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[[File:HagiaEirene c1900.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Hagia Eirene, circa 1900]]
The '''Church of Hagia Eirene''', Greek: Ἁγία Εἰρήνη, "Holy Peace" or ''Divine Peace'', commonly rendered incorrectly in English as '''St. Irene''', is a former Orthodox Christian church located in the outer courtyard of the Topkapi Palace in the ancient area of Constantinople in Istanbul, Turkey. Since the [[Fall of Constantinople|fall of Constantinople]] in 1453 to the Ottoman Turks, the church has been used variously as an armory, warehouse, museum, and concert hall.
==History==
Traditionally, the site of Hagia Eirene was occupied by a pre-Christian temple and an earlier small church that were demolished during the reign of emperor [[Constantine the Great|Constantine I]] in the early decades of the fourth century to be replaced by a much larger [[church]] that was dedicated to the Divine Peace. Upon its dedication, Hagia Eirene served as the [[cathedral]] of [[Constantinople]] until the completion of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in 360.
The [[Second Ecumenical Council]] took place in Hagia Eirene from May to July 381. During the Nika riots of 532, the church was burned along with Hagia Sophia. Restored in 548 by emperor [[Justinian]] I, as a domed [[basilica]], Hagia Eirene served again as the cathedral of Constantinople during the rebuilding of Hagia Sophia. The church was again damaged during an earthquake in 740 and was restored, in 753, to its present state by the [[iconoclasm|iconoclast]] emperor [[Constantine V]]. The large cross in the half-dome above the [[narthex]], where the image of the [[Pantocrator]] or [[Theotokos]] is usually placed, is a vestige of iconoclastic art incorporated during Constantine's restoration. During the eleventh and twelfth centuries the church was enlarged.
[[File:HagiaEireneCrossConst'ople.jpg|right|thumb|250px|The Constantine V Cross in the narthex]]
After the fall of Constantinople in 1453 to the [[Ottoman empire|Ottoman Turks]] the church was enclosed inside the walls of the Topkapi palace, but was never converted into a mosque. Initially, the church was used as an armory by the Janissaries, including the storage of war booty. In the early eighteenth century it became a weapons museum before coming a museum of military antiques in 1846.
In 1978, the Church of Hagia Eirene was transferred to the administration of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and has served as a concert hall for classical music performances due to its exceptional spatial and acoustic qualities.
==Architecture==
[[File:HagiaEireneConst'opleFloorplan.png|left|thumb|300px|Floor plan of Hagia Eirene in ancient Constantinople showing the [[atrium]] at the West entrance.]]
Construction of the present structure of the Church of Hagia Eirene began as the replacement of the earlier church destroyed during the Nika riots.
Hagia Eirene is a domed, three-aisled [[basilica]] in the architectural style that emerged in Constantinople in the late fifth-early sixth century. The dome of the church collapsed during the earthquake of 740. The building remained in ruins until rebuilt by emperor Constantine V around 753. During this restoration, the church acquired a cross-domed unit and the elliptical, domical vault over the western part of the naos as well as an [[atrium]] and a seven-stepped synthronon with a kyklion, a vaulted passage under the synthronon. Also, substantial changes were made in the vaulting system throughout the building that significantly improved its stability against earthquakes. The vault of the semi-dome of the [[apse]] of the [[bema]] was given a slightly pointed shape and was decorated with the simple, two-dimensional mosaic of a stepped [[cross]]. The cross is outlined in black tesserae set against golden background. The cross, which resembles images of the Cross of Golgotha, suggests the beliefs of Constantine V and other iconoclasts for whom only the Cross and the [[Eucharist]] were acceptable images of [[Christ]].
After the Ottomans took possession of Hagia Eirene only minor architectural changes were made to the building: the floor level of the church was raised, and the arcades were altered slightly, while infilling of original openings and addition of side chambers were made.
