Church of Saint Mary of the Mongols (Istanbul)

Church of St. Mary of the Mongols Παναγία Μουχλιώτισσα
The tower of the church viewed from South
Church of St. Mary of the Mongols Παναγία Μουχλιώτισσα
41°01′47″N 28°56′56″E / 41.029722°N 28.948889°E / 41.029722; 28.948889Coordinates: 41°01′47″N 28°56′56″E / 41.029722°N 28.948889°E / 41.029722; 28.948889
Location	Fener, Istanbul
Country	Turkey
Denomination	Greek Orthodox
History
Founded	Beginning of 7th century
Founder(s)	Sopatra / Maria Palaiologina
Dedication	Theotókos Panaghiótissa
Cult(s) present	Saint Mary
Architecture
Style	Byzantine
Completed	Short after 1281

Saint Mary of the Mongols (full name in Greek: Θεοτόκος Παναγιώτισσα (pr. Theotókos Panaghiótissa, lit. "All-Holy Theotokos") or Παναγία Μουχλιώτισσα (pr. Panaghía Muchliótissa); Turkish name: Kanlı Kilise (meaning:Bloody Church), is an Eastern Orthodox church in Istanbul. It is the only Byzantine church of Constantinople that has never been converted to a mosque, always remaining open to the Greek Orthodox Church.

The church, which usually is not open to the public and lies behind a high wall, is placed in the district of Fatih, in the neighborhood of Fener. It lies on Tevkii Cafer Mektebi Sokak, at the summit of a slope overlooking the Golden Horn, and near to the imposing building of the Phanar Greek Orthodox College.

At the beginning of the 7th century, Princess Sopatra (daughter of the Byzantine Emperor Maurikios), and her friend Eustolia built a nunnery on the slope of the fifth hill of Constantinople. The ground, which was bestowed by the Emperor, lay north of the Cistern of Aspar and had been used up to then as a cemetery. The building was dedicated to Saint Eustolia. During the 11th century, a monastery was added. It was dedicated to All Saints, and had a close relationship with the monastery of the Great Lavra, on mount Athos. During the Latin domination after the Fourth Crusade, the monastery disappeared.