Zeyrek Mosque (Pantokrator Monastery)
Zeyrek Camii
The Pantokrator Monastery church from the 12th-century Komnenian dynasty. Made up of three connected churches, it is the second-largest Byzantine religious building in the city.
The Pantokrator Monastery was built between 1118 and 1136 by Empress Irene and John II Komnenos. It consists of two churches on the north and south sides, joined by a central imperial mausoleum chapel, and it served as the burial site of the Komnenian emperors. After 1453, it was converted into a mosque and named after Zeyrek, the first head of its theological school. After years of restoration, it has recently reopened to visitors. You can see the Byzantine brick walls and domes, and some of the original colored marble mosaic floors, which are usually covered by carpets. Entry is free, and visits are suspended during prayer times. It is located on a hillside in the Zeyrek old neighborhood, which offers views over the Golden Horn, and it is a 5-minute walk from the Valens Aqueduct.
Opening hours
Open outside prayer times; free admission
Nearby sights
- Aqueduct of Valens
- Şehzade Mosque
- Fatih Mosque
- Süleymaniye Mosque
- Rüstem Pasha Mosque
- Spice Bazaar
- Grand Bazaar
- Balat