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Andrew en te Krisei

Turkey, Fatih (Istanbul)

Andrew en te Krisei

per person

The monastery of Saint Andrew (the Apostle) was allegedly founded at early 5th century by Arcadia, sister of Emperor Theodosius II (r. 408–450) near the Gate of Saturninus in Constantinople. By 792 it was converted into a nunnery and after the end of Iconoclasm it was rededicated to Saint Andrew of Crete who was killed in 766 for his opposition to the iconoclastic policies of Constantine V (r. 741–775). The church was probably rebuilt by Basil I (867-886) as it was damaged during Iconoclasm.

At the end of 13th century, Theodora Raoulaina, niece of Michael VIII Palaiologos (r. 1259–1282) and famous scholar, rebuilt the monastery and the church. The nunnery had a library, where part of the foundress’ book collection was stored. The nunnery is mentioned throughout up to the Fall of Constantinople (1453).  An Early Ottoman  source, a survey of the city dated 1455 calls it Kızlar Kilisesi («women’s church») comprising a gate and five one- and two-stored houses. Between 1486 and 1491 it was converted into a mosque.

FORMAL ANALYSIS

The building was originally of the ambulatory type with a central dome and three apses. In the west side it had an esonarthex and exonarthex. The entrance was on the north side where the Ottomans built an arcade with five domes.

However, after an earthquake in 1766, the church underwent many alterations in the central dome (circular inside, octagonal outside) whereas two half domes were added north and south of the main dome.

The inner narthex is divided into three bays with an Ottoman dome on the north one. Byzantine are the vaults on the central and south bay. The outer narthex has five bays which are separated from each other either with columns or pilasters. They are surmounted by groined vaults and central saucer domes. The current exterior  of the building is Ottoman. From the Byzantine monastery survives an underground cistern southeast of the mosque.

In addition, a Byzantine carved door frame (6th century) is now in the Istanbul Archaeology Museum (see also the  image gallery). Finally, from the 12th-13th centuries has survived a polychrome wood carving representing Christ seated on a throne.

EKATERINI MITSIOU

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    Tour Location

    Andrew en te Krisei
    Other monuments and places to visitMany Byzantine remains in the city
    Natural Heritage
    Historical Recreations
    Festivals of Tourist Interest
    Fairs
    Tourist Office
    Specialized Guides
    Guided visits
    AccommodationsVarious hotels in the city
    RestaurantsVarious restaurants in the city and in the neihbourhood
    Craft
    Bibliography
    Videos
    Website
    Monument or place to visitSaint Andrew en te Krisei (today Koca Mustafa Pasha Mosque)
    StyleLate Antiquity, middle and late Byzantine and Ottoman
    TypeMonastic architecture
    Epoch6th c and13th / Ottoman
    State of conservationGood condition
    Degree of legal protection
    Mailing address
    Coordinates GPS42°26′46″N 6°34′14″O
    Property, dependency
    Possibility of visits by the general public or only specialists
    		It is a mosque
    Conservation needs
    		Yes. Some recent restoration took place where crosses and monograms on the columns were covered
    Visiting hours and conditions
    		As it is a mosque, the visiting hours depend on the prayer schedule
    Ticket amount
    Research work in progress
    		No. The monument lacks an extensive study
    AccessibilityEasily accessible
    Signaling if it is registered on the route
    		Not yet registered.
    Bibliography
    		-Alexander Van Millingen, Byzantine Churches of Constantinople. London 1912
    -Raymond Janin, La Géographie Ecclésiastique de l'Empire Byzantin (= 1. Teil: Le Siège de Constantinople et le Patriarcat Oecuménique, Band 3 Les Églises et les Monastères). Paris 1953
    Wolfgang Müller-Wiener, Bildlexikon Zur Topographie Istanbuls: Byzantion, Konstantinupolis, Istanbul bis zum Beginn des 17. Jahrhunderts. Wasmuth, Tübingen 1977
    VideosYoutube
    Information websites3dmekanlar.com
    wikipedia.org
    thebyzantinelegacy.com
    LocationIstanbul district of Fatih, in the neighborhood of Kocamustafapaşa