Aya Yani Greek Orthodox Church
Changes After Construction:
- The building was damaged during the conquest of Istanbul and was repaired in 1759.
- The building underwent another repair in 1817.
- The building was damaged beyond use in the earthquake of July 10, 1894, and was rebuilt in 1896.
Prominent Features:
- The church belongs to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Istanbul.
- The building is also known as the “Ioannes Prodromos Church.”
- The church is dedicated to Saint John the Baptist.
- The first church was commissioned by Empress Theodora on the cell in which the exiled clergyman Methodios had been imprisoned.
- The church is entered through the narthex on the south side; from the space to the left of the narthex, Methodios’s cell is reached by a narrow staircase of 11 steps.
- From the section on the right of the narthex, stairs lead to the upper floor and to the gallery opening into the main church area.
- The central aisle is dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, the right side aisle to Hagia Paraskevi, and the left side aisle to Hagios Ayazoni.
- The interior contains rich woodwork in the iconostasis, the ambo, and the despot’s throne.
