The Chora Church

A Home of Christian Art – The Chora Church

Often referred these days as the ‘Chora Museum’, Chora Church is a must visit for anyone who enjoys mosaics and artworks from history. With mosaics which tell the story of the journey to Bethlehem, the life of Jesus, the dream of Joseph, and the famous Dormition of the Virgin, the Chora Church is much more than a building of historical importance, it is a breathing art gallery!

The History of The Chora Church

Chora Church was originally known as the ‘Church of The Holy Saviour in Chora’, and it was built between 527 to 565, during Justinian’s reign. The church was built on the grounds of a chapel, close to the first set of walls which surrounded the old Constantinople. ‘Chora’ means ‘countryside’ in Greek, and that is probably because the site which the Chora Church is built upon would have been fields, having sat outside of the original city limit walls.

The original built Chora Church was badly damaged and then destroyed during the Fourth Crusade in 1204, but then later restored during the 13th century. This is when the mosaics you see today were installed within the Chora Church, showing you how far back in history they date to.

Many churches were turned into mosques when the Ottomans took control of Constantinople in 1453, however Chora Church remained a church for a few years, until 1511. At that time, Hadim Ali Pasha converted it into a mosque, much like many other churches of the time. The mosaics were left to fall into a state of disrepair, however they were carefully restored in 1945, when Chora Church became a museum.

The Artwork of Chora Church

Chora Church attracts visitors from all over the world, from many different faiths, simply because of the stunning attention to detail of the artwork displayed within the museum that stands today. Each of these mosaics and frescoes tell stories from the bible, and they are displayed in a series, so you can follow through history.

There are far too many pieces of artwork to mention, but the ones to be on the lookout for in particular are the Cycle of the Life of the Virgin, and the Formation of Virgin Mary. The Cycle of Life of the Virgin is a series of 17 images which tell the life of the Virgin Mary, from birth to marriage. The next sequence is the Cycle of the Infancy of Christ. Again, this is a series of images which tell the story of the birth of Christ, to his infancy, up until his travel to Jerusalem. The Cycle of Christ’s Ministry is another series of images to gaze upon, telling the story of turning water into wine, and bread and fishes, etc.

You can easily while away a few hours staring in wonder at these beautiful pieces of art work, and the detail that has gone into them.

Visiting The Chora Church/Chora Museum

Chora Church is located in Edirnekapi, close to the Theodosian Walls. The problem with Chora Church is that it is further away than some of the other top attractions in Istanbul, and for that reason, not everyone knows about it, or has the time to go there. It’s definitely worth factoring in some time to explore this stunning beautiful place, and the plus point is that you won’t have to do battle with countless crowds!

It is surprisingly easy to get to Chora Church, but you will have to take the bus, which means traffic. If you can avoid the peak rush hour times (early in the morning and towards the 5pm onwards mark), you shouldn’t have huge jams to deal with. The 38E bus from Eminonu is then you need, which goes directly to Edirnekapi. The Chora Church is a few minutes’ walk from the bus station, and it is clearly marked, so you can’t go wrong.

Chora Church is open every day apart from Wednesdays, from 9am until 5pm. It will cost you 30TL to go inside, but you can spend as long as you like gazing upon the stunning artwork for that cost. Once you’ve finished in Chora Church, you can have a walk around what is left of the Theodosian walls, and really get a taste of how large Istanbul really is, how it has grown, and of course, a stunning view right down towards the Bosphorus and over to Asia. That is one picture you need in your collection!

Around Chora Church you’ll find some fantastic authentic Turkish restaurants, and it’s definitely recommended to enjoy lunch or an early dinner. You’ll be able to try all manner of different dishes, and you’ll have an authentic experience as a result. Crowds in this part of Istanbul are rarely huge, although Edirnekapi is a busy residential area in itself. In this part of the city you can dine for less than the cost of dinner in a very touristy area, like Sultanahmet, so fill your boots and enjoy the delicious Turkish cuisine!

Once you have returned back to Eminonu, make sure you get there in time to capture that stunning sunset that everyone talks about. The area literally turns golden, hence how the Golden Horn got its name. The area over the Galata Bridge remains busy and vibrant until midnight, so you can easily walk around and soak up the atmosphere whilst you’re there.