Changes After Construction
A second church was added to the structure by Empress Theodora Palaiologina between 1286 and 1304; the narthex and chapel were added in the 14th century.
It was converted into a mosque in 1497-1498, a minaret was added and some interior arrangements were made during this process. The building, which was damaged in the fire of 1633, was repaired by Grand Vizier Bayram Pasha in 1636 and started to be used as a mosque.
It suffered a fire in 1782 and underwent extensive repairs in 1831-1832.
It remained in ruins for many years after the 1918 Fatih fire and was restored in the 1960s and 1970s.
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The building was called Lips Monastery during the Byzantine period.
The main structure consists of three adjacent sections: the “North Church”, the “South Church” and the L-shaped aisles added in the 14th century. The North Church has a Closed Greek Cross plan and reflects the original Byzantine architecture with its domes and drums.
Byzantine mosaic decorations were found on the south facade, and Byzantine-era remains such as the icon of Agia Eudokia (of Heliopolis) were found in the north chapel.
The ruins of the minaret, mihrab and the added chapel reflect the building's identity as a mosque during the Ottoman period.
During the 1929 excavations, 22 sarcophagi from the Byzantine period were unearthed, and tomb chapels were unearthed on the north and south walls.
