Older than Hagia Sophia: Imrahor Ilyas Bey Mosque under restoration 

The Imrahor Ilyas Bey Mosque also known as the Monastery of Studios, is undergoing significant restoration to reclaim its historical prominence. Notably, this structure predates the Hagia Sophia by aproximately 70 years, underscoring its status as Istanbul’s oldest religious building.

Unveiling history behind structure

The mosque’s history is as complex as its architecture. Originally constructed as the Monastery of Studios, it was major center for the Byzantine monastic life and religious education. Following the Ottoman period, the monastery was converted into a mosque by Imrahor Ilyas Bey an Ottoman military commander and court official. Over the centuries, the structure withstood numerous struggles during the Sultan Bayezid II era.

The 1894 earthquake also damaged the historic mosque which was most seriously damaged during the Latin Invasion. After being restored under Sultan Selim III, the mosque collapsed in the early 1900s, first due to fire and then to flood.

Monastery of slepless

This monastery housed a group of “sleepless” monks known as the Acoemetae. These people of Latin, Greek, and Syrian ancestry were referred to as “sleepless” because they prayed nonstop, day and night. Even at night, the monks prayed in shifts.

There are also monk’s who were calligraphers, poets, decorators, icon painters, and hymn composers. They were expelled from the monastery for defying the authorities during the Iconoclasm period.

Reviving Imrahor Ilyas Bey Mosque

In the 2019, Conservation Board approved a comprehensive restoration project aimed at saving this historical gem. The project supervised by the General Directorate of Foundations, officialy began in 2023 with a focus on restoring mosque’s original Byzantine and Ottoman architectural features. The first step in the restoration process was the installation of a temporary space frame system roof, it was the first time in 100 years that mosque had been covered.

This system, protects structure from the weather related events damage during the restoration. In order to protect the Opus Sectile floors, sandbags were placed. Besides, the historical mosque has columns that supports the upper gallery in the northern section while in those in the southern section have disappeared. The mosque, which will be restored to its original columns.

Feyyaz Fidan, Branch Manager of Art and Construction Works of the Istanbul 1st Regional Directorate of Foundations, said, “This monastery, which we can express as the oldest religious building in Istanbul, is the Studios Monastery. The building, which was used as a monastery until the conquest of Istanbul, was converted into a mosque and taken by Ilyas Bey, the Mirahor of Sultan Bayezid II after the conquest. In addition to the mosque, this complex also includes a cistern, an ayasma and a fountain. It had a large courtyard with a portico and dervish cells. After it became a mosque, a minaret was added, but unfortunately the cone and the honeycomb part have not survived to the present day. When we talk about the Imrahor İlyas Bey Mosque, of course we should mention the opus sectila in the harim. In addition to its value in terms of cultural heritage for both Istanbul and Türkiye, it is also valuable in terms of world culture. At the time of its construction, various stones were brought from many parts of the country and these stones were laid according to a certain geometric order. The opus sectila seen here today is original. It is a pavement from the first construction of the building.”

The restoration, focusing on its Byzantine and Ottoman elements, is seen by experts as an important step in safeguarding a cultural treasure not only for Istanbul and Türkiye but also for world heritage.