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All Turkey Istanbul Meryem Ana Rum Ortodoks Kilesesi
AO Edited

Meryem Ana Rum Ortodoks Kilesesi

It's believed that this small church was connected to the Hagia Sophia via a secret tunnel.

Istanbul, Turkey

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Martina Azkoul
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Meryem Ana Rum Ortodoks Kilesesi   Martina Azkoul / Atlas Obscura User
Meryem Ana Rum Ortodoks Kilesesi   Martina Azkoul / Atlas Obscura User
Meryem Ana Rum Ortodoks Kilesesi   Martina Azkoul / Atlas Obscura User
Meryem Ana Rum Ortodoks Kilesesi   Martina Azkoul / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Tucked behind a high wall in the neighborhood of Fener, St. Mary of the Mongols is a small Byzantine Orthodox church that has been a continuous place of Christian worship prior to the conquest of Istanbul.

Unlike other Byzantine churches in Istanbul, it was never converted into a mosque or a museum. It is said to have once been connected to the Hagia Sophia through a secret underground passageway. 

Today, although it is open to visitors, it is kept under lock and key. The only way in is by ringing the bell next to the door under the sign “Meryem Ana Rum Ortodoks Kilesesi” and waiting for the attendant to let you in. The highlights of this small church are the architecture and intricate icons dating back to the 13th-century.

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Martina Azkoul

Published

March 24, 2022

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Meryem Ana Rum Ortodoks Kilesesi
1 Tevkii Cafer Mektebi Çk.
Istanbul, 34087
Turkey
41.029633, 28.949228
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