Dedicated to the 2008th birthday of
Jesus Christ
The Ecumenical
Patriarchate
at Fener, by the Golden Horn, is the
heart of Orthodox Christianity.After
Constantine the Great' s declaration of
Christianity as the religion of Roman
Empire, the capital was moved from Rome
to Byzantium. With the conquest (1453)
of Ottoman Empire the seat of
Patriarchate remained in Istanbul.
Metal Church
(St. Stephen of Bulgars)
Church of Panagia of
Blachernae,
the best known and most celebrated
shrine of the Holy Virgin located near
Golden Horn. Famed with the hagiasma (fountain
of holy water), good to cure health
problems, and the Hagion Lousma (sacred
bath) good to clean the soul, where the
emperor also came to purify himself.
St. Chora Museum
(Kariye), originally a Byzantine
monastery, dedicated to Jesus Christ the
Savior, survived with fantastic mosaics
and frescoes, portraying scenes from the
Bible, the life and miracles of Jesus.
The
monastic complex of Christ
Pantocrator (Zeyrek) was one of
the largest and best organized of the
Byzantine period, comprising two
churches and a funerary chapel, baths, a
hospice for the aged, a hospital and a
medical school, a hostel for travellers
and a library. -from outside-
Zoodochos Pege at Balýklý,
dedicated to the Mother of God at Pege,
with an underground cistern, full of
gold fish related to a well-known
miracle and the fountain of holy water,
believed to cure many diseases, is one
of the most celebrated shrines.
St. Sergius & Bacchus,
a landmark in Byzantine ecclesiastical
architecture. Today it is known as the "Little
Hagia Sophia" because its general plan
is a precursor of the Hagia Sophia. -from
outside-
Hagia Sophia,
for many centuries was the largest
church of Christendom, dedicated to
Divine Wisdom, an attribute of Christ.
Hagia Sophia played an important role as
emperors were crowned and many victories
were celebrated in this remarkable
building.
Hagia Eirene,
the old patriarchal church with its
impressive size stands next to Hagia
Sophia. -from outside-
Church
of St. Mary Pammacaristos (Fethiye),
built in XI. century by John Comnenus,
displaying the aesthetic refinement
attained to Paleologan age, originally
belonged to a convent of nuns. Housed
the Patriarchate for a while after the
conquest.
