Aya İrini (Hagia Irene)

Aya İrini (Hagia Irene), meaning "Holy Peace", is the oldest Byzantine church in Istanbul. Located in the first courtyard of Topkapi Palace, it is famously the only Byzantine church in the city that was never converted into a mosque.

Early Foundations (4th Century): Built in the 320s by Constantine the Great, it was the first major church of the Eastern Roman Empire before Hagia Sophia was constructed. It was erected on the ruins of older pre-Christian temples.

Reconstruction (6th Century): After being destroyed by fire during the Nika Revolt in 532, Emperor Justinian rebuilt it into its current architectural form.

Ottoman Era: Because of its strategic location inside the palace grounds, it was used as an armory and weapons warehouse for centuries.

First Museum & Concert Hall (19th Century–Present): In 1846, it became an exhibition space for historical weapons and antiquities, marking the beginning of Turkish museology. It later transitioned into the Imperial Museum (Müze-i Hümayun) and serves today as both a museum and a venue for classical music concerts.

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