more...] about Church of the Monastery of Christ Pantocrator
Church of Saint Polyeuktos (Constantinople)
The ruins of The Church of Saint Polyeuktos were found during the construction of a road near the Valens Aqueduct in the 1960s. Although only ruins remain from the church, it is very important in terms of shedding light on an important period in Byzantine history. The church was built by Anicia Juliana, daughter of Olybrius, a former Western Roman emperor. The church, which … [Read more...] about Church of Saint Polyeuktos (Constantinople)
Hagia Irene Museum Entry Fee and Hours 2022
Hagia Irene is the building with the longest history among the Byzantine churches in Istanbul. When Istanbul was declared the capital of the Roman Empire under the name of Constantinople, there was already a church here. This little church was rebuilt by Emperor Constantine. The church, which was destroyed in a fire during the Nika Revolt, was rebuilt by Emperor Justinian in … [Read more...] about Hagia Irene Museum Entry Fee and Hours 2022
Stoudios Monastery in Constantinople (Istanbul)
This article is about Monastery of Stoudios, the most important monastery in Eastern Roman (Byzantine) history. Founded by a Roman aristocrat, the monastery had an important place in the political history of Constantinople. The church, which formed the core of the monastery, was dedicated to John the Baptist. Monastery of Stoudios, which was converted into a mosque under … [Read more...] about Stoudios Monastery in Constantinople (Istanbul)
Church of the Holy Apostles (Constantinople)
The Church of the Holy Apostles was the second largest church in Constantinople (Istanbul) during the Byzantine period. The most important emperors in Byzantine history were buried in this church. The church dedicated to the Holy Apostles was destroyed during the Ottoman period and Fatih Mosque was built in its place. In this article you can find information about the … [Read more...] about Church of the Holy Apostles (Constantinople)
Obelisk of Theodosius in the Hippodrome
Hippodrome of Constantinople was the place where the people of Istanbul had fun during the Roman and Byzantine periods. Chariot races between Blue and Green teams would cause great excitement. At the heart of the Hippodrome was an Obelisk brought from Ancient Egypt. In this article, I would like to share information about the history of the Obelisk of Theodosius. Foundation … [Read more...] about Obelisk of Theodosius in the Hippodrome
The Forum of Constantine in Istanbul
The Forum of Constantine was the largest square in Constantinople, the capital of the Roman Empire in late antiquity. Eastern Rome, known as the "Byzantine Empire" in modern history, had iconic structures built by Emperor Constantine. The most important of these were the Great Palace, the Church of the Holy Apostles and the Forum of Constantine. In this article, you can find … [Read more...] about The Forum of Constantine in Istanbul
Byzantine Cisterns of Constantinople, Istanbul
There are hundreds of cisterns under the Historical Peninsula of Istanbul. In this article, I would like to introduce you to the Byzantine cisterns in Istanbul and help you understand what they were built for. In order to comprehend this subject, we will have to go on a journey in history and take a look at the Ancient Greek period of Istanbul. Byzantium as an ancient Greek … [Read more...] about Byzantine Cisterns of Constantinople, Istanbul
The Roman Tetrarchy Map and Civil Wars
The Tetrarchy symbolizes a transitional period in the Roman Empire. The Tetrarchy (Rule of Four) was brought by Diocletian and put an end to ciwil wars in Rome for a while. However, this new system caused more wars afterwards. It may be surprising to come across such a detailed article on Tetrarchy in an Istanbul blog. However, the road to the establishment of Constantinople … [Read more...] about The Roman Tetrarchy Map and Civil Wars