Hagia Eirene
| Hagia Irene | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Basic information | |
| Location | Istanbul, Turkey |
| Geographic coordinates | 41°0′35″N 28°58′52″E / 41.00972°N 28.98111°ECoordinates: 41°0′35″N 28°58′52″E / 41.00972°N 28.98111°E |
| Affiliation | Eastern Orthodox |
| Status | Museum |
| Architectural description | |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Architectural style | Byzantine |
| Groundbreaking | 532 |
| Materials | Brick, Stone |
Hagia Irene or Hagia Eirene (Ancient Greek: Ἁγία Εἰρήνη, Byzantine Greek pronunciation: [aˈʝia iˈrini], "Holy Peace", Turkish: Aya İrini), sometimes known also as Saint Irene, is an Greek Eastern Orthodox church located in the outer courtyard of Topkapı Palace in Istanbul, Turkey. It is one of the few churches in Istanbul that has not been converted into a mosque. The Hagia Irene today operates as a museum and concert hall.
The church was dedicated by Constantine to the peace of God, and is one of the three shrines which the Emperor devoted to God's attributes, together with Hagia Sophia (Wisdom) and Hagia Dynamis (Power).
The building reputedly stands on the site of a pre-Christian temple. It ranks as the first church built in Constantinople before Hagia Sophia. Roman emperor Constantine I commissioned the first Hagia Irene church in the 4th century. It served as the church of the Patriarchate before Hagia Sophia was completed in 537. during the Nika revolt in 532, Hagia Irene was burned down. Emperor Justinian I had the church rebuilt in 548. It was then damaged again by an earthquake on October 20 740, about six months before the death of Leo III. The Emperor Constantine V ordered the restorations and had its interior decorated with mosaics and frescoes. The restorations from this time are largely show in its present form.
...
Wikipedia