# Aya İrini Kilisesi

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Content updated: 2026-06-22

Aya İrini Kilisesi, also called Hagia Irene Church, stands in Istanbul as a Byzantine architectural landmark. The Greek name Aya İrini means Holy Peace.

The Eastern Orthodox church is among Istanbul’s oldest, and it was never converted into a mosque. Its origins reach back to the fourth century.

Roman Emperor Constantine I reportedly commissioned it, and the church preceded Hagia Sophia as the Patriarchate’s seat. The Nika Revolt destroyed Hagia Irene by fire.

Emperor Justinian I rebuilt Hagia Irene, while later restoration work followed an earthquake in Constantinople. Emperor Constantine V added mosaics and frescoes.

A distinctive cross mosaic remains visible, offering a concrete trace of Byzantine art from the Iconoclastic period. The Topkapı Palace walls later enclosed the church.

Janissaries used the enclosed building as an arsenal, and it later became a military museum. Its acoustics support classical music concerts linked to the Istanbul International Music Festival.

- City: [Istanbul](https://mytuur.com/en/city/istanbul/)

## Photos

- ![](https://mytuur-bucket.s3.amazonaws.com/image_HagiaIreneChurch_66fffdb62ff49a4d0eebf1e5_0.jpg) — [Image: wikimedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Church_of_St_Irene_5762.jpg)
- ![](https://mytuur-bucket.s3.amazonaws.com/image_HagiaIreneChurch_66fffdb62ff49a4d0eebf1e5_1.jpg) — [Image: wikimedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Church_of_St_Irene_7532.jpg)
- ![](https://mytuur-bucket.s3.amazonaws.com/image_HagiaIreneChurch_66fffdb62ff49a4d0eebf1e5_2.jpg) — [Image: wikimedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Church_of_St_Irene_5534.jpg)
- ![](https://mytuur-bucket.s3.amazonaws.com/image_HagiaIreneChurch_66fffdb62ff49a4d0eebf1e5_3.jpg) — [Image: wikimedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Church_of_St_Irene_5760.jpg)
- ![](https://mytuur-bucket.s3.amazonaws.com/image_HagiaIreneChurch_66fffdb62ff49a4d0eebf1e5_4.jpg) — [Image: wikimedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Church_of_St_Irene_9060.jpg)

Spots like this one are the stops myTuur strings into tours through Istanbul. In the app, each story begins where you stand: walk up to a spot and it starts, read it on screen or listen as you go, then follow the route to the next one.

## What is myTuur?

myTuur is a free city-guide app. Its tours are built from spots, and each spot carries a story that starts when you get there, to read or to listen to as you like.