Aya İrini (Hagia Eirene)

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İstanbul's largest church, Hagia Irene, is located in the city and has not been converted into a mosque. The building was reportedly built on the site of a pre-Christian temple. According to historical records, Emperor Constantine I commissioned the construction of the first Hagia Irene church in the 4th century, which was completed by the end of his reign in 337. It served as the Patriarchate's church before Hagia Sophia was finished in 360 under Constantius II. During the Nika revolt in 532, Hagia Irene was severely damaged and burned down. Emperor Justinian I ordered its reconstruction in 548. The church suffered further damage from a powerful earthquake in 740 that occurred six months before Leo III's death. Emperor Constantine V oversaw restorations after the earthquake, which included decorating the interior with mosaics and frescoes. Rebuilding during the reign of Justinian I introduced changes to the atrium and narthex architecture, preserving them intact after the earthquake. Restoration after the quake strengthened the church's foundation. Before rebuilding, the foundation had significant structural problems. This restoration established a cross-domed plan on the gallery level while maintaining the original basilica design at ground level. The Hagia Irene still features its dome and peaked roofs on the north, west, and south sides of the building. The dome itself is 15 meters wide and 35 meters high with twenty windows. Hagia Irene has a typical Roman basilica form consisting of a nave and two aisles divided by three pairs of piers, which supports galleries above the narthex. Semicircular arches are also attached to capitals that help give support to galleries above.