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Kariye Museum
originally formed the center of a Byzantine monastery complex. Only
the church section, which was dedicated to Jesus Christ the Savior,
has survived. After the arrival of the Turks in Istanbul, this
building, like the Hagia Sophia, was converted into a mosque. In
1948 it was made a museum leaving no Islamic element in the building
except the 19C minaret outside in the corner.
"Kariye" is
the Turkish adaptation of an ancient Greek word "Chora"
which refers to countryside. Considering the perimeter of the walls
of Constantine (4C AD) the building was located out of the city. If
this theory is correct Chora Monastery should have been from the 4C.
But unfortunately according to sources, the existence of Chora
Monastery before the 8C is not certain.
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