Pammakaristos Church Mosque

Address: Pammakaristos Church / Fethiye Mosque area, Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey

Pammakaristos Church, now often called the Fethiye Mosque, is a former Byzantine church in Istanbul’s Fener district notable for its surviving medieval mosaics. The building consists of a main church and an attached parekklesion (side chapel) containing important late Byzantine decoration.

The parekklesion preserves 14th-century Palaiologan-era mosaics that are among the most significant examples of late Byzantine mosaic art in Istanbul. The main church retains characteristic Byzantine architectural forms though it has seen later alterations during and after the Ottoman period.

Originally constructed in the middle Byzantine period and modified over subsequent centuries, the complex served ecclesiastical functions within Constantinople and later adapted to Ottoman urban needs. Its decorative program reflects phases of 11th-14th century artistic activity.

The church sits in the Fener neighbourhood on Istanbul’s historic peninsula, northeast of the Golden Horn and not far from the Chora Church and other Byzantine monuments. It is accessible from central Sultanahmet and the Fener area.

• Alternate name: Also known today as the Fethiye Mosque, the complex combines a main church and a smaller chapel noted for their medieval mosaics.

What to See#

• Parekklesion mosaics: The parekklesion (side chapel) contains a well-preserved set of 14th-century Palaiologan-era mosaics, among the finest late Byzantine works in the city.
• Main church: The main church displays Byzantine architectural features and later Ottoman-era alterations after its conversion to a mosque.

• Visit outside peak hours for major sites (midday when Hagia Sophia draws crowds) to enjoy Pammakaristos's mosaics with fewer people; late morning or early afternoon on a weekday is often quieter.
• Don't miss the parekklesion (side chapel) where well‑preserved 13th‑century mosaics survive-ask staff for directions on arrival as some visitors only see the main nave.
• Combine the visit with a short walk through the surrounding Fener/Balat area to see Ottoman and Byzantine-era streetscapes many tourists skip when rushing between larger Istanbul monuments.