Hagia Eirene Church
Hagia Eirene, the church of Divine Peace was first constructed by Constantine the Great but it was destroyed by a fire during the Nika Revolt in 537. Emperor Justinian immediately rebuilt Hagia Eirene because together with Hagia Sophia, these two churches formed two essential religious establishments. This church is the first Byzantian Church in Istanbul and it was never converted to a mosque during the Ottoman Era.
Entering the church, one descends along a stone ramp to the level of the interior. At the end of the ramp, there is the rear of the church which gives the idea of a basilica, but an unusual type. The eastern dome is supported by four great arches. In this church, the plan is the transition of a pure domed basilica into a Greek-cross plan church. The apse is a semicircular semidomed above and there are seats for the clergy. In the semidome, there is an ancient mosaic of a simple cross in a black border.
At the west, a Turkish wooden staircase leads to the galleries. The galleries and the church was used as an arsenal during the Ottoman Era. Today, Hagia Eirene hosts Istanbul Art,Cultural and Music Festivals and Istanbul Biennials. It is open to public only in festival, concert and biennale times.
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