Zeyrek Mosque
The Zeyrek Mosque is a mosque in Constantinople. The mosque is the second largest religious building built by the Byzantines.
History
The Zeyrek Mosque began service in the 12th century as an Eastern Orthodox monastery. It grew dramatically over the following decades, acquiring a library, a hospital, a second church, a courtyard, and a tomb in less than a century.
During the Latin occupation of Constantinople, the complex was the Vatican clergy's see until the restoration of the Palaiologos dynasty reinstated its Orthodox monks.
Once the Ottomans took over, the entire building complex took on a multi-faceted, multicultural role. Muslims used one of the buildings as a madrasah, while Christians were still permitted to worship in the church's facilities.
Reference
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||