Abstract:

tor , which is on UNESCO’s World Heritage List as a part of Istanbul’s Historic Areas, is an important monument that highlights the art and architecture of the Middle Byzantine Period in Istanbul. Zeyrek Camii consists of three interconnected churches which were established by John II Komnenos and Eirene in the first half of the twelfth century , as the core of the Pantocrator Monastery Complex and as an imperial mausoleum. The monument was converted into a mosque after the conquest of Istanbul, by Mehmed II, in the second half of the fifteenth century and has been in use as a mosque since. In 1766, Istanbul was hit by a great earthquake. The structure must have suffered severely from this disaster and interventions were made. During these repairs which took place during the reign of Abdülhamit I , a Sultan’s Lodge was added to the gallery of the South Church. Sultan’s Lodge was reached by a ramp, which was on the western façade of the Zeyrek Camii. A wooden entrance hall was built adjacent to the south wall of the South Church. Today the wooden entrance hall and the ramp on the western façade do not exist. Until recently, a house without a legal construction licence , was occupied by the “müezzin” of the Zeyrek Camii, which still stands in the place of the wooden entrance hall. The müezzin-house occupies the southest part of the South Church gallery as well. At the beginning of March 2012, the firm, which have been carrying out the restoration work at Zeyrek Camii, discharged the müezzin family out this illegal logement. It is expected from the firm to prepare a convenient restoration project in order to end the inconvenient conditions, created by the illegal constructions and extensions and restore the remaining parts of the Sultan’s Lodge of Zeyrek Camii, according to sciencetific methods and internationally accepted, current conservation principles. Zeyrek Camii and its Sultan’s Lodge is a synthesis of Byzantine and Ottoman art and architecture. Hence, it is crucial to save this important monument for the next generations

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