Native Name: Kariye Muzesi , Kariye Camii , or Kariye Kilisesi
Kariye museum or Chora Church is one of the most beautiful examples of a
Byzantine
church . It is located in the western , Edirnekapı district of
Istanbul
. The original church was built outside the walls of Constantinople . It was built in the 4th century as the 'Church of the Holy Savior Outside the Walls' and it was actually located outside the walls of the Constantinople city . (also the name Chora was actually referring to its location originally outside of the walls) . After the conquest of Istanbul by Ottomans in 1453 , a single serefe minaret was added to its southwest by Grand
Vizier
Atik Ali Pasha in 1511 and it was turned into a mosque and Later on , it became a museum in 1948 .
The structure standing today was built in the late 11th century , and had lots of repairs and restructuring in the following centuries . The Chora Church covers 742 . 5 m²) , and although considered relatively small in size , it is spaciously decorated in its interior . The famous mosaics of the interior decoration and the striking mural paintings inside the building date from 1320 . The building consists of
three main areas: the entrance hall or narthex , the main body of the church or naos , and the side chapel or parecclesion . There are six domes covering the building , two domes above the esonarthex , one above the parecclesion and three above the naos .
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