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©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
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Mukhliotissa Kilisesi |
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For site maps and drawings please click on the picture...  |
For photographs please click on the photo...  |
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Type:
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Church |
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Plan Type:
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Tetraconch |
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Year of Costruction:
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1261 |
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Phase:
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Late |
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Investigation Method:
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Survey |
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Altitude:
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38 |
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Region:
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Marmara |
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Province:
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Istanbul |
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District:
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Fatih |
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Village:
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Tevkii Cafer Mah. |
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Antique Name:
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Constantinople |
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| Location: It is located at the intersection of the Firketeci Tevfik Cafer Çelebi Streets in the Fener Quarter of the Fatih District in Istanbul. |
| Geography and Environment: It is situated on a hill overlooking the Golden Horn. The area on which the church is located was once used as a necropolis. The church was within a monastery complex founded by Isaac Doukas in 1261. It is also believed that it stood in the place of an earlier monastery dating back to the 10th century. Approximately 200 m to the northeast of the sanctuary stretch the city walls of the Golden Horn; 250 m to the west stand the Fethiye Mosque (13th century), and the Hirami Ahmet Pasa Masjid (12th century); and approximately 350 m to the southeast is the Open Cistern of Astar (5th century). |
| Research and Excavation: No systematic survey has been conducted yet. |
| Description: Building Phases: It is presumed that the sanctuary which was built in 1261 [Müller-Wiener 2001:204-205] was modified to its present form in 1266 with a tetraconchos plan [Eyice 1980:55]. A narthex was added to the building in the 14th century, which was restored in 1281. It was damaged from the fires in the 17th and 18th centuries, and repaired with some modifications in its planimeter in 1731. Probably it was during this repairwork that the tetraconchos plan was partially modified. A belfry was added to the building in 1892. The church was damaged during the events of September 6-7 in 1955, and then it was restored again in 2000 [Müller-Wiener 2001]. Architectural Features: The church originally had a tetraconchos plan, covered by a dome in the center, and half-domes in the four sides, however it became changed as a result of modifications in several years. It had an irregular almost-square rectangular plan, covered with a gabled roof. The extremely high dome with a cylindrical drum, a result of the tendency of its era to elevate the building, to the northeast of the church, is surmounted by a depressed conic roofing system. The arches above the windows opened on the drum were not built down to the skirt of the drum, but seated on small consoles [Eyice 1980:54-56, pics. 157-162]. The northern and southeastern parts are compatible with the original plan while the western and southern parts were enlarged longitudinally [Mathews 1976:366-369, pic. 37.1-37.15; van Millingen 1974:272-278, res. 93-97]. Decorative Features: It is reported that two of the three domes in the narthex had traces of mosaics, the brick dressing in the eastern end might have been original, earlier materials were used in the repairs of the western part, and a large number of niches resemble the buildings of the Komnenid Period. No detailed information is available about the thick render coat and the technique and decoration of the exterior façades. R. Janin indicates that it was decorated with frescoes by Modestos during the reconstruction in the 13th century. |
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| Interpretation: S. Eyice claims that it might have been from an earlier date, indicating the similarity of the construction plan with the ones in the early Christian Period. Based on the presence of extramural areas during the 3th and 4th centuries, which were occupied as necropolis, Eyice highlights that the building might have been an earlier burial structure [Eyice 1980:54]. |
| Destruction: The reliefs on the walls inside the church and the hagiasma need to be preserved [TAYEx 12.09.2008]. |
