Church of Holy Savior in Chora

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Holy Savior in Chora

The Church of Holy Savior in Chora (Kariye Müzesi) is one of the best exponents of Byzantine art that can be found in the world. It was built between 1316 and 1321 according to the plans of Theodore Metoquines.

The most spectacular of the church are its Byzantine frescoes and mosaics, as they are considered the best preserved in the world.

As a curiosity, Chora means "outside the city", and is that the church was built on the outside of the walls of ancient Byzantium.

The Ottoman Era

Like Saint Sophia, after the conquest of Constantinople by the Ottoman Empire, Holy Savior in Chora was converted into a Mosque. In 1948 began its restoration and ten years later it was open to the public like museum.

During the time that served like mosque the frescoes were covered with plaster, a detail that could help in the conservation of these.