The
Zeyrek Mosque stands in
Fatih District and commands a view of
Haliç. The building which is used as a mosque today was in fact the
main church (
Katholikan) of the
Pontacrator Monastry which was one of the biggest
Monastries in
Istanbul at that time built by
Eirene, the wife of II. Ioannes Komnenos. It is a church dedicated to Pantocrator Jesus ( The sovereign power of the universe). The layout of the building is closed
Hellenistic cross and it has three apsisses. Its construction has been completed in 1136. After the conquest of İstanbul
Fatih Sultan Mehmet has turned the
church into a
mosque , included the
monastry in his foundation and entrusted
Zeyrek Molla Mehmet Efendi the establishment of a
Madrasah by making use of the fifty rooms that were available. By the end of the 18th century the mosque underwent critical repairs and after having remained in a ruined condition for years , studies to restore the building started in 1966. Today, the mosque is again in a condition that needs extensive maintenance. The building consists of three adjacent structures made of bricks. Five domes cover the building. It has one minaret with one balcony. In the year 1953 a round mosaic divided into rectangular stripes has been discovered in the floor. The richness and elegant contours of this church reflects the empire’s art of the XII century. The magnificient flooring discovered during the restoration works is one of the rare examples survived until the present day. A part of the structure which was used as a stable has been restored in the year 1998 and turned into a cafe-restaurant with a view over the entire
Golden Horn and the
Galata Bridge.
