Following the re-conversion of Istanbul’s world-famous Hagia Sophia museum to a mosque earlier this 12 months, Turkish President “I wish to be the Sultan” Erdogan does the identical to the Chora (Kariye) Church Museum, additionally in Istanbul.
At the least I used to be capable of see the fabulous artwork earlier than they cowl it once more.
The Church of the Holy Savior in Chora is taken into account one of the lovely examples of a Byzantine church. Within the sixteenth century, the church was transformed right into a mosque by the Ottoman rulers, and it grew to become a secularized museum in 1948. The inside of the constructing is roofed with nice mosaics and frescoes. It’s listed as one of many high 30 “must-see museums” on the planet.
The unique church was constructed within the early fifth century to the south of the Golden Horn, and stood outdoors of the 4th century partitions of Constantine the Nice; it grew to become integrated inside the metropolis’s defenses later that century.
The frescoes and mosaics, plastered over by the Ottomans, are being restored. They’re gorgeous, nearly overwhelming. I’ve seen mosaics in different early Christian Church buildings all through the Center East, however nothing like these.
See my photographs of the art that’s about to be misplaced to the world.
