Tour code:OPUS344
03 nights / 04 days
Is there
somewhere else as magical as Istanbul? Old capital of two great
empires (Byzantine and Ottoman) has still charmed her guests. We invite
you to re-discover Christian heritage in Istanbul…
Day 1: Istanbul
Arrival to the Atatürk airport and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation in the hotel.
Day 2: Istanbul
After early breakfast at the hotel we will start to our tour form Hagia Sophia.
Hagia Sophia, the Church of Holy Wisdom, known variously as Sancta
Sophia in Latin or Ayasofya in Turkish, is an ancient cathedral of the
Church of Constantinople located in modern-day Istanbul, Turkey. Then
we will visit St. Irene Church. St.Irene, which is one
of the largest and oldest Byzantine churches other than Hagia Sophia,
was commissioned in the year 330 by Emperor Constantine the Great. The
church takes its name from a saint who was at that time working for the
spread of Christianity. We will continue to the Basilica Cistern
that is located in the crowded Eminönü district of Istanbul next to
the Hagia Sophia, was built to provide water for the city of Istanbul
during the reign of Emperor Justinian I in the 6th century CE. After
lunch, we will go to Pantokrator Church now a mosque
named Zeyrek Camii, is a former monastery church and one of the most
important historic landmarks of the Byzantine period. However, the
structure is in a sad state of neglect so a detour here may only be
worthwhile in tandem with a stroll through the narrow streets of the
Zeyrek neighborhood. Dedicated to St. Saviour Pantocrator, the
monastery was founded by Empress Eirene, wife of John II Comnenus, who
completed the south church prior to her death in 1124. Transfer to the
hotel. Accommodation at the hotel.
Day 3: Istanbul
We will start to our full-day tour from Yedikule
which is a part of Constantinople Walls. It is located in the
southwestern part of Istanbul city walls. It is known as Yedikule
Zindanları (Seven Tower Dungeons) among public. On the other hand,
because of its architectural aspect, it is also called Yedikule Hisarı
(Seven Tower Fortress).Yedikule was not built to be used a dungeon.The
main aim of the building was to meet the emperor who returned from a
war as victorious or welcoming other states’ heads in some events like
coronation. Then we’ll visit the Balikli Monastery.
One of the most famous shrines of Constantinople, the Zoodochos Pege,
is located outside the land walls to the west of the city, at the site
now known as Balikli. Two versions of a very old tradition provide
information on the origins of this ancient shrine.According to the
first, related by the historian Procopius, Justinian (527-565) while
hunting in a beautiful verdant part of the land with many trees and
much water, had the vision of a small chapel with a large crowd of
people and a priest in front of a spring. It is the spring of miracles,
he was told, whereupon the Emperor built a monastery at the site using
surplus materials from the church of Hagia Sophia. Cedrenus records
that the monastery was built in 560. Before lunch, we will visit the Chora Museum.
The first Chora Church was rebuilt by Justinianus (527-565) in place
of this chapel. In the era of Komnenoi, it served as the court chapel
for important religious ceremonies, thanks to its nearness to the Palace
of Blachernae. The mosaics and frescoes in the Chora are the most
beautiful examples dating from the last period of the Byzantine
painting (14th century). After lunch, we’ll continue to Ecumenical Patriarchate
in Fener neigbourhood. The Ecumenical Patriarchate is the highest see
and holiest center of the Orthodox Christian Church throughout the
world. It is an institution with a history spanning seventeen
centuries, during which it retained its see in Constantinople
(present-day Istanbul). It constitutes the center of all the local
Orthodox Churches, heading these not by administration but by virtue of
its primacy in the ministry of pan-Orthodox unity and the coordination
of the activity of the whole of Orthodoxy. Transfer to the hotel.
Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 4: Istanbul
Pammakaristos Church (Fethiye Mosque)
is the first spot of the half-day tour. It was built in 1292, the
Church of Theotokos Pammakaristos in Istanbul is a fine example of late
Byzantine architecture and art. It has been a mosque (called Fethiye
Mosque) since 1591, but still contains some well-preserved Byzantine
mosaics. Secondly we will visit St. Theodosia Church
(Gül Mosque). Rarely visited by anyone other than local worshippers,
this cross-domed church building dates from the 11th century. After
lunch, transfer to the airport for your flights. End of our services.
Pantokrator & Pammakaristos Churches can be only visited with a special permission.