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The Zeyrek Mosque (Zeyrek Camii) is one of the most important remaining Byzantine structures in Istanbul. This entry covers the building’s history.
Byzantine Period
The Zeyrek Mosque was built between 1118 and 1124 by Byzantine Empress Irene of Hungary. It was the main church of the Monastery of Christ Pantocrator (Μονή του Παντοκράτορος Χριστού), which consisted of the church, a hospital, and a library. The architect was known as Nikephoros.
After 1124, Emperor John II Komnenos built another church just to the north. It was open to the public and dedicated to Theotokos Eleousa (Θεοτόκος Ἐλεούσα).
By 1136, the two churches were connected via an imperial chapel dedicated to Archangel Michael, which became the mausoleum of the Komnenos and Palaiologos dynasties. A southern courtyard and exonarthex were also added.
During the Latin Occupation of Constantinople between 1204 and 1261, the monastery was used as a palace by the last Latin Emperor, Baldwin II. It was also used as the see of Catholic clergy from Venice.
After the Byzantines regained power, the monastery once again became property of Orthodox monks. Gennadius II, the first Ecumenical Patriarch after the Fall of Constantinople in 1453, served there.
Ottoman and Republic Period
The church was converted into a mosque shortly after the Fall of Constantinople, and the monastery became a madrasa. It was the first educational institution established by the Ottomans in Constantinople. The mosque was named after Molla Zeyrek, a scholar who was teaching there.
After the Fatih Mosque complex was completed in 1471, students abandoned the Zeyrek Mosque and the monastery buildings later disappeared. The structure suffered significant damage during an earthquake in 1766. It takes its present shape from repairs carried out after the earthquake.
Republic Period
Today, the Zeyrek Mosque is the second largest surviving Byzantine church in the city. It’s included in the UNESCO World Heritage listing for the Historic Areas of Istanbul. The mosque underwent a long restoration and reopened to visitors on May 29, 2019.