==Sources==
*[http://constantinople.ehw.gr/Forms/fLemmaBody.aspx?lemmaid=10895 Hagia Eirene]]
*[[Wikipedia: Hagia_Irene]]
[[Category: Churches]]
[[Category: Churches in Turkey]]
The '''Church of Hagia Eirene''', Greek: Ἁγία Εἰρήνη, "Holy Peace" or ''Divine Peace'', commonly rendered incorrectly in English as '''St. Irene''', is a former Orthodox Christian church located in the outer courtyard of the Topkapi Palace in the ancient area of Constantinople in Istanbul, Turkey. Since the [[Fall of Constantinople|fall of Constantinople]] in 1453 to the Ottoman Turks, the church has been used variously as an armory, warehouse, museum, and concert hall.
==History==
Traditionally, the site of Hagia Eirene was occupied by a pre-Christian temple and an earlier small church that were demolished during the reign of emperor [[Constantine the Great|Constantine I]] in the early decades of the fourth century to be replaced by a much larger [[church]] that was dedicated to the Divine Peace. Upon its dedication, Hagia Eirene served as the [[cathedral]] of [[Constantinople]] until the completion of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in 360.
The [[Second Ecumenical Council]] took place in Hagia Eirene from May to July 381. During the Nika riots of 532, the church was burned along with Hagia Sophia. Restored in 548 by emperor [[Justinian]] I, as a domed [[basilica]], Hagia Eirene served again as the cathedral of Constantinople during the rebuilding of Hagia Sophia. The church was again damaged during an earthquake in 740 and was restored, in 753, to its present state by the [[iconoclasm|iconoclast]] emperor [[Constantine V]]. The large cross in the half-dome above the [[narthex]], where the image of the [[Pantocrator]] or [[Theotokos]] is usually placed, is a vestige of iconoclastic art incorporated during Constantine's restoration. During the eleventh and twelfth centuries the church was enlarged.
[[File:HagiaEireneCrossConst'ople.jpg|right|thumb|250px|The Constantine V Cross in the narthex]]
After the fall of Constantinople in 1453 to the [[Ottoman empire|Ottoman Turks]] the church was enclosed inside the walls of the Topkapi palace, but was never converted into a mosque. Initially, the church was used as an armory by the Janissaries, including the storage of war booty. In the early eighteenth century it became a weapons museum before coming a museum of military antiques in 1846.
In 1978, the Church of Hagia Eirene was transferred to the administration of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and has served as a concert hall for classical music performances due to its exceptional spatial and acoustic qualities.
==Architecture==
[[File:HagiaEireneConst'opleFloorplan.png|left|thumb|300px|Floor plan of Hagia Eirene in ancient Constantinople showing the [[atrium]] at the West entrance.]]
Construction of the present structure of the Church of Hagia Eirene began as the replacement of the earlier church destroyed during the Nika riots.
Hagia Eirene is a domed, three-aisled [[basilica]] in the architectural style that emerged in Constantinople in the late fifth-early sixth century. The dome of the church collapsed during the earthquake of 740. The building remained in ruins until rebuilt by emperor Constantine V around 753. During this restoration, the church acquired a cross-domed unit and the elliptical, domical vault over the western part of the naos as well as an [[atrium]] and a seven-stepped synthronon with a kyklion, a vaulted passage under the synthronon. Also, substantial changes were made in the vaulting system throughout the building that significantly improved its stability against earthquakes. The vault of the semi-dome of the [[apse]] of the [[bema]] was given a slightly pointed shape and was decorated with the simple, two-dimensional mosaic of a stepped [[cross]]. The cross is outlined in black tesserae set against golden background. The cross, which resembles images of the Cross of Golgotha, suggests the beliefs of Constantine V and other iconoclasts for whom only the Cross and the [[Eucharist]] were acceptable images of [[Christ]].
After the Ottomans took possession of Hagia Eirene only minor architectural changes were made to the building: the floor level of the church was raised, and the arcades were altered slightly, while infilling of original openings and addition of side chambers were made.
==Sources==
*[http://constantinople.ehw.gr/Forms/fLemmaBody.aspx?lemmaid=10895 Hagia Eirene]]
*[[Wikipedia: Hagia_Irene]]
[[Category: Churches]]
[[Category: Churches in Turkey]]
