The Chora Museum has a rich history spanning three main periods: the Byzantine era, the Ottoman period, and the Republic of Turkey. It started as a monastery, became a mosque, and was turned into a museum in 1945. In 2020, it reopened for worship. During your visit, you’ll see its various transformations and admire its stunning art and architecture.
Chora Museum in the Eastern Roman Period
The exact founding date of the Chora Museum is unknown. The most well-known theory is that the monastery was built by Commander Theodoros, the uncle of Empress Theodora, wife of Emperor Justinian I. However, there are doubts about the accuracy of this information. Another theory suggests that the monastery was constructed by Krispos, a general of Heraclius.
The monastery was first mentioned in written sources in the 8th century when Patriarch Germanos was buried here in 740. Later, the burial of Metropolitan Theophanes of Nicaea in 845 increased the monastery’s sanctity.
During the Iconoclast period, when there was opposition to religious images, the monastery suffered significant damage. However, it was rebuilt by the patriarch Mikhail Synkellos, who came from Palestine in 813. After Synkellos died in 845, he was buried here.
There is little information about the Chora from the mid-9th century to the early 11th century. In the late 11th century, during the Komnenos dynasty, the monastery was almost completely rebuilt. This new construction, carried out by Maria Doukaina, the mother-in-law of Byzantine Emperor Alexios Komnenos, was dedicated to the "Savior Christ." It underwent significant repairs shortly after its completion. During the Fourth Crusade, the Latins and Venetians invaded and looted the monastery, causing extensive damage. The library and cultural treasures were completely lost.
In the 14th century, during the Palaiologos dynasty, Chora Church was given its current form. After Emperor Michael Palaiologos returned to Constantinople in 1261, the city faced Latin plunder and financial struggles, but the Palaiologos family supported the arts. Theodoros Metokhites, a key patron, oversaw the church's restoration, completing it in 1321. Metokhites, who was also honored with the title "Grand Logothete," returned to Constantinople as a monk named "Father Theoleptos" after a period of exile and was buried at Chora following his death in 1328.
Chora Museum in the Ottoman Period
After the conquest of Istanbul, the Chora Museum, then known as Kariye, was not used for a while. In 1511, 58 years after the conquest, there was a shortage of mosques in the area since the Mihrimah Sultan Complex had not yet been built. Atik Ali Pasa, a grand vizier of Sultan Bayezid II, restored the abandoned building and converted it into a mosque. A madrasah (Islamic school) was also added next to it. This madrasah is known as the “Sultan Selim Kariye Medrese” in historical records.
To adapt the building for worship, its beautiful mosaics and frescoes were covered with plaster, and a minaret and mihrab were added, but the original structure was preserved. The artworks were protected by wooden panels during prayer times. The church’s value was recognized locally; Evliya Celebi referred to it as “a former artistic church near Edirnekapi,” and in the 18th century, Ayvansarayli Huseyin Efendi noted it had been converted from a church.
Travelers such as Gyllius in 1544-1547 and Stephan Gerlach in 1578, as well as Jacques Dallaway in the 18th century, admired the mosaics and frescoes of Kariye, highlighting its value to both rulers and locals. After the 1766 earthquake, architect Ismail Halife oversaw significant repairs. In 1860, architect Peloppida Kouppas cleaned some mosaics, covered exposed images with wooden panels, and repaired the mosque. The minaret and dome were damaged in the 1894 earthquake, but the dome was soon rebuilt in a classical style, and a wooden canopy was added. Sultan Abdulhamid II also restored the mosque in 1898.
Chora Museum in the Republic of Turkey Period
After being converted into a mosque, Kariye Mosque became a significant complex with a madrasah, a lodge, a fountain, and a mausoleum built around it. For about 450 years, it served as a mosque. However, in August 1945, the Turkish government decided to turn it back into a museum.
From 1945 to 1946, the structure was maintained by Cahide Tamer, an architect from the General Directorate of Foundations. Later, between 1947 and 1958, the restoration work was undertaken by the Byzantine Institute of America and Dumbarton Oaks Research under the leadership of Paul Underwood. This 12-year restoration removed all Ottoman-era elements and mosque features from the building, including even the Ottoman-era hexagonal floor tiles from the outer narthex and the parekklesion.
From 1945 to 1946, architect Cahide Tamer from the General Directorate of Foundations maintained the building. Between 1947 and 1958, the Byzantine Institute of America and Dumbarton Oaks, led by Paul Underwood, carried out a major restoration, removing Ottoman-era additions, including tiles and features.
After serving as a museum for 75 years, Kariye was reopened for worship in August 2020, and its management was transferred to the Directorate of Religious Affairs. They began adapting the structure for worship, including adding a wooden pulpit to match the building's dark colors.