Aya İrini Church and Museum
Hagia Irene or Saint Irene (Greek: Ναός της Αγίας Ειρήνης Divine Peace or Holy Peace is a historical museum in Istanbul, in the first courtyard of Topkapi Palace, near and contemporary with Hagia Sophia. The oldest known Byzantine church in Istanbul It is also the only Byzantine church that was not converted into a mosque. According to old sources, it was built in the early 4th century during the reign of Constantine I (324-337), using the ruins of the temples of Artemis, Aphrodite and Apollo from the Roman period found here. Located within the same courtyard wall as Hagia Sophia. Irene was burned along with Sempson Zenon during the Nika Revolt in 532. Emperor Justinian I had Hagia Irene rebuilt as well as Hagia Sophia. Although its construction started in 532, the exact completion date is not known. 8. and 9. Severe earthquakes in the 19th century caused significant damage to the building. Hagia Irene, which the Byzantines described as the patriarchate chapel, remained within the Walled Walls surrounding the Topkapi Palace after the conquest of Istanbul, so there was no significant architectural change as it was not converted into a mosque. It was first used as internal ammunition and then as the weapons warehouse of the Ministry of War.
The first museum works in Turkey started in Hagia Irene. III. During the reign of Ahmet, the works sent from various parts of the Ottoman Empire were collected in Hagia Irene in two separate sections under the names of Mecma-i Esliha-i Atika (Old Weapons Collection) and Mecma-i Asar-ı Atika (Ancient Works Collection). This museum was moved to the Tiled Kiosk in 1875. In 1908, various historical materials were stored in Hagia Irene for the establishment of a new military museum. This museum, which was opened, served as a military museum until 1949. During the works carried out between 1974-76, the surrounding soil fills were removed in order to remove moisture. It has been hosting many art events, especially within İKSV, since 1973.
